Elliott bidding for a fourth successive Mayo National Ballinrobe hosts its feature race of the year today with the €100,000 McHale Mayo National Handicap Chase the highlight on a seven-race card beginning at 4.30pm. Gordon Elliott has won this 2m7f test for the past three years with the highly progressive Western Fold landing the prize 12 months ago. The Cullentra House trainer is doubly represented this evening by Maxxum and Lucky Lyreen, with the former disputing favouritism in a typically competitive renewal which goes to post at 6.35. The Paul Nolan-trained Conyers Hill has attracted significant support this morning (12/1 into 9/2 with Betfair), while Baltic Bird and Mousey Brown have also been backed. The €30,000 McHale Mayo Handicap Hurdle (5.35) is the chief supporting race on a card with over €200,000 in total prizemoney, and the Emmet Mullins-trained Toll Stone currently heads the market at around the 4/1 mark. Willie Mullins and Paul Townend team up with two strong fancies as Daddy Long Legs (4.30) and Sony Bill (6.05) both hold strong claims. The going remains good, good to yielding in places, following a dry day and watering. Another dry and warm day is forecast with temperatures possibly as high as 25C.
