All roads will lead to Tramore for local racing fans on Thursday afternoon as the Graun Hill venue plays host to a planned six-race card.
Proceedings commence at 2.15 pm and Ebalista without doubt represents the best bet of the entire afternoon in the Guillamene Maiden over a mile and a half.
The John Oxx-trained Ebalista, a 75-rated filly by Selkirk, has finished in the frame on all three starts this year. On her most recent foray, Ebalista was beaten five lengths into second spot by Dress Rehearsal in a 10-furlong maiden at Naas in early June. Indeed, Ebalista led until the final furlong on that occasion and, whilst her fitness will have to be taken on trust here, she’s still recommended to open her account at the expense of Ridgey Didge.
Torina looks the part in the Sponsor A Race At Tramore Handicap. This Michael Grassck-trained filly stepped up markedly on her previous efforts by leading from the quarter pole to bravely repel Derrymore Dawn by a neck in a one mile six furlong handicap at Ballinrobe on September 22nd. Torina was duly raised 8 lbs for that display to a new mark of 55 and she’s likely to continue on her merry way here by proving marginally superior to La Petite Bleue.
Hampshire Express is a most interesting proposition in the Lisselan Ladies INH Flat Race. The Sean Aherne-trained Hampshire Express won a most competitive Inch maiden point-to-point on just his second career start in late March, although his task was admittedly greatly simplified when Finian’s Rainbow crashed out at the final fence. Hampshire Express represents the locally-based Kilmeaden Racing Syndicate and he’s taken to make a triumphant start to his racetrack career by beating To The Left.
Westways is clearly the one for the ‘getting-out stakes’ in the closing Graun Hill Handicap Hurdle. The Henry de Bromhead-trained Westways posted an effort rich in promise when beaten some two and a half lengths into second spot by I Don’t Know in a two-mile Listowel handicap hurdle in late September. I Don’t Know was rated 105 when winning that particular race and it’s safe to say that Westways won’t encounter anything of her calibre here. In all probability, Four On The Floor is the one most likely to chase home Westways.
Crowning Moment can continue trainer John Kiely’s excellent run by disposing of Tipper Road in the Waterford & Tramore Directors Handicap whilst Emergency Exit and Freemans Leap are a likely pair in the www.tramore-racecourse.com Maiden Hurdle.