Penance signs off for summer with a win

We had 5/2 joint favourites and an 11/4 shot in the McHale F5500 Baler Maiden Hurdle at Ballinrobe. In the end these were all trumped by 10/1 chance Penance Timi Roli (5/2) seemed like he might do it when dictating matters up front in the two and a half miler.

Ruby Walsh's mount wasn't long about looking vulnerable after a mistake at the last though. He was eventually mown down late by the Jonathan Moore-ridden Penance.

Tom Gibney trains Penance for the River Stream Syndicate and he said: "We took a chance coming here with the ground.

"He is a horse we thought wanted heavy ground and I never intended racing him at this time of the year.

"My horses were a bit sick in January and February and he was one of the worst of them.

"I was late getting him out and between the jigs and the reels we had to try and give him a go, especially after finishing second the last day at Downpatrick.

"I was even iffy about running him in Downpatrick, we took a chance and he seemed to handle it but that will definitely be it now anyway for the summer.

"Fair play to Jonathan he gave him a ballsy ride. He didn't panic halfway through when he was struggling to lie-up. Fair dues to the horse, I didn't think he was going to get there, but he did anyway."

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Thecraicisninety (GB), trained by C.Roche, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

(DM & EM)