DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
MONDAY MAY 25
Bank Holiday Monday looks set to be a beautiful day across the British Isles but the last thing most people would want to be doing is going for a run of 5k or more in 30 degrees plus of heat.
Therefore, spare a thought for our equine friends, particularly those at the three jump meetings today, who go out there and do battle today, and it would come as no surprise if some performances were affected by running in such conditions, which is worth bearing in mind when punting.
5.35 BALLINROBE
The handicap hurdle won by JACOVEC CAVERN at the Punchestown festival was highlighted by its very strong speed figure for the grade and even though Paul Hennessy’s gelding isn’t normally the most consistent of performers, a chance is taken he can buck the trend.
The seven-year-old had been chopping and changing between fences and hurdles throughout the season but he seemed to be happy back over the smaller obstacles and better ground at the Kildare venue and once picking up the running after two out, he never looked like relinquishing the advantage he had built up.
Registering an easy 11-length success, he took some notable scalps along the way and there is no doubt based on that form, he is the one to beat if in the same frame of mind.
Just in case he doesn’t hit the mark for the second time in succession, the safest policy is to play TOLL STONE, who chased home his old rival into third 26 days ago.
Emmet Mullins’ gelding was having his first outing since finishing second at the Galway festival 270-days prior, but that absence didn’t stop him from keeping on strongly from the back of the field to pick up the pieces for third place and the figure he posted in defeat was a career high.
Although he will no doubt have events at Ballybrit in two months’ time firmly his view, a decent pot here tonight is not to be sniffed at and, as a result, a positive display should be impending.
JACOVEC CAVERN – 1-point win@13-2
TOLL STONE – 1-point win@9-2
6.35 BALLINROBE
Hopefully conditions will have cooled down a touch by the time they run the Mayo National this evening and CONYERS HILL might prove the answer to what appears a tricky puzzle.
A much maligned character, it is probably fair to say he hasn’t won as many races as his talent suggested he might, but at the same time, he has run well in many competitive, strongly run handicaps at some of the bigger meetings and one of his better efforts in his career, certainly based on the data, was last time out at Punchestown.
Although Paul Nloan’s inmate couldn’t quite get to grips with the front-running Nouvotic at the Kildare venue, he kept on well to finish a creditable second after being given his usual patient ride towards the rear and considering that effort came following a 97-day break, there was no shame in getting beaten by a rapid improver under those circumstances.
Prior to that excellent performance, the son of Walk In The Park had found 3m1f on bottomless ground in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran a shade too taxing, but he did go well for nine tenths of the journey (one of only five to finish) and in the hope that tonight’s shorter trip on better ground plays more into his strengths, his high cruising speed can see him work his way into contention in the final half a mile.
CONYERS HILL – 1-point each-way@10-1