Button Could Pop Up At A Big Price At Ballinrobe

I think we did okay at Ascot where the highlight of the week for us was undoubtedly Accidental Agent’s last gasp win in the opener at odds of 33/1. However, it could and probably should have been even better if Sir Chauvelin had managed to find space a furlong earlier than he did and he rates as an unlucky loser at odds of 66/1.

Arthur Kitt was the most heart warming story of the week, and I was thrilled for his owners. The horse I was most disappointed with was Eminent as I believe he is a horse with huge talent. His temperament just lets him down, but if he learns to settle he can prosper in the second half of the season.
 

Conor Hoban will be hoping for a clearer run on Button Popper. 

Ballinrobe is one of my favourite race tracks to visit and it is always tremendously well supported by the locals. The sun will be shining there tomorrow and if you have a chance to go I highly recommend it. I won’t be travelling myself, but I will be backing one for small stakes each way in the 10f handicap at 6.20.

Augustine Leahy is a trainer who I have a lot of respect for and I think his daughter of Sayif, Button Popper, could go well at a big price. This filly endured a luckless passage behind Rockfish off a mark of 47 last time at Gowran Park (9.5f gd/fm) and she ran a lot better than the distance she was beaten suggests. She ended up finishing 7th of 16, beaten just over 6L, but she was denied a clear run on more than one occasion and she could have finished closer.

She has been dropped a pound to a mark of 46 after that decent effort and the form of that race has worked out rather well. Smiling Eliza was a length ahead of Button Popper in 6th and she won off the same mark next time out. The 3rd home Innomorare won a Roscommon claimer on her next outing, while the winner won again off 6lb higher on his next start with a couple of Button Popper's rivals today well behind.

Button Popper has been drawn wide in stall 13 but they have plenty of time to sort themselves out before they hit the first bend at Ballinrobe and high draws are not as big a disadvantage as they can be at other tracks. Hopefully she breaks well for Conor Hoban and slots into position behind the early pacesetters before they hit the turn.

Another positive is her trainer’s fine record at this track, especially on the flat. He has had a total of 92 runners with 10 wins, 26 places and 10 fourths. That is a frame hitting strike rate of exactly 50% and it suggests that he targets races at the track. Hopefully he boosts those excellent track stats with Button Popper this evening, and at odds of 25/1 it is worth taking a chance that he does.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 6.20 BALLINROBE: BUTTON POPPER E/W @ 25/1