Mordor should continue on his winning ways in Ballinrobe

Henry de Bromhead should take the BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Chases with Dancing On My Own

Mon, 26 Aug, 2024 - 02:00

John Ryan

Irish preview

Mordor should continue on his winning ways in the featured Hollymount Nursing Home Handicap Hurdle in Ballinrobe.

The Gordon Elliott-trained four-year-old has been in tremendous form this summer, winning three of his last four starts, and is expected to confirm Galway novice hurdle form with Pigeon House.

Mordor stayed on late to chase home Feud at Ballybrit, with Pigeon House six and a half lengths back in third.

The selection is 2lb. worse off with Jessica Harrington’s charge today and should confirm his superiority.

Mordor won his maiden hurdle in Sligo, slamming another of today’s rivals Leitzel, before taking a flat maiden in Killarney.

Last time, he built on his solid Galway effort when readily brushing aside talented but quirky older rival Dollar Value in Downpatrick. And he’s expected to register his fourth win of the summer here.

Later, fresh from his ‘Ebor’ success with Magical Zoe, Henry de Bromhead should take the BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Chases with Dancing On My Own.

Rated 152, this ten-year-old, last seen when runner-up to all-the-way scorer Gaelic Arc at Killarney last month, has been found a golden opportunity and should prove a cut above his four rivals.

Dancing On My Own has triumphed three times over fences, including notable handicaps wins, off marks of 144 and 151, at Aintree (April of last year) and Cheltenham (last October) respectively.

Suited by race conditions, Rachael Blackmore’s mount appears to have a straight-forward task here.

And, in the bumper, Paddy Twomey’s Seo Linn, second to the Mullins-trained odds-on favourite Kalix Delabarriere on her debut at this venue back in May, should open her account.

We also have action in Downpatrick this afternoon, where the Gerry Keane-trained Ragmans Corner might recoup Ballinrobe losses in the Ulster Carpets Handicap Hurdle.

Backed into 7/4 favourite, this five-year-old, keen early and hampered at the second last, was collared late by The Vegas Raider in Ballinrobe, for which he has gone up 3lb.

But the Kalanisi gelding, fourth to Shoda in a flat maiden in Galway on his previous starts, appears to be on the upgrade and is expected to give Jack Kearney his first win over hurdles.

And, unplaced on his Irish debut behind Busselton in a flat handicap in Galway, the Mullins-trained Stormbreaker, a dual-winner in England, might outpoint Intense Approach in the Randox Maiden Hurdle.

DOWNPATRICK

John Ryan

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