13:30 Tom Costello Jnr 4yo Maiden
Yet another decent looking 4yo contest with a number of contenders bringing placed form from both this season and last into the race. One of the more unlucky horses in this is Paul Gilligan’s Croco Rouge gelding Wonderhow, a faller on both his starts thus far. His first mishap came when he was still in the shake up having been headed when falling at the last whilst he again attempted to make all when reappearing at Rathcannon on the opening day of the season and he was clear of his rivals when falling at the fifth. Wonderhow clearly has some jumping issues but appears to be a horse of well above average ability and he’d appear to be the one they have to beat. Grandturgeon is another who’s had just the two starts thus far and they both came last season, firstly when getting to within four lengths of Hadrians Wall when finishing fourth in a six finisher Dromahane Maiden in April and most recently when running Kilcrea to a length when runner-up at Ballindenisk in early May. Both those starts represent solid form and being by Turgeon you’d expect he’ll only get better with age. Aubrey De Vere is another who’s had his jumping frailties exposed with his only completed start coming when a three length fourth to Killiney Castle at Askeaton though he was still upsides eventual winner Tackmaster when falling at the last at Rathcannon in late February. Aubrey De Vere returned to Rathcannon on the opening day of this season in the race contested by Wonderhow but got no further than the second on that occasion. Yukon Delta was staying on nicely in third when falling two out in a Monksgrange Maiden in April last season, that’s been his only start thus far but he’s sure to improve for the run and the yard had two of the top 4yos in 2010/11 and Yukon Delta is sure to have improved for that initial outing whilst stablemate Billy Twyford (Brian Boru X The Distaff Spy) is also engaged. Sir Lynx is one of the more experienced entries in this with the three runs last season to his name, the third and final one being arguably the best when finishing runner-up to Gino Trail on the final weekend of the season at Ballingarry. A change in riding tactics seemed to suit for his final two starts and he looks more than capable of scoring at some point this season.
Selection: Grandturgeon
Alternative: Yukon Delta
14:00 Pier Head Bar & Restaurant 5&6yo Geldings Maiden
A large entry for this including a number who’ve alreadrey been seen out this season. One of those with form but making their season reappearance is Eoin Doyle’s Dream Choice who was placed on both his starts in the early part of 2011 most notably when chasing home the potentially top class Rolling Aces on his second start at Lismore. He’s only ever raced on ground with cut in so today’s conditions should prove no problem to him. Dream Choice’s debut came when third to Rev It Up at Rathcannon back in February – it’s of slight concern that he didn’t reappear after the Lismore effort and it will be interesting to how he’s progressed over the summer. Wild Irish is more experienced than most in this race and is sure to come on for his season reappearance at Tinahely last week when beaten some way by Some Dude in the 6yo+Geldings Maiden, he’d shown some ok form last season most notably at Sligo back in May when beaten four lengths by Cornerhouse Sam when last of five finishers on yielding to soft ground. Gale Force Oscar was sent off favourite for his season reappearance at Rathcannon and made some late progress in fourth behind the impressive De Faoithesdream and he was possibly unlucky not to break his Maiden last season as he appeared to be going best of the principals when falling at the second last in a race won by Bringbackthebert at Loughanmore. The most interesting of those dropping back into points from rules racing is Gearoid O’Loughlin’s Gallant Oscar who had two starts in the UK last season, the best of which coming when fourth to dual points scorer Minella Stars at Hereford whilst Master Of The Game was making a bold bid for victory from the front when falling at the second last in a Kilfeacle Maiden won by Celtic Twilight back in January.
Selection: Dream Choice
Alternative: Gale Force Oscar
14:30 W. B. Gavin Solicitors & Paurick O’Connor Winner of three (mdns excl)
Another good entry for this winner of three contest which could feature a return to points for the Paurick O’Connor trained Tullymackan who was a victor at this meeting last year in a Winners of Two, he led nearly all the way on that occasion and has been tried without success under rules, most recently when beaten in excess of 100 lengths behind Lios A Choill in a Navan Maiden Hurdle back in February. Present Citizen took out a Winner of Two at Ratchannon when partnered by Maxine O’Sullivan on the opening day of the season, he travelled well into the race and won a shade cosily in the end suggesting that he can be a force at this level. He had the benefit of race fitness as he’d been tried under rules since his previous points start when pulling up in a Ladies Open at Dromahane in May. Poplebouchon has been well beaten in Winners races of late and this would look a tough task on paper, it’s possibly that a sound surface has hindered his chance on his two most recent starts and his best start recently is surely his third to Atlanta Falcon in a Winner of One event at Askeaton back in February. Isle Of Gold has won his last two point starts spanning nearly a year, firstly when winning a Two Winner event at Rockfield last November and most recently when taking home a similar even at the Castletown fixture at the start of the month, the runner-up from that Castletown victory was a fortunate scorer at TInahely over the weekend so that gives the form a solid look. Isle Of Gold was tested under rules with limited success between those two point starts with the best effort coming when fifth in a Maiden Hurdle at Sligo back in May. Dark Vagabond was also successful at that Castletown fixture when defeating Maduma in the older horse Maiden for trainer Ian Madden. He steps up in grade here and will have to improve to figure. There are a number of horses returning from long lay-offs and it will be interesting with regards to future engagements to see how these get on.
Selection: Isle Of Gold
Alternative: Present Citizen
15:00 Dartfield Open 4yo+ (Mdns Excl)
There could be a maximum field of thirteen for the feature race at the Galway Blazers fixture and Castletown winner Battlefront could attempt to make it two for the season for trainer Ted Walsh and daughter Katie after scoring by 12 lengths from subsequent Taylorstown scorer Lord Multifix in a decent time in his first start in points in over two years. This race could mark the return of former Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite and Foxhunters winner Kingscliff who hasn’t been seen out in nearly two years, he was a winner of this race in 2009 having previously scored in an Eggesford Open in the UK in April of that year. His Only subsequent start came when chasing home Top Twig at Rockfield in November 2009 and one can only assume that he missed the rest of that season and the whole of last season due to injury, at 14 he isn’t getting any younger but it will be good to see him back on the track. Risk It Paddy was a consistent performer last season and was last season when chasing home Rowdy Rampage who’s since scored under rules when third at Ballingarry on the final weekend of the season, Risk It Paddy and regular pilot Jane Foley had missed out by a head on their previous start at Dromahane when narrowly edged out by Conna Castle. Fourth on that occasion was the Sharon Dunphy trained Rossberry Lad who was bouncing back to some form following a poor effort when odds-on favourite for a Stradbally Open in April, he’d previously had two open wins at Punchestown when beating Aces Or Better and at Castletown when beating Up N Under, these bookended a venture in Hunter Chases when pulling up in Gowran’s Tetratema Perpetual Cup. Hoopy was well beaten by Battlefront at Castletown but this was his first start in points and this greater test of stamina is sure to play into his hands. The Book Thief was a fairly useful novice hurdler a couple of seasons ago and he makes his first foray into points having struggled somewhat over fences – however a watching brief is advised on his first start in this field.
Selection: Battlefront
Alternative: Rossberry Lad
15:30 Pat Dillion (Stonyisland Farm) 5yo+ Mares Maiden
Twentyeleven is likely to feature prominently in the betting for this on the back of her filling the runner-up spot behind Count Your Change at Rathcannon in a Mares Maiden on the opening day of the season, that was her first run since a Maiden Hurdle in June and she’s likely to improve for that outing. Martin Murray’s Strange Bird could make her seasonal reappearance in this, she chased home Dontbecodnme in a Castletown Mares Maiden before unseating when badly hampered at the final fence in a Ballindenisk Maiden at the start of May, she was unlucky on this occasion and is sure to gain compensation at some point this season. Artic Palm is another to have had a run so far this season – in her instance it came when contesting the older Maiden at the Rathcannon fixture, she was fourth behind easy scorer Quobilai but is likely to improve for that given it was her first start in points and connections will surely be looking for another good effort on her second point-to-point start. Maeves Delight gained some invaluable experience in points last season and ran a career best effort on her final start of the season at Kinsale in June when runner-up to Merramax, she raced handy on that occasion as she’s done in most of her more recent starts and had one outing under rules during the summer when well beaten in a Limerick bumper. Mrs Thriller is a long standing Maiden who contested some good Mares Maidens last season with her best placing behind a third at Belclare in a race won by Knockiel Spirit whilst she also finished seventh behind the potentially very decent Noosa at Durrow in February, this race could mark her return this season. Nora D hasn’t been seen in action since April 2011 when she was placed behind Scarlet Butler at Quakerstown, she had unseated on her previous outing at Inch but appeared to be turning a corner form wise as prior to that she’d run a good race behind Upton Ola at Templemore.
Selection: Strange Bird
Alternative: Twentyeleven
16:00 The Turf Club 7yo+ Geldings Maiden
Not Before Eight should prove tough to beat in this on the back of his runner-up spot behind Onefortheroad Mac (a winner since) at Toomebridge at the start of the month, that was his first foray into points this time around having previously run with great credit under rules during the spring. Watchovia ran with great credit last season when chasing home Instant Impacked at Dawstown and Sir Hands at Bartlemy, he’d previously placed in a similar race to this at Leadington and seems to handle all ground conditions. Close Comet was well beaten in the Older Maiden at Rathcannon but is sure to improve for his first start since June and he’d previously shown some useful form under rules at the minor jumps courses. The field is rounded out by Fancy Pat who was pulled up in the Older Maiden that Close Comet contested and was pulled up on his only two starts in backend Maidens last season whilst Lord Hear Us could make his point debut for Paul Gilligan, he’s had just the one start so far well last of five behind Tornedo Shay in a Bumper in November 2009.
Selection: Not Before Eight
Alternative: Watchovia
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