UK Horse Racing Tips: Ballinrobe

BANNTOWN GIRL was outclassed in the Mares Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham last time but is up to landing a race of this standard. The Stowaway mare had run really well in a competitive mares handicap at the Dublin Racing festival previously, when a touch unlucky in third behind Ballybawn Belter, and looks well worth her official mark of 117. That sets a good standard in this. Broomfield Bijou looks an obvious danger coming here off the back of a good run to finish second at Navan last time. The Walk In The Park looked unlucky then as she had been badly hampered at the third last before running on well late on to get within half a length of We Got This. She had been running behind some smart mares previously and is a big player now in this company. Emotional Damage may improve from her initial effort at Naas and could get closer now.
Prediction : 1st Banntown Girl 2nd Broomfield Bijou 3rd Emotional Damage

FREE FLOWING looks the safest bet here off a nice weight. Richie Geoghehan takes 7lb off his back and he also gets half a stone off the previous winners in the field. The Sans Frontieres gelding has been placed on his two runs this season and despite making no impression on easy winner Demandrivingdouvan at Wexford last time it was still a solid effort to finish third. Sir Jimmy Mac looked talented when winning by a side margin on his debut at Downpatrick in March 2022. He weakened tamely in better company at Punchestown subsequently and it will be interesting to see how he gets on now over timber, on his first start for Mark Fahey. He is a free running sort and this ground is a concern. Singing The Blues showed a decent level on the Flat in England and is one to note on his jumping debut.
Prediction : 1st Free Flowing 2nd Sir Jimmy Mac 3rd Singing The Blues

Connections take 7lb off the back of CARBON KING now in a bid to offset his 13lb hike for a cosy victory at Navan last month. The Malinas gelding has won three of his last four starts and was value for a bit more than his winning margin last time. He goes from strength to strength and can strike again. Cafe Con Leche is another who won with a bit in hand last time and could be a danger. The Camacho gelding was produced with a late run to score by four lengths at Limerick and also went up 13lb for that cosy victory. Holmes St Georges has been running well over the water this winter and it will be interesting to see how he fares back on home soil.
Prediction : 1st Carbon King 2nd Cafe Con Leche 3rd Holmes St Georges

Barry Connell has his team in flying form and NINE GRACES can bag another win here. The Kapgarde mare opened her account in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown last time and that form has been boosted since. The runner-up Law Ella won subsequently while the fifth horse Jumping Jet has also scored. An initial mark of 112 doesn't look harsh for Nine Graces. The wonderfully consistent Optional Mix reverts to hurdles and is sure to run her race again. She could be the danger. Soldaro comes here on a hat-trick and has to be respected. She got another 8lb for her win at Downpatrick 12 days ago and this looks a slightly stronger contest now.
Prediction : 1st Nine Graces 2nd Optional Mix 3rd Soldaro

MADE IN THE WOODS has been in fine form over fences and it's no surprise to see connections try him over timber again now off a lowly mark. The Virtual gelding was runner-up four times this season before gaining a deserved win at Limerick. He ran a solid race off his revised mark at Wexford last time and now has a mark of 96 over fences. He races off the basement mark of 80 back over hurdles. Milajess has run a couple of promising races in maiden hurdles recently and could be a player here now, just scraping into the lowest grade of handicap. Holiday In Kerry ran well on his penultimate run at Clonmel, when finishing third, and is a player in this company at his best.
Prediction : 1st Made In The Woods 2nd Milajess 3rd Holiday In Kerry

ANKUD was beaten at a short price in Gowran last time but looks worth another chance here. The Nathaniel gelding had run really well on his debut when chasing home Cut The Rope in Naas but faded tamely enough later in January when a moderate third to D Art D Art. He's had a little break since and this looks to be a winnable opportunity now. I Wont Back Down was the subject of a substantial gamble at Thurles on his debut last month when finishing sixth to Factual Fact. It would be no surprise to him come forward from that run. Young Lucy has shown a bit in a few runs and could be place material in this company.
Prediction : 1st Ankud 2nd I Wont Back Down 3rd Young Lucy

RAINBOW TRAIL cost 220,000 pounds after a promising run on his sole point-to-point outing at Corbeagh House in December and now runs in the colours of Gigginstown. The French-bred lost out by half a length to Mint Boy on his debut and that rival has run well to be placed in a couple of bumpers this season. Backtonormal was third on his 'track' debut to a smart sort in Blizzard Of Oz at Cork and he looks an obvious danger. Lucid Dreams is a late starter having only made his debut at the age of eight last month. He ran a solid race to finish second over hurdles at Fakenham and the form of that race looked fairly ordinary. He is entitled to improve though and could grab minor money here.
Prediction : 1st Rainbow Trail 2nd Backtonormal 3rd Lucid Dreams