UK Horse Racing Tips: Ballinrobe

A useful stayer on the Flat when trained in Germany, ISMAHANE was fourth on her hurdling debut at Thurles in January. With the prospect of more to come, the four-year-old tops the shortlist. Witches Familiar, unplaced in two runs on the Flat in France, is related to several winning hurdlers and is from the family of Big Buck's. She starts off for the champion trainer and looks a likely contender. Urgent Whisper performed well in two hurdle runs at Killarney last summer.
Prediction : 1st Ismahane 2nd Witches Familiar 3rd Urgent Whisper

After winning on his hurdling debut, IMMEDIATE EFFECT ran creditably in a red-hot Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival. Below par at Naas next time, the Study Of Man gelding was back to form when second at Punchestown and has good claims under Danny Gilligan. Free-going Kai Lung hasn't been competitive in Graded company since winning at Naas in January, but is still preferred to stablemate Madness D'elle by Paul Townend. Munsif gets 7lb from his rivals, but has to leave behind a disappointing run when favourite for an Ascot handicap in March.
Prediction : 1st Immediate Effect 2nd Kai Lung 3rd Munsif

THE STORE BOY has a good bit of experience to draw on, including a fair handicap run at Leopardstown over Christmas, and the six-year-old can take this for Henry de Bromhead. Maxfort has the same rating as the selection and may improve for summer ground. Manoir De Mirande is consistent, but not progressive, and would probably prefer a longer trip after looking one-paced in recent starts.
Prediction : 1st The Store Boy 2nd Maxfort 3rd Manoir De Mirande

Winner of a Grade 3 bumper over 1m4f on his only start in France, MARCO DU SEUIL looks interesting here. A half-brother to useful hurdler and chaser Hercule Du Seuil, the Galiway gelding is unlikely to have come cheap after that debut success and connections will be hoping to see a prominent showing. Useful Flat handicapper Sea Eagle was runner-up on hurdling debut last year and looked booked for that position when exiting at the last at Tramore in April. Silken Thomas is another to note.
Prediction : 1st Marco Du Seuil 2nd Sea Eagle 3rd Silken Thomas

ASTELIA has been runner-up on five occasions in maiden hurdles and might make the breakthrough on handicap debut. Peter Fahey's seven-year-old gets in off bottom weight and should have come on from her first run of the year at Down Royal. Kabylia may benefit from the reapplication of a tongue-tie. Paul's Dream won two handicaps during a good spell of form last year and shaped well at Kilbeggan on her return from a winter break.
Prediction : 1st Astelia 2nd Kabylia 3rd Pauls Dream

A maiden winner on heavy, PICCOLO PLAYER gelding handled better ground when second at Kilbeggan last month and that form has certainly worked out with the winner and third successful on their next starts. On collateral form, Bhean Saibhre has a bit to find with the selection but she won her maiden at this venue last year. Desert Haven is held by Piccolo Player on Kilbeggan form, but he relishes good ground and was runner-up in this race a year ago.
Prediction : 1st Piccolo Player 2nd Bhean Saibhre 3rd Desert Haven

AINE'S LAD was progressive in staying contests early in the year and returns to action after three months off. He was an easy winner over a little further than this at Thurles in February, before being placed over fences later that month. His improvement came on winter ground, but he had fair form in good-ground maidens a couple of years ago. Ladiam was ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe when second in last year's renewal and he is back on board for the first time since. She ran well at Sligo recently on her return from a break. Empire Walk shaped well when third in a big-field handicap at Cork last time.
Prediction : 1st Aines Lad 2nd Ladiam 3rd Empire Walk

A brother to the yard's useful Flat, bumper and hurdles winner Sixandahalf, Gavin Cromwell's FIVEANDAHALF came in for market support in a Limerick maiden hurdle in March and shaped encouragingly when staying on into fourth. With that experience banked, the Snow Sky gelding might be sharp enough to take this. Like the selection, Brother Walfrid also switches from hurdling and he was a very creditable second in a big-field contest at Fairyhouse. Kiltinan disappointed in a point-to-point in November, but the fact that he was odds-on is significant and his trainer had a great time with his bumper runners last season.
Prediction : 1st Fiveandahalf 2nd Brother Walfrid 3rd Kiltinan