Review ballinrobe 26th Aug

< Special Tiara was a bitter disappointment at Ballinrobe, managing only third behind Fosters Cross (3-1) in the Donal Downes Water Towers Chase.

All appeared to be going to plan for the 4-5 market leader, who has a Grade One success on his CV, but his clear lead was eaten into by the eventual winner and he was headed two out.

Fosters Cross set sail for home and passed the post two and a half lengths ahead of Enjoy Responsibly who had Special Tiara nearly nine lengths further back.< Marakoush was sent off the 1-2 favourite for the Ballinrobe Ireland's Lake District Maiden and got the job done with the minimum of fuss.

Declan McDonogh was allowed an uncontested lead on John Oxx's colt and didn't have to resort to the whip, with his mount still proving seven and a half lengths too strong for Asbury Boss < Bell Of The Ball (7-1) broke through at the fifth time of asking on the level in the Follow Us On Facebook Handicap.

Willie McCreery's filly hadn't shown a great deal until a more encouraging performance on her handicap debut at Roscommon, and she swooped into the lead rounding the turn for home before scoring by two lengths from Grandma Dotty < Eric The Grey (11-2) was kept busy at the Galway Festival but showed no ill effects from that by landing the David Heneghan Memorial Rated Race.

Charlie Swan's four-year-old squeezed through a gap to challenge at the top of the straight and held the thrust of Truly Delightful by a half a length, with market leader Newton's Night only third.< Gold Focus (4-1) defied the steadier of 10 stone when produced from the rear by Kevin Manning with a perfectly-timed challenge to pip Pennys Angel to the JJ Burke Peugeot Handicap spoils.< Back Off Mate (7-2) jumped the last in the Corrib Oil Handicap Chase a couple of lengths behind the frontrunning Hellofado but stayed on best and prevailed in a tight finish.