Review BALLINROBE 26th May

Favourite-backers got off to a disappointing start at Ballinrobe when odds-on shot Alexander Secret could only manage second in the opening Tipperary Water Median Auction Fillies Maiden.

The Charles O'Brien-trained three-year-old was left flat-footed when the front-running Flure De Leise kicked on heading into the far turn under 1000 Guineas-winning jockey Seamus Heffernan.

The moved proved decisive because the 5-2 chance stole a march on the market leader and although Alexander Secret went in pursuit, the chase was in vain and she still had a length and three-quarters to find passing the post.

Connections indicated that a Listed race in Germany in three weeks' time is next on the agenda.

O'Brien gained some compensation when Concrete And Clay landed a gamble in the Supermac's Ballinrobe/Claremorris Handicap.

Backed into 6-4 favourite, the four-year-old was always prominent under Fran Berry and seized the initiative from Alamgiye entering the home straight.

Berry didn't need to resort to the whip and the ease of the two-and-a-half-length triumph suggests Concrete And Clay could be a few steps ahead of the handicapper.

Ask Jack was the beneficiary of an enterprising Chris Hayes ride in the Tom "The Deadly" Brennan Handicap.

Having travelled in second for much of the one-mile-one-furlong contest, the 8-1 chance was booted into the lead as early as the top turn and never really looked like being caught.

Wesaidneveragain emerged as the biggest threat, but he could never quite get on terms with the winner who registered a one-and-three-quarter-length success.

Shannon Mist produced a 33-1 shock in an incident-packed Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase.

Backcraft was well clear going to four from home only to crash out, while Dark Bolero was going well when he came to grief at the second-last.

It was left to the eventual winner and Maucaillou to fight it out after the final fence, with the former proving the stronger and being good value for a length-and-a-half margin at the line.

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