The one race you do not want to miss at Ballinrobe on Monday

7.10 Ballinrobe
Tote Supporting Irish Racing Since 1930 Handicap | 3yo+ | RTV

Why is it interesting?

A first prize of €17,700 awaits the winner of this competitive eight-runner handicap, in which the Aidan O'Brien-trained Turnberry Isle makes a quick reappearance under a 6lb penalty, following an impressive victory at Killarney last Wednesday.

The Ballydoyle three-year-old’s rivals include the Ger Lyons-trained Zander, a maiden winner at last year’s Galway festival and who is having his second run back after being gelded.

Merited, trained by Denise Foster, is the only course-and-distance winner in the line-up after scoring here on yielding to soft ground in June.

Jim Bolger: takes aim at Ballinrobe pot with Thrifty OneCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Thrifty One, who represents Jim Bolger, will be making his handicap debut and racing on turf for the first time.

Having only his third outing, Rory Cleary’s mount won on his debut over a mile at Dundalk in March as Bolger elects to apply a first-time tongue-tie.

What the stats say?

Donnacha O’Brien, who rides recent Killarney winner Turnberry Isle, has the best course record of any rider involved in this race with a 33 per cent strike-rate over the past five seasons.

During the same period O’Brien’s father, Aidan, trainer of Turnberry Isle, has won with three of his four runners at the venue while Jessica Harrington, trainer of Charcor, has a 26 per cent strike-rate.

What the trainers say

Sheila Lavery, trainer of Quizical
I’m hoping they get the rain that's forecast as he hasn’t had his ground for a long time. He’s in good form but there’s a chance he just might need the run.

Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Turnberry Isle
He came out of his recent Killarney win well and is in good form. We wouldn’t want too much rain for him, though.

Denise Foster, trainer of Merited
She’s in great form and any ease will help. She handled the track well when winning over course and distance on soft ground last month. She’s in great form but this will be a bigger test.

Nigel Slevin, trainer of Takeachancejimmy
He ran very well at Bellewstown last time but he’s going up in trip and we can’t be sure that'll suit. It’s a good prize and he’ll give it a good rattle. Hopefully, they’ll get rain and the more the better.

What our tipsters say

Though possibly vulnerable under the 6lb penalty picked up at Killarney, TURNBERRY ISLE is still the most logical selection, since Takeachancejimmy is 3lb out of the handicap and is not certain to stay, and Charcor was beaten 7l in a four-runner handicap on his most recent start. Alan Sweetman

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