The first entries for the Listed McHale Mayo National Handicap Chase, the most keenly anticipated event of the season at Ballinrobe, point towards a terrific renewal of the €100,000 showpiece.

Taking place on the evening of Monday, May 25th, the big race attracted 24 nominations from 18 different stables at the preliminary stage.

Trainer Gordon Elliott has lifted this trophy for the last three years. In 2025 he succeeded with Western Fold who won the Tote Galway Plate by over four lengths on his next start and concluded the season a Grade 1 champion at Punchestown.

This year Elliott relies on Maxxum (rated 143) and Lucky Lyreen (125). The former is owned and bred by Athenry-based Patrick Rabbitt and is the winner of nine races throughout a fine career.

Highest-rated of the field is Perceval Legallois (146), one of three entries by Gavin Cromwell and twice a listed winner. The Meath trainer may also field a strong challenger in the form of Me Wee Bonnie Lass (124), who won by ten lengths in a listed mares’ handicap chase at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival. Invictus Machin (129), a Listed runner-up two starts ago, is also engaged for Cromwell and is one of four possible runners owned by J.P. McManus.

Grade 2 winning hurdler and Listed-placed chaser Rocky’s Diamond (145) is engaged by Waterford handler Declan Queally. The six-year-old will enter the race fresh, not seen in public since January.

Another to catch the eye at this early stage is Nowwhatdoyouthink, trained in Tipperary by Ray Hackett. He is on a career-high mark of 142 in the wake of two very good performances last month: a comfortable Grade 3 success at Cork followed by an excellent third in Western Fold’s Grade 1 at Punchestown.

Henry de Bromhead has two potential candidates headed by Cobra Queen (128) who had a progressive profile before contesting a Grade 2 at Wincanton last November. She has winning form at Ballinrobe over hurdles.

Wexford’s Paul Nolan is also doubly represented, the higher rated of his pair being Conyers Hill (134), a Grade 3 runner-up at Punchestown recently.

Manager of Ballinrobe Racecourse, John Flannelly, said: “We are delighted to see strong entries for this year’s McHale Mayo National, which is shaping up to be a very competitive contest in our feature race at Ballinrobe, one that everyone looks forward to each year.

“This will be the 13th year of McHale Raceday and it continues to grow thanks to the support of our sponsors, McHale. It will be a great evening on Monday May 25th and we are also delighted that TG4 Rasai Beo will again broadcast the meeting live.”

Click here for the entries to the Listed McHale Mayo National Handicap Chase on Monday, May 25th.