Ata Rangi

(Henry de Bromhead)

Curragh, November 5th

There was a little bit of money at some fancy prices for Ata Rangi in the opening mile maiden at the Curragh on Sunday, and while Henry de Bromhead’s two-year-old failed to hit the frame, there was enough about his staying on fifth to be optimistic about going forward. He came from further back than his better fancied market rivals, and really stuck to his task to leave those he was racing beside earlier in the race well behind him as he joined into the leading group. In finishing fifth, he was the highest placed debutant in the race, so this was a fine first effort on bad ground. (RG)

Expressova

(Sheila Lavery)

Curragh, November 5th

There is at least another win in Sheila Lavery’s filly Expressova off a mark of 72. On her first start over seven furlongs, she travelled smoothly into handicap won by Zephron, only to flatten out a little late on, eventually finishing eight lengths adrift. The winner won well, by six lengths in all, so Expressova was right in among the nearest pursuers, and this represented a fine comeback effort from finishing down the field in a listed race. That previous run wasn’t a disgrace by any means, but may have come a little too soon after her winning seasonal return at Cork. It may be that she is better off at six furlongs also but generally speaking, she has lots of scope to progress, be it at Dundalk or back on the turf next season. (RG)

Prairie Dancer

(Joseph O’Brien)

Curragh, November 5th

There could be a good handicap hurdle in Prairie Dancer this winter. Joseph O’Brien’s gelding has progressed nicely on the flat this autumn, most notably winning the November Handicap from the front at Naas. Tried in the Listed Finale Stakes at the Curragh on last Sunday, his chance more or less went after a sluggish start, given he is a horse who usually likes to race prominently. Still, the way he boxed on to get himself into contention in the straight was admirable, and in finishing where he did against superiorly rated rivals, he earned another 4lb hike in the weights, now up to a mark of 93. He struggled over hurdles late last season, as four going-on five-year-olds often do, but he has been given a chance by the handicapper accordingly, as he is now rated 135 over hurdles. He has since improved his rating 8lb on the flat so he is ripe for a big run back in a handicap hurdle. (RG)

Fine Point

(Jim Bolger)

Curragh, November 5th

Fine Point’s best days should be in front of him next season for the Jim Bolger team. A solid third to hugely impressive Ballydoyle colt Ocean Of Dreams on his debut at Leopardstown on October 21st, he turned out just over a fortnight later on similarly testing ground for this mile maiden and wasn’t helped by being drawn wide in stall 16. That may have dented some of his finishing ability, beaten a one-paced 10 lengths on this occasion in fourth, but he still had the vast majority of this 20-runner field behind him. By Awtaad, who has had just three individual two-year-old winners in Britain and Ireland this year, this half-brother to the stable’s listed-placed French Fusion could be one for an early-season maiden on easy ground next spring and looks up to winning races at three. (MB)

One Big Boum

(Philip Fenton)

Cork, November 5th

It could be worth keeping an eye out for the Philip Fenton-trained One Big Boum when stepping into handicap company, or potentially in a maiden hurdle for horses who have yet to be placed, having shaped encouragingly enough when seventh in an 18-runner maiden hurdle at Cork last Sunday. The four-year-old by Buck’s Boum has only raced twice, and once over hurdles, so he will not be eligible to follow either of those paths yet but he showed potential in defeat here while still appearing to be raw. He should have learned a fair deal for the experience and might be best suited to stepping up to two and a half miles in time. (MB)

Banprionsa

(Henry de Bromhead)

Cork, November 5th

Well-bred Kayf Tara five-year-old Banprionsa should have little trouble winning a mares’ maiden hurdle in due course after finishing second on her stable debut for Henry de Bromhead over two and a half miles at Cork. She was ridden a little more quietly than the winner, Abi’s Champ, and that race-fit, dual bumper winner managed to get first run on the Kenny Alexander-owned second. Banprionsa, who won a point-to-point by a wide margin at Lingstown in March, was returning from a 238-day absence and has every chance of improving for the run. The fact she was fairly solid in the market late on suggests she’s pretty well regarded. (MB)

Fenway Park

(Gavin Cromwell)

Cork, November 5th

Gavin Cromwell has his string in fine fettle at present and Fenway Park showed up fairly well without collecting in third on his hurdling debut over two miles at Cork. Carrying the colours of Chris Jones, the Malinas four-year-old travelled nicely but raced a little further back than the eventual one-two. As it turned out, he possibly lacked a little sharpness, or a gear, to throw down a serious challenge in the straight and he could have got away from the third and last flights more smoothly. However, he still advertised a healthy level of ability and might be at his best over further in time. This experience - just his second start after finishing mid-field in a Ballinrobe bumper in April - likely won’t be lost on him. (MB)

Poets Cottage

(Noel Meade)

Cork, November 5th

As Prairie Dancer was last year, Poets Cottage is a four-year-old who faces a difficult task in his first season in open company - albeit at a much lower level - but there was lots to be positive about from his first start. Cold in the betting for a two-mile handicap hurdle at Cork, he got himself into contention and impressed in the way he kept tabs with both Convers Hill and Showman in the straight, coming six lengths clear of Grange Walk in fourth. He looks sure to improve from this effort fitness wise and he’ll be better with more jumping practice - he was slow at a few hurdles here. (RG)

Tomjackwilliam

(Eoin McCarthy)

Cork, November 5th

It is never ideal when you finish second with a long gap back to the third place finisher from a handicapping point of view and that was the case with Tomjackwilliam, when he was just touched off by Como Park in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at Cork. However, there was enough in the run to suggest that he is progressive enough to go past that reassessment. Having raced prominently throughout, he battled hard when the race-fit Como Park came to challenge him on the outside, and he gave in by only a head at the line. This was his seasonal debut but he was continuing a progressive streak of form when last seen. A 6lb higher mark was warranted given the 16-length gap to the third horse home and needless to say, Eoin McCarthy’s gelding will be a tough nut to crack wherever he goes next. (RG)

Inothewayurthinkin

(Gavin Cromwell)

Fairyhouse, November 7th

The opening beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse on Tuesday won by Imagine looked a quality affair, for all that the returning Sandor Clegane (fourth) surely needs further and appears a candidate to improve for his first start back from a break. However, the staying-on second of Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin was particularly eyecatching in defeat, coming home smartly after getting out of his ground down the back. He was a useful hurdler last season, rated 137, and he should have more to come this term, given he is only a five-year-old. He ought to be tough to beat in a similar beginners’ chase with this introduction to fences under his girth. (MB)