It was great to get a winner on the first day of the season with The Abbey scoring at Down Royal.

We have a lovely small team heading to Ballinrobe with BALLINLOUGH GALE being our first runner in the Opportunity handicap hurdle over an extended 2m. He has dropped a few pounds in the handicap to a mark where he has been productive at before. Danny Gilligan has been booked to ride but won’t have use of his claim here.

In the beginners chase over 2m1f we have HAMUNDARSON. This horse had a really nice run first time over fences and should line up well here. He always does well at home and hopefully chasing is his game. Danny Gilligan has been booked to ride and claims 7lbs.

PATS CHOICE has hit a really nice stream of form now and is hopefully well positioned for another good run here with Danny Gilligan booked to claim 7lbs.

Our last runner of the evening is ARABIAN DIAMOND in the bumper. This horse ran a very credible race on debut in a maiden hurdle where he was 6th. That experience should place him above a few here and will be ridden by Harry Swan who claims 5lbs.