Ballinrobe preview

Vercingetorix bids to get back to winning ways as racing returns to Ballinrobe on Monday evening.

Gordon Elliott's four-year-old seemed to have a bright future when he hacked up in a maiden hurdle at Limerick over Christmas, and he was highly tried in the Grade One Spring Hurdle at Leopardstown, finishing sixth to Petite Parisienne.

He was subsequently turned over at odds-on in a Grade Two at Fairyhouse when eased two flights from home, but if anywhere near his best he should be too strong for the opposition in the Sheridan Electric Hurdle.

Stablemate Hostile Fire appears to be the main danger in this extended two-mile contest.

Elliott also has good prospects with Utmost Zeal in the Tipperary Water Maiden Hurdle. This son of Big Bad Bob has been collared when front-running in Navan, Downpatrick and Tramore, but might get home at this track.

The Costello McDermott 50th Anniversary Mares Handicap Hurdle is the feature race on the card and a cracking contest is anticipated.

Morga and Queen Alphabet are top-rated on 123 but Autumn Shades, in receipt of over a stone from the pair, looks sure to go well. She shed her maiden status on her penultimate run in Downpatrick and was then pipped by a neck in a handicap hurdle at Tipperary.

Pace And Passion was another to go down by a neck last time out and she has every chance of going one better in the Mulholland Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle.

She just failed to get up and beat Shaiyzar in a 20-runner handicap hurdle at Down Royal and this looks a good opportunity for her off a 2lb higher mark, with Mikey Fogarty in the plate again.

Sue And Isi was sixth in that Down Royal contest and has an each-way chance.

Elliott's Eshtiaal reverts to jumps in the Audi Ballina Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles after a placed effort on the level in Chester. Luckynumberslevin and By The Banks bring recent winning form to the table, though, and will be popular.

Shark Hanlon's It's All An Act has been off the track since October but was in smart form in the autumn when landing wins at Sligo, Fairyhouse and Punchestown, and he goes for his sixth career success in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase.

Elliott won the mares bumper last year and his Howayadoing should improve on her debut fifth in Limerick, though Aidan O'Brien introduces Rosshaven Lady, who sports a hood, and this one should be monitored in the market.