'He's ready to go' - trainer quotes for the eight-race card at Ballinrobe

Tuesday: Ballinrobe

Gordon Elliott has been a profitable trainer to follow around Ballinrobe in recent years, and the Meath man heads back to the Mayo track with a strong squad for eight-race card.

Elliott has had 41 winners from 293 runners at Ballinrobe for a strike-rate of 14 per cent, with Willie Mullins the only trainer who has saddled more winners at the track.

The progressive Lieutenant Highway spearheads the Cullentra House team in the 2m1½f rated novice hurdle (6.00), with the five-year-old bidding for a hat-trick.

Lieutenant Highway arrives on the back of a success in a similar event at Downpatrick last time, backing up his maiden hurdle win at Clonmel in May, and Elliott hopes he can continue to progress.

Lieutenant Highway leads the pack on his way to victory at Clonmel in MayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

He said: “He seems in good form. He’s going the right way and is ready to go again. We’re looking forward to seeing how he goes.”

The trainer also holds a strong hand in the feature 2m5½f handicap hurdle (6.30), with Bravo Team seeking to return to winning ways.

Third in a rated novice contest at Roscommon last time, the six-year-old was an impressive winner of a Down Royal handicap hurdle on his penultimate start and has Jack Kennedy in the plate once again.

“He seems to be in good form – he’s a bit hot and cold, but we’re looking forward to running him,” said Elliott.

Bravo Team's task will not be straightforward with the consistent Island Mahee a lively player in the €15,000 contest.

The eight-year-old was impressive when landing a handicap hurdle at Cartmel on her last start, and trainer Stuart Crawford is confident his mare will put her best foot forward.

He said: “She’s been consistent this season. The plan was to go back to Cartmel, but it looked like she'd be given a lot of weight if we went there, so we felt this was a better option.

“She’s fairly straightforward and is flexible as regards the trip. She’s in good form and the tight track should suit – she should be competitive."

Tuesday previews:

'She has a lot of speed' - trainer quotes for the key races at Musselburgh

Musselburgh course guide: ground, draw and tactics plus Paul Mulrennan's view (£)

Ballinrobe course guide: tactics and ground plus Danny Mullins' view (£)

Sign up here. New customers only. First single and each-way bet only. 5p minimum stake. 3 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non-withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply. 18+. begambleaware.org