13:30 Owning Hill Gallops 4yo Maiden
Run For Firth of Kieran Purcell brings the best form into the race and had three starts in his debut season in the spring. He was unlucky to run out mid-race on debut at Tramore in April but came close to making amends a week later at Lisronagh when going down by a length to the now Willie Mullins trained Make Your Mark. Run For Firth was a well supported favourite to make amends at the final Dromahane fixture of the season three weeks later but ultimately found two too good in the end, it was a solid end to a debut season and he looks more than capable of making amends this Autumn. Sir Lynx is another who’s contested a Dromahane Maiden though this time it was on debut when well beaten under a patient ride behind behind Hadrian’s Wall. He improved with every run and ended the season by being beaten less than two lengths by Gino Trail on the final weekend of the season at Ballingarry. Dushybeag made a promising debut at Dromahane in March when finishing sixth to Rock Of Allen, it’s possible that the softer ground was to blame for his subsequent defeat when pulled up behind Merry King at Lismore. The likely prevailing soft ground would be a negative but should the ground dry out at the Tipperary venue then he’s more than capable of going close. Balliniry Cross launched his season with a much improved effort on the opening day at Rathcannon, particularly when compared to his previous pulled up efforts in hot Maidens in the spring. Balliniry Cross is likely to come on for this run and he will have a fitness edge over many of his rivals. Sir Ladyswell started his career in promising fashion in a good ground Rathmorrissey Maiden back in March, although beaten 36 lengths he raced handy for most of the way under Declan Queally and if improving on that effort he could run well here. The negative to Sir Ladyswell is that on his only subsequent start he was pulled up in the Maiden at Dromahane won by Hadrians Wall. Yukon Delta who’s also entered in the equivalent race at the Loughrea fixture had just the one start last season when coming to grief late on when a staying on third in a Monksgrange Maiden, he represents the yard of Roisin Hickey who had two of the top 4yos of last term in her care and will surely be expecting to take out a Maiden at some point this Autumn with Yukon Delta.
Selection: Run For Firth
Alternative: Balliniry Cross
14:00 Local Trianers 5&6yo Mares Maiden
Flick Of A Switch is a long standing mare but represents the best form on offer on the back of her numerous close up finishes over the past 12 months. She was unlucky not to rack up another placing on her seasonal return at Rathcannon last month as she was still in touch and in with a big chance when falling at the last behind Count Your Change. Flick Of A Switch ended last season by finishing runner-up to the smart mare Rever Up at Inchydoney at the end of May whilst she also finished fourth to Jamie’s Darling in the Mares P2P Bumper at Cork the previous month. Her best form has been on a sound surface so any rain would appear to be detrimental to her challenge but she should go well. Another who failed to complete behind Count Your Change was Sean Osborne’s Gallant Express, a bad mistake at the third last put paid to her chances and she weakened very quickly and was pulled up, she’ll most certainly have come on for that run and her previous runs were very promising when fourth at Dromahane and when third on her debut at Castletown. She was ridden with greater restraint the last day which prior to the mistake appeared to be working so it will be interesting to see if similar tactics are employed should she take her chance here. Godico has returned to pointing this season after an unsuccessful spell on the track and she appears to be more at home at this level, she was a staying on fourth to Castletown on her first start since April though appears to want a greater stamina test so today’s sharp three miles may not play to her stance. Sing A New Song has had just the one start so far Diarmuid Ryan but it came in a solid 5yo Mares Maiden at Dromahane back in April, she was ultimately beaten when coming down at the last behind the useful Katie Do, Flick Of A Switch was in front of her that day but it’s not inconceivable that Sing A New Song could turn that form around. Walkers Oscar had been off the track for nearly 18 months prior to returning in a Mares Maiden at Rathcannon, she weakened approaching the last and it’s possible that it was too great a test of stamina at this stage of her career, the less testing track here will likely suit her better. Betty Ann is yet another who could re-oppose from that Rathcannon race, she was held up in rear for most of the race and wasn’t given a hard time when she was pulled up approaching two out, she should come on for that run and the experience will stand her in good stead here.
Selection: Flick Of A Switch
Alternative: Sing A New Song
14:30 Equinewarehouse.ie & Clonmel Oil Ladies Open 4yo+ (Mdns Excl)
There could be a maximum field of twelve go to post for this feature race at the Kilsheelan course and the runners are headed by the multiple Open and Hunter Chase winner Annacarton for Jimmy Mangan. Annacarton is improving all the time though disappointed in a Hunter Chase at Listowel on his latest start back in June, he was possibly feeling the effects of a busy season which included two wins in two days in April when first successful in a Tramore Hunter Chase and then successful in a Dromahane Open the following day. The bigger fences at Cork found Annacarton out at the end of the month though he made amends three weeks later under champion jockey Derek O’Connor when an odds-on favourite at Bartlemy. His main rival is likely to be the Ted Walsh trained Battlefront who’s likely to be partnered by regular jockey Katie Walsh. Battlefront was a very impressive victor in an Open at Castletown at the start of the month in a good time, the form has a very solid look to it as the only subsequent runner from this race was last weekends scorer Lord Multifix. Risk It Paddy is held by Annacarton on their Dromahane running back in April and went close in subsequent good ground Open’s back at that track when going down by a head to Conna Castle and when placed third behind Rowdy Rampage at Ballingarry on the final weekend of the season. He’s not getting any younger but is a credit to connections particularly in light of the near three year absence he had overcome prior to his return last season. Rossberry Lad had a good season last year with two good Open successes at Punchestown and Castletown to his name, he’s not been seen in action since finishing fourth to Conna Castle at Dromahane and he’s likely to improve for this seasonal return and will likely be of greater interest in future engagements. Wee Sonny could make his pointing debut for the Liam Lennon yard and he’s been mixing chasing and hurdling this Summer, most recently when a well beaten fifth at Sedgefield in August, he’ll come into this fit but has something to find with the principles.
Selection: Battlefront
Alternative: Annacarton
15:00 Dick Frisby 5&6yo Geldings Maiden
As usual with these Maiden’s there’s a healthy mixture of pointers and ex-rules performers and the Richard Morrissey trained Bach To Whitingbay has the best form on offer as he was six lengths clear jumping the last when set to beat My Dark Inishowen prior to tipping up. This stands out even against his other runs and he wasn’t able to reproduce that run back at the same track in April on a faster surface as he was well beaten by War Of Words. His debut came when fifth behind Buck Magic at Kilmallock back in 2010 and it’s probable that he’ll come on for his likely return to racing this weekend. Ballyness remains a Maiden for Sam Curling after seven starts but there’s been enough in those starts to suggest that he’s more than capable of taking a Maiden this season. Arguably his best run came when chasing home Moulin Tour at Tallanstown back in April on good ground, he’s run well enough on softer ground most notably when not beaten far behind Punchestown Festival winner The Baler on debut at the Tattersalls Farm meeting in October last year. Redbridge Rebel has had just the two starts to date with both coming at the Wexford venue of Lingstown back in March, firstly he was a good five length fourth to Allthekingshorses on good ground and he turned out two weeks later in similar conditions when third to Festival Bound. He was ridden with great restraint on both occasions and was seen to best effect at the finish suggesting a stiffer stamina test than this will suit in time. Springfield Grey tried his best to make all on his return to action at Castletown two weeks ago, he ran well for a long way on that occasion before ultimately fading back into sixth. This was a decent return and marked a change in tactics as he was held up when fourth to Lord Lir in a Ballyragget Confined Maiden on his only previous start in March last year. Miley Shah also contested that Castletown Maiden and stayed on at the one pace in his points debut having previously contested a couple of bumpers and a Maiden Hurdle for his handler. This marked a promising debut and he should prove more than capable of taking a Maiden this season. Emigrant Boy made a promising debut for Colin Bowe at Taylorstown last week when chasing home Hey R Fella, he was ridden handy that day and jumped with great proficiency before weakening to second late on. The experience is sure to benefit him and he could be a horse with a decent future under rules in time.
Selection: Emigrant Boy
Alternative: Redbridge Rebel
15:30 Oldcourt Saddlery Winner Of Two (4yo+) Mdn Excl
Maggies Boy is likely to be to the forefront of the market in this event having garnered plenty of experience in similar events last season. He only broke his Maiden at Avaune back in December but has since placed twice in winners events most notably when running Desertmore Valley to a length at Dromahane back in May, prior to that he’d run a sound enough race when finishing fourth of four finishers at Dawstown and his debut in winners company came when beaten thirteen lengths by a rejuvenated The Raven Hare at Carrigtwohill in February. Lion Valley is another with plenty of experience in these races and this will mark his second start of the season, the first being when parting company with jockey Aine O’Connor in a Winner Of Two race at Rathcannon last month. The partnership got no further than the fifth on that occasion but Lion Valley showed enough when chasing home Mickey Blue Eyes on soft ground at Dromahane last November to suggest he can be a force in this race. Sir Hands was a late recruit to racing of any sort and showed improvement with every start last season and took a Bartlemy 7yo Maiden in fine style from Dromahane on firm ground in May in the style of a horse who could be a real force in winners races this season, conditions are likely to be vastly different today but he looks a stayer with a future. Redavarra was well beaten on his first outing in winners company and ultimately pulled up at Ballyragget having broken his Maiden on his previous outdating at Ballydarragh, he seems to appreciate ground with give in it though that Maiden win stands out amongst the rest of his form and he is almost certain to improve for this return. Of the remainder Harbour Hall made a decent return to racing off of a near 18 month lay-off at Castletown two weeks ago, this was on vastly different ground conditions to those that he’s used to when staying on late in the day.
Selection: Maggies Boy
Alternative: Sir Hands
16:00 G O’Brien (Butchers), O’Donnell Crisps & Grange Management Consultants 7yo+ Maiden
Great Luso probably brings the best points form into this race on the back of his fourth to Sir Hands at Bartlemy in May. He was disappointing on his only subsequent start at Kinsale in June but was close up in a number of similar Maidens to this in the spring. Great Luso normally races handy and that could be an advantage on this track which has a sharp turn into the home straight so those coming from off the pace could be disadvantaged. Wherearewegoinow was off the track for over 18 months prior to returning under rules at Cork back in May, he was well beaten then but had shown promise in his last spell on the track back in 2009 most notably when finishing runner-up over hurdles at Listowel. Keep Movin hasn’t been seen since falling at the Galway Festival in 2010 but he’d previously shown promise over hurdles, most notably on heavy ground at Limerick behind Call The Police, his rules experience is likely to come in handy here and he makes his pointing debut for David Kelly here. Closely Related has mainly been contesting Mares Maidens for her connections and her best effort is arguably a two length fourth to the potentially useful Vicanol at Kilfeacle back in January, she’s also finished second since then at Killaloe but seems to be an in an out performer as she’s been pulled up in two of her last five starts whilst Close Comet showed enough on his return to pointing at Rathcannon to suggest that he’s more than capable of being competitive in this sort of race in the future.
Selection: Closely Related
Alternative: Great Luso
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