ON an evening when Ballinrobe launched their free racecourse Wi-Fi – the first Irish track to do so – Ben Coen grabbed the headlines by riding a 98/1 brace. The Wi-Fi seemed to be well-received by the healthy attendance.

There was plenty of activity in the betting ring, where Edward ‘Baldy’ Flood’s pitch lay vacant on the day of his burial in Maynooth.

Many of Flood’s colleagues were likely thankful to see Burning Question ‘chinned’ by the Ben Coen-ridden Stormy Tale (10/1) in the Tote Handicap.

Larry Mulvany’s grey got up on the line to win by a head, and the winning owner’s son Michael trains the daughter of Stormy River.

At an improvement in form enquiry, the trainer stated that his charge was unsuited by the good-to-firm, firm in places ground at Navan on her previous start. The yielding ground here allowed her to let herself down.

Mulvany also said that his filly had shown better form on tighter tracks and the stewards noted these explanations.

Both Dream Point and Brass Button came to grief on the sweep towards the straight. Thankfully the horses and their respective riders, Donnacha O’Brien and Alan Persse, were okay afterwards.

O’Brien and Persse were in agreement that the track good condition but their respective mounts were racing wide at the bend when they lost their hind legs for no apparent reason. Persse added that he was unable to keep his balance and got unseated.

Having considered the evidence and viewed a recording of the race, the stewards noted the riders’ comments.

Sheila Lavery, trainer of runner-up, Burning Question, had two other runners in here as well. Her Danehill Quest finished fifth and he was reported to have lost a front shoe.

DOUBLE

The 98/1 Ben Coen double was complete after his success on the West To East Syndicate-owned and Dot Love-trained Solar Heat (8/1) in the Tote Apprentice Handicap.

Favourite Sunnyhill Lad (7/2 into 11/4) disappointed badly here, beating only one home, and he was said to be blowing hard post race.

Up front, Solar Heat was really on her game as she sauntered home by 11 lengths from Lleyton.

Love’s assistant, Ciaran Murphy, described Solar Heat as “a tricky customer,” but in this sort of form she could be difficult to contain in her intended target, the Easyfix Handicap Hurdle at Galway on Monday evening.

Almontaser (8/1) was said to have hung left in the straight after his fourth-place effort. Ross Coakley said his mount was a big raw horse who was not best suited by the track and had nowhere to go off the bend at the end of the back straight.

He also reported that Almontaser hit a ridge before the turn into the home straight, got unbalanced, but ran on well in the closing stages.

ADO AGAIN

The opening Tote Claiming Race went the way of favourite Military Hill (3/1) for Ado McGuinness and Shane Foley. Sean Gallagher owns the half-length victor and afterwards he claimed the fourth-placed Rise Again for €5,000.

Trainer Ado McGuinness said: “He’s a bit of a monkey and Shane said he didn’t really want to win. He’s very hard to win with though he’s been consistent.

“I don’t know where we’ll go if he’s not claimed and it’s just nice to get a winner for Mr Gallagher who is a very good patron of mine.”

Several punters were in clover again after the second race, the Win Big With Tote Maiden. National Wealth 9/4 joint-favourite and Active Approach (5/2) had the experience, but newcomer Mutaabeq, 9/4 joint-favourite, was very strong in the market – and with good reason as it turned out. Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Teofilo colt comfortably accounted for National Wealth and Active Approach.

Declan McDonogh, was impressed with Dermot Weld’s charge, saying: “I’d say he’s a nice type of horse going forward. I liked him at home but coming here first time you never know how they’re going to handle it. Hopefully there’s a bit more in him.”

Owner-breeder John Malone’s decision to house Elm Grove (14/1) with Madeleine Tylicki, paid instant dividends under Billy Lee in the Win Big With Tote Handicap.

Tylicki’s partner Andrew Kinirons was on lead-up duties with this feature-race winner.

We could see Elm Grove again at Galway next week and the trainer said: “I really appreciate this filly being with us – she’s a great one to have in the yard,” after a neck win from California Lad.

NICE WIN

Champion jockey Colin Keane made his journey to County Mayo for one ride pay off, as aboard Willie Mullins’ Small Bit Of Love (3/1), he took the extended mile and five-furlong Tote Handicap.

Joe Burke owned and bred the Tagula four-year-old. She seemed to benefit from the addition of a tongue-strap to shed her maiden tag on attempt number seven. Head Turner was well-supported, but she could get no closer than a length and a half to Small Bit Of Love. After the race Keane commented: “I suppose she had the form coming here – her last run was a good run in Dundalk. The step up in trip was a help as well. We went a nice gallop the whole way. I’d say there’s another one in her.”

Strong 5/2 favourite Bibliotheca cut out the running but she weakened from three furlongs out to finish sixth of the seven.

Backers of the market-leader fared better in the Win Big With Tote Maiden as, in the silks of Orla O’Connor, Colm O’Donoghue brought Holding Pattern (11/10) home with five and a half-lengths to spare.

There was an enquiry as it appeared the second horse, Treasure Chest, ran off the last bend and collided with Party Playboy, who was in third. The stewards made no alteration and took no further action.

“It was her first time out of stalls and she settled and travelled great. She loved the good ground and at the end she was really running strong,” reported O’Donoghue of Holding Pattern.

“Mrs Harrington was very happy with her and she said her work had been great. She was expecting her to run a nice race.”

ACTING STEWARDS:

R. Groarke, D. Pugh, R. Mahon, J. O’Shaughnessy, H. Hynes

HORSE TO FOLLOW:

ALMONTASER (J.J Feane): Operating at a low level but could be worth monitoring.