Mollies lands a gamble in Ballinrobe opener All The Mollies landed a gamble in the opener at Ballinrobe, the John Madden & Sons Claiming Maiden, providing her rider Killian Leonard with his fifth winner since last Tuesday. The Adrian McGuinness trained filly didn't show much on her first three starts, but was a close sixth on her handicap debut at Dundalk, before finishing eighth of twenty-two on her most recent start at Navan. Available at 33/1 this morning, the daughter of Intense Focus opened on-course at 10s before going off a 13/2 chance in the colours of owner Robert Morris. Settled towards rear on outer, she was pushed along and made good progress into second with over two furlongs to race. She was soon ridden in pursuit of the leader, and hit the front inside the final furlong, keeping on well to score by a length and a quarter. Tenth Amendment, who was the short-priced favourite in early shows, kept on well to take second at 7/2 under Colin Keane for Robbie McNamara. The 9/4 favourite Cul An Ti was a disappointing sixth for Sean Davis and Emmet Mullins. McGuinness said afterwards: "I was trying to get her in to the 0-65, the second race today, but she was eighth on the ballot and wasn't getting a run. I was kicking myself when I saw the two non-runners. "She was in wrong there today but she's a very honest little filly and she's improving. "She stays going, she's not fast, and I thought she might get outpaced early on but obviously the slower ground helped her. "Hopefully, if she's not claimed, she should win another handicap, provided the handicapper doesn't slaughter her. "Hopefully he won't as these claimers can end up like this. You see odds-on shots and favourites get beat in them, even when they are way in right they still get beat. "Thankfully I was on the right side of it this time as I've got two beat in claimers in the last couple of weeks! "The owner Rob Morris has a bar on the Thames in London. It's the first horse he's ever had with me. He's originally from Dublin and he wanted to have a horse in Ireland for his dad." All The Mollies was later claimed by the West to East Syndicate and she will be sent into training with Dot Love. STEWARDS REPORT * The Stewards requested a report from Adrian McGuinness, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of All The Mollies, placed first, as compared with its recent form. The trainer reported that his charge missed the break in Dundalk on her first handicap and ran well in the circumstances. He added that the horse struggled from a bad draw at Navan on it's last start. The trainer concluded by saying that today's drop in class on slightly softer ground helped his charge return to form. Having considered the report the Stewards noted the explanation offered. * The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Cul An Ti, trained by Emmet Mullins, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be blowing hard post race. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
