BALLINROBE hosts what is in general a competitive-looking card today, but if the exception to that, Bahamian Beauty, can't win the opening Claremorris Maiden, then more than this scribbler will be having their eyes checked.
They certainly seemed to be working 11 days ago when Bahamian Beauty put up, in the context of today's contest, a sparkling debut performance at Tipperary. The Con Collins-trained three-year-old looked at one stage to have the winning of quite a classy looking conditions race, but when the pressure was fully applied she, understandably showed signs of greenness.
Nevertheless, she still was only beaten a short head and a length by Lil's Boy and Orange Jasmine,, and that is smart early season form. Jim Bolger will run Lil's Boy in one of the classic trials to see if his colt is up to the top class and if he is to figure there then surely Bahamian Beauty has to win today.
The opposition is hardly spellbinding and the experience Bahamian Beauty picked up from Tipperary should make her a still more formidable opponent today. Her price is unlikely to make her backers rich but they certainly shouldn't be poorer after today.
Apart from Bahamian Beauty, it may pay to leave the flat races alone. Both handicaps are trappy and it's hard to be too confident about any of the runners at this early stage of the season
A beginners chase is hardly the most confidence-inspiring betting medium either, especially when the selection hit the deck on its last outing. Nevertheless, No Tag was well supported down to favouritism to win at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, only to fall early in the race won by Royal Oasis.
A high-class handicap hurdler at his best, No Tag should be involved at the business end of the Water Towers Chase if he manages to jump merely adequately. Pat Fahy is sure to have schooled him extensively since Fairyhouse, and No Tag is selected to win from Without Equal.
If market support was ever a guide to a race it looked to be at Thurles in January when Aidan O'Brien's Rainbow Era was backed from 12 to 11 right down to 4 to 1 in a maiden hurdle eventually won by Marlonette.
Rainbow Era never managed to get a blow in that day but is clearly well regarded and the standard of the concluding River Robe Pat Race, apart from the sometimes unreliable The Boy King, is hardly likely to unsettle the O'Brien runner.
Double Colour has to give weight away in the Corrib Maiden Hurdle but, on the balance on his form, still has his chance of winning.
If ridden with slightly more restraint than he was at Thurles last time, then Clashbeg can go close in the Mayo Novice Handicap Hurdle and with Jim Bolger having started the flat season so well, his Via Bolero is the tentative choice for the Inishmaine Handicap.
. Aidan O'Brien will decide tomorrow if the National Stakes winner Desert King will make his seasonal reappearance in Saturday's Gladness Stakes at the Curragh. Desert King hasn't run since disappointing in sixth in the Dewhurst Stakes in October, but is among four O'Brien entries for Saturday's contest, the first Group race of the Irish season.
