13:00 www.kinsale.ie 4yo Maiden
Asktheyank has had three starts without completing for owner Rita Byrne, each time with a different jockey aboard though that doesn’t tell the whole story as he was running the best race of the three last week at Glenbane and was still up with the leaders when coming to grief three from home and a repeat of that performance could see him in the shake up. Aubrey De Vere is another with completion issues in as much as he’s completed just once in three starts, that being on debut at Askeaton back in February, the form doesn’t look great with the winner being well beaten on all starts under rules and the runner-up finishing well beaten (though placed) in a British Point back in April. He made his seasonal return at Rathcannon last month and connections didn’t get much of a run given he ballooned the second and unshipped trainer/rider JT McNamara. Bakers Street has yet to complete in two starts – those coming in consecutive weeks back in May though again this doesn’t tell the whole story as he was still in contention when unshipping Declan Queally two out on the second occasion at Dromahane, he appeared to improve markedly for his debut run and that may well be the case after this seasonal return also. Sean Doyle’s Gold Well gelding Hollywell debut two weeks ago at Kilsheelan when partnered by Barry O’Neill, he finished third of the seven finishers beaten 1 ½ lengths by Sir Lynx having made mistakes throughout the contest, he may be better suited to this more conventional track and a stiffer test of stamina. Star Select disappointed last time out on his first start of the season at Castletown on particularly testing ground finishing 40+ lengths in arrears of winner Ballymoat having been sent off favourite. Star Select’s previous outing at Liscarroll on good ground and indeed his pointing debut was far more promising however as he was third beaten four lengths by Walkabout Creek, the ground was likely to blame for his latest poor effort and on a sounder surface he can go well. Selection: Hollywell
Alternative: Asktheyank
13:30 Kinsale for Christmas Shopping 5&6yo Geldings Maiden
There’s a monster 40 horse entry for this Maiden and in all likelihood this will be divided on the day. Imperial Vic narrowly failed to break his Maiden at the ninth time of asking at Tinahely three weeks ago on his seasonal return, he was beaten a head by Some Dude on that occasion and represents a solid yardstick in this contest. He’s also placed on no fewer than four other occasions and looks to have a leading chance on form in this. The Rattler O’Brien has had just one start to date, that coming back in March at Belclare when third of five finishers in a similar event to this, he stayed on to good effect on that occasion on soft ground though may well appreciate better ground. Devil May Care made a solid start to his racing career at Nenagh on heavy ground in January when third to Handy Andy (already a winner under rules) though he’s disappointed twice since for his high profile connections on contrasting ground conditions (soft to heavy at Rathcannon and good to firm at TInahely), his supporters will surely be hoping to see more from him here. Bearly Legal was recording the first placing of his career when finishing runner-up at Ballingarry on the final weekend of last season, his career had previously been blighted by jumping issues and he’d fallen on his previous two starts. Bearly Legal has been primarily campaigned on a sound surface and on his last run has the ability to be competitive in a race of this nature. Ardkilly Witness debuted in what looked a decent enough Maiden at Dromahane back in April, the winner has since joined a powerful UK yard whilst his next outing back at the same Cork track on the face of it was disappointing given he was beaten in excess of twenty lengths but it’s possible that he’ll be seen to better effect on a softer surface. Cromwells Road ran just last week in his first start of the season and in dreadful conditions he was seen finishing third to the useful prospect Betterthanalright, this might come a bit soon for him but he showed the same promise on that occasion that he’d shown when filling the same position at Tallow back in February, he’ll be one of the more experienced runners in the line up and that will only be to his advantage. Paddydcaddy made a promising debut at Dawstown in May when beaten three lengths by Instant Impacked, he has disappointed twice since then however, the most recent occasion being when seventh behind De Faoithesdream at Rathcannon and on a line through Betterthanalright would be held by Cromwells Road on the form of that run. Willowhill Warrior has had an outing in a Cork Maiden Hurdle since his last start of last season when stepping up on previous running to finish third to Inamalabulasaloon on good ground at Ballingarry and it would be good to see him reproduce that career best effort.
Selection: Ardkilly Witness
Alternative: Imperial Vic
14:00 South Union Hunt 5&6yo Mares Maiden
The Mares Maiden is up next and the clear form pick is Pat Crowley’s Brian Boru mare Molly Boru, she’s had just two starts thus far and both came last Autumn. The best of the two outings was surely the most recent in which she finished runner-up in a 4yo Mares Maiden to Mini Shan at Avaune. Connections employed front running tactics on this occasion having held her up when she unseated her rider on debut in October 2010 and though it’s a concern that she hasn’t been since she represents a clear form pick. Lunacorn ran well on her seasonal return (second start in all) when finishing runner-up to Nearly A Dream at Castletown earlier this month and though the race was run in a very slow time she showed ample reserves of stamina to come from off what appeared to be a slow pace and she could well improve on that in this event. Royal Progress was placing for the first time when finishing third to Rever Up at Inchydoney back in May, although beaten seventeen lengths this was a step up from her previous starts in similar Mares Maiden including her start prior to that which resulted in her being pulled up at Ballybunnion. Colin Bowe’s Miss Katelyn proved somewhat disappointing on her return to action at Castletown in the same Maiden contested by Lunacorn as she was sent off joint favourite but was pulled up and possibly found the prevailing heavy conditions against her. Prior to that Miss Katelyn had finished runner-up to Nanna Maura who’s twice been placed under rules since at Toomebridge. The most intriguing of the pointing debutants for me is the Susan Finn trained Effortless, a Beat Hollow mare who’s been plying her trade under rules, most recently at Listowel in June when falling behind Benefit Of Porter, she’s also shown up well in Maiden Hurdle’s behind Lisrenny Lady, Ella Watson and Ballyhaunis and so must be respected on her pointing debut.
Selection: Molly Boru
Alternative: Effortless
14:30 South Union Hunter Trials next Sunday Open 4yo+ (Mdns Excl)
Eugene O’Sullivan’s Giveabobback is a clear form pick if taking his return to pointing at Dromahane last weekend at face value. That Dromahane affair was run in shocking conditions and indeed was the last event run before the card was abandoned for safety reasons, he got to within a length of Rebel Chief. Giveabobback was making just his second appearance in points having been sent under rules following his facile success in a Dromahane Maiden last December, he’s still qualified for Winners of One races so it’s interesting that connections have him running in Open’s presumably with Hunter Chases in mind later in the season and hopefully he can back up last weeks effort here. Annacarton was one of the top newcomers a couple of seasons ago and was a decent performer last season when his wins included two in two days in a Tramore Hunter Chase and a Dromahane Open whilst his return this season was a solid fourth in a Ladies Open at Kilsheelan behind dual seasonal scorer Battlefront. Dr Doocey is a potential dark horse here and she’s a solid performer in Open’s and Mark Spillane’s mare has already run two solid races at the course in an Open and a Mares Open at the June meeting here in 2010. Her last run came when chasing home Hunter Chase winner Make It Better in a Mares Open at Cloyne whilst she scored at the Dungarvan meeting in February for her sole success last season. Lasquini Du Moulin has had two starts so far in points this season, failing to complete when pulling up behind Battlefront at Castletown and when finishing a seven length fourth to Tyrone Gold Rain on rain softened ground at Loughrea two weekends back. Hunters Ploy, My Lord Oscar and Glantara all pulled up when on their seasonal returns this time around and they can only be watched at this stage whilst the formerly useful track pairing of Clew Bay Cove and Perce Rock could making their pointing debuts along with Rebel Rover who’s been absence since October 2010.
Selection: Giveabobback
Alternative: Annacarton
15:00 Kinsale Pt to Pt Festival June Bank Holiday weekend 2012 Winner Of Three
A relatively small entry of twelve for this Winner of Three and the most intriguing entry for me is Jay Tobin’s mare Shers Dream who drops back into Winner of Three company for her seasonal return having not been seen since taking out the Mares Open here back in June, she beat Mismak by a length on that occasion and was recording back to back successes in the race having also won the race in 2010. Her Mares Open success will have surprised some given she’d been beaten in a Mares Winner of Two previously on her seasonal return but this lightly raced mare seems to love this South Cork venue given her only other attempt here resulted in her running out in the same Mares Open in 2009. West Cork Flash was an easy scorer in his Older Maiden at Tralee in January on soft ground and he’s since followed up on soft to heavy at Ballybunion in a Winner of One, his latest race resulted in him filling the runner-up spot behind Lizzie Fennell at Ballindenisk and though likely to improve for his seasonal return he appears on paper to be a leading contender. Rivazza was last seen when winning the hard way from the front at Kilsheelan in a Winner of Two two weeks ago under Paul King. Carl Dore’s gelding scored in a decent time that day having pulled up behind Isle of Gold on his return two weeks previously at Castletown. Rivazza was placed under rules as recently as April this year and looks capable of making the step up in grade to Winner of Three races such as this. Mistletoe Cottage showed up for a long way on his return from a near sixteen month lay-off at Tiinahely having had just one outing since finishing runner-up in a Ballingarry Winner Of One on the final weekend of the season in 2010. Harbour Hall probably needed his return to action from a long lay off at Castletown and he was noted making some late headway, albeit still finishing well off the pace as the final one of seven finishers in a Winner Of Two event so any support in the market should be noted. Commanchewardance scored twice for Denis Murphy on soft ground last season, firstly when beating subsequent winner Godsmejudge at Tinahely in January and most recently when taking out a Loughbrickland Winner Of One at the end of March. Commanchewardance then went on to contest the Fairyhouse pointers bumper but was no match for the potentially top class Simonsig in finishing mid division. This was still a smart effort and marked him out as being an above average pointer so a race of this nature is likely to prove well within his reach. Castle Lake was a consistent performer last season and her victories included an Open success at Lisronagh and two subsequent Open placings behind Tyrone Golden Rain at Ballindenisk and The Halfway Bar at Kinsale so the drop in grade may help her enter the winners enclosure again.
Selection: Commanchewardance
Alternative: Shers Dream
15:30 A Big Thank You to all our sponsors 7yo+ Maiden
There could be a maximum field of nine for this Older Maiden that concludes the card at Kinsale this weekend. Erins Lady has been seen out twice so far this season and has a one hundred percent place record as she’s finished third in both those starts. Her first start came on the opening day when beaten just over two lengths by Qoubilai before contesting the Mares Maiden at the Tinahely fixture, Dromrua Lass was a facile winner that day and Erins Lady lost the runner-up berth close home but she may have been disadvantaged by attempting to go with the eventual winner rather than coming from off the pace. Champagne Bullit had a disappointing 2011 with the closes he came to a win being an eighteen length fifth to Heavenly Brook in an Inch Older Maiden. Champagne Bullit’s previous form was far better however particularly his run in a 2009 Inchydoney Maiden when finishing second to Rossbro Hall, he was also beaten just less than five lengths in a similar affair at Ballindenisk in 2010 so hopefully connections can get him back to his 2009 form this season. Isitkittyorbaby has shown promise on her three runs in 2011, firstly when she was still in a handy position when coming to grief late at the third last at Kilworth in a Mares Maiden back in March before completing in fourth when fifteen lengths behind Tushana in an Older Mares Maiden whilst she was running a fair enough race on her return at Glenbane last week when pulling up before the last. Shannon Fall hasn’t been seen since May 2010 when completing for the first time in his four race career in a 7yo Maiden at Stradbally, he was sixth of the seven finishers on that occasion and this was a first sign of ability in that he was beaten less than twenty lengths, he’s been off a long time however and is very lightly raced for an 8yo. Oscar Gale and Wild Salmon could both make their pointing debuts whilst the 7yo mares Gurtera Cailin (Dushyantor) and How Do They Do It (Ridgewood Ben) could both making their racing debuts here.
Selection: Erins Lady
Alternative: Shannon Fall
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