- An interesting 4yo contest to open the card with the possibility that there could be as many as six newcomers amongst a maximum sixteen strong field. The likely favourite is the Paul Gilligan trained Croco Rouge gelding Wonderhow who was in the process of running a fine race on debut when tipping up at the last in a similar race at Athlacca back in May, the John Nallen trained Minella For Ball was back in fifth that day and he also features amongst the entries. The twice-raced Aubrey De Vere brings decent course form to the table having been in the process of running a solid race when falling at the last in a Maiden won by Tackmaster here at the end of February. Of slight concern is his failure to reappear after that outing though connections may have felt he had had enough for his debut season with his only prior outing coming two weeks earlier when finishing fourth to Killiney Castle in a small field at Askeaton, trainer John Thomas McNamara has ridden him on both his starts so far. Clear Hills would on the formbook at least appear to be the other leading contender and like Aubrey De Vere he too had two starts as a 4yo last season, he reached the frame on both occassions most notably on his second start when beaten six lengths by Beachdale Lad with subsequent winner Moscow Me back in fifth, that was the slower of two divisions of the race (Wonderhow contested the faster first division) and it will be interesting to see if he can go on from that here, he carries the famous Doran's Pride colours for trainer Michael Hourigan. Hourigan also has the option of running newcomer Pa Murphy, a Wizard King gelding whilst John Gleeson has two possibles in the shape of Knockainey (Definite Article) and Mister Mahunker (Westerner).
Alternative: Clear Hills
14:30 Gain Horse Feeds 5&6yo Mares Maiden
The first of the Gain Horse Feeds Mares races of the season takes place here with the consistent Definitechoice attempting to step up on her last three placed efforts in this. The first of those came on good ground at Liscaroll in March behind the subsequently track placed Our Girl Lucy and with a winner and a number of placed horses coming out of the race the form has stood the test of time. She subsequently registered placed efforts at Dromahane (to Katie Do) and Dawstown (to Simple As That) and she deserves to gain success in a Maiden such as this. Definitechoice had Count Your Change behind in the Dromahane race and that mare was seen to good effect on the last weekend of the season when a staying on second at Ballingarry, she has also achieved several placings in her short career so far (4 from 7 starts) with her only disappointing effort coming at Athlacca when pulling up in the Mares Open race over the Banks course, any horse can be forgiven a poor effort first time out in a discipline and a return to regulation fences helped her at Ballingarry. Flickofaswitch is yet another to bring good Maiden form to the table having finished runner-up in the Liscaroll race contested by Definitechoice back in March, she was probably slightly disappointing when running fourth to Katie Do at Dromahane (Definitechoice ahead of her on this occasion) and she contested the good Mares Bumper at Cork won by the Jimmy Mangan trained Jamie's Darling prior to a flags return when runner-up at Inchydoney. Shanella had just two starts last season and was arguably disappointing - particularly given how close she'd come to breaking her Maiden in 2009/10 when chasing home the Colin Bowe trained Milderina on the last weekend of the season, her connections will be hoping she can bounce back to that form. Of the ex-track performers Effortless ran some solid races under rules last winter and spring and is likely to go well if staying the trip.
Selection: Flickofaswitch
Alternative: Definitechoice
15:00 Pat Dooley Group Winner Of Two (4yo+) Mdn Excl
The first winners-of-two race of the season and there's an interesting blend of pointers and ex-track performers here headed by the Athlacca Banks race winner Bringbackthebert, some were surprised by his victory that day and he came from just off the pace to beat some experienced performes. He'd broken his Maiden on his seventh points start in his previous race up in the North at Loughanmore and with two subsequent winners coming out of the race it looks a decent enough Maiden, his backers will be hoping he can continue his decent run of form in 2011/12 and he looks best on a sound surface so should have his conditions here though given connections you'd imagine a trip to Punchestown and possibly even an assault on the Crystal Cup races may be on the cards later in the season. Isle Of Gold was last seen between the flags 10 months ago at Rockfield when beating Shark Hanlon's useful Viking Splash (a subsequent Hunter Chase winner) though he's been a shade disappointing under rules since then, he achieved a high rating that day which has since been vindicated by both the runner-up and the fact that three other winners have come out of the race. Megatron has been beaten at least eight lengths on all his starts in winners races though he brings plenty of winners race experience to the table with is most notable performance in such races being last time out when chasing home the mare Katie Do at Loughanmore back in April. Of those who've been racing on the track Eighttenten returns to points having had just one well beaten effort in a Clonmel bumper in June whilst Early June's best effort came when running third at Limerick in July but he's accomplished little on the track since.
Selection: Isle Of Gold
Alternative: Bringbackthebert
15:30 Tim McAuliffe 5&6yo Geldings Maiden
Potentially the most competitive race on the card with at least three of the entries bringing solid form to the table judged on last seasons efforts. The most eyecatching for me was Gale Force Oscar who was in the middle of running a mighty race and travelling best in my opinion when coming to grief two out in a Loughanmore Maiden won by Bringbackthebert (runs previous race). Gale Force Oscar had been given a gentle introduction to racing when pulled up on his debut at Avaune back in December and stepped up on that when staying on into third (albeit beaten 32 lengths) behind the potentially top class and subsequent Graded Hurdle winner Back In Focus at Kilfeacle in December, he was one of only five finishers that day and clearly handled the testing conditions well on that occasion. He seems versatile in terms of ground given his last effort at Loughanmore and looks the one to beat her. Another strong contender appear to be Ballyfinboy - a Great Palm gelding who had three starts in the final five weeks of last season, the best of which would appear to be the second of these when contesting a 5yo Maiden at Stradbally, no winners have emerged from the race though he was hampered three out and stayed on through beaten horses on this occasion. On his final start he was a disappointing and well beaten sixth behind Warrants A Name at Ballingarry, it's possible that three runs in five weeks was too much for him at this early stage in his career and it will be interesting to see how he performers first time out. Paddydcaddy ran twice in his debut season last year - most notably on his first start when chasing home the useful looking Instant Impacked at Dawstown at the start of May and was beaten some way at Ballingarry behind Gates Please on the final weekend and trainer Dan Lordan will be looking to him to break his Maiden in this. Of the former rules horses Lord Rory finished runner-up at Punchestown in January but has disappointed in a number of runs since whilst Kings County Star is unraced since October 2010. Mo Chappal Dhilis may make his debut as a 6yo in this for trainer James McAuley, the Dushyantor gelding runs in the colours of James Gough.
Selection: Gale Force Oscar (NAP)
Alternative: Paddydcaddy
16:00 Kearys Motors Open 4yo+ (Mdns Excl)
The highlight on the opening weekend of the new season would appear to be the return of the top class Open horse Tyrone Golden Rain who ended last season with a victory at Ballindenisk. He also recorded Autumn victories at Castletown and Loughanmore last season though appears to have a preference for a softer surface. He was an easy victor from Castle Lake at Ballindenisk on good to yielding and a reproduction of that form will surely see him tough to beat, Paurick O'Connor trains and he could give brother Derek a winner in the feature on the opening weekend of another title defence. Tyrone Golden Rain has an interesting opponent in the shape of the owner-ridden Chrisdon Lady who's been partnered by Moira McElligott in her six most recent starts which have been characterised by their aggressive tactics, tactics which have seen them rewarded with three victories including in a Hunter Chase at Listowel in June and in the Mares Maiden at this meeting in September 2010. This run could mark the pairs first start in Open company though they look more than capable of handling the step up in grade judged on that Listowel victory. Gaspar has been a regular in these races in recent years though it's of some concern that he failed to reappear after a success from Session Or Ression at Ballydarragh in November last year. That was his sixth start of a campaign which started off in this very race when beating the useful The Fox's Frolic by a length on good ground, his other victory came at the expense of Snowy Morning at Kilsheelan in October and both he and Tyrone Golden Rain will be looking to chase down Chrisdon Lady. Mon Oiseau ran some good races last Spring, perhaps the best of which was when chasing home Rowdy Rampage in a Ladies Open on the final weekend of the season, prior to that he'd taken out a similar race under Katie Walsh at Stradbally. Annacarton looked to be going to the very top two seasons ago and he continued to improve last season and proved his versatility with two victories in two days when taking out a Tramore Hunter Chase and a Dromahane Open back in April, he was however well beaten by Chrisdon Lady at Listowel and may be better suited to points racing. There are a number of horses dropping back into points from rules racing with the Ted Walsh trained Battlefront having contested some decent enough races over the Summer perhaps the most notable.
Selection: Tyrone Golden Rain (NB)
Alternative: Chrisdon Lady
17:00 Clarkes Bar 7yo+ Maiden
An older Maiden rounds off the card at Rathcannon and there are eighteen entries in this. As usual with a race of this nature there are a mixture of horses stepping back into points after a few runs on the track and older Maidens returning for another crack at glory. The bottom horse Wheres George made a late appearance in a race of any description as a 7yo back in January and appeared to be improving last season with his efforts including a good third behind Lord Lir at Ballyragget back in May, that was his only placing from four starts and he disappointed somewhat next time out when failing to step up on that effort when running fifth at Borris to Ifonlyalfie, he will be looking to get off the mark at the first attempt this season and a reproduction of that Ballyraget effort may well be good enough. Amongst his chief rivals is likely to be Eamonn O'Donovan's 8yo Four Or More who ran his two best races of a seventeen race career on his two most recent starts back in the spring when placed second at both Stradbally and Ballingarry in similar races to this. He appears best on a fast surface so any rain in County Limerick will be detrimental to his chances of getting off the mark at the eighteenth attempt. The opposite can be said for Checkoutmoscow who's two best efforts last season came on soft to heavy and heavy ground at Tralee when a distance second to West Cork Flash and at Killaloe when beaten less than fourteen lengths by Total Containment, he was pulled up behind Too Wild For Der who's since been competitive on the track on his final start of the season and though he's a 10yo he's relatively lightly raced and has clearly had his problems. Of the former rules performers preference is for Close Comet who was placed over hurdles during the Spring but who hasn't been seen since pulling up at Listowel in June.
Selection: Close Comet
Alternative: Four Or More
Good luck to all pointing this weekend and most importantly I hope all jockeys and horses return safely.
Martin
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