18:55 Ballinrobe

Ireland

Michael Joyce Memorial Handicap

1m1½f · Flat · Yielding · 10 runners · €8,835 · Monday, 22 June 2026

Result

Race report

AI top pick wonat SP 7/2·4.50

1st
Merlin The Wizard (GB)AI top pick · 61.8
Dylan Browne McMonagle·R P Cody
7/2·4.50
SP
2nd
Daler (IRE)
Colin Keane·G M Lyons·beaten 1.25 lengths
5/1·6.00
SP
3rd
Marmeladova (IRE)
Billy Lee·K J Condon·beaten 1 length
15/8F·2.88
SP

Race time

2m 10.45s+4.95s vs std

Slow — could be soft ground, easy lead, or tactical race.

In-running (Merlin The Wizard (GB))

“Moved up quickly behind the leader - took second early - led 2f out - put the race to bed over a furlong out - advantage cut into toward the line but always holding on”

Settled · 1pt level stake = 3.50 pt return on the winnerTipping P&L →

Furlong's verdict

Reading the form…

AI-written, grounded in our data on this race. May be wrong. Verify before staking. Opinion, not advice.

Pundit corner

Racing Post · third-party

Pundit pick: Marmeladova

Marmeladova won her maiden at today's course earlier in her career and makes her handicap debut off a mark of 75 that looks fair — effective at 7–10f on a sound surface and with scope for more. Daler arrives in winning form and is capable of better, though the 7lb rise is a test, while Flying Fortress and Merlin The Wizard also hold claims. Marmeladova is our selection.

Editorial from Racing Post analysts via the Racing API — not generated by Racing Alpha. Formbook forecast prices are estimates, not market prices.

Why the model rates this top

Merlin The Wizard

Dylan Browne McMonagle · R P Cody · 6yo

Top-rated of 10

score 61.8 · +4.1 clear of next best (57.7)

Scores compare runners within this race only

The Racing Alpha rating combines four signals. Below is the breakdown — components driving this pick first.

Trainer20% weight
100small sample (n=3)
R P Cody: 2/3 winners last 14d (67%) — too few recent runs to judge the yard
Freshness10% weight
70strong
12d since last run (quick turnaround)
Form20% weight
54average
Last 6: 0-2-5-3-8-1
Ratings50% weight
48below average
OR 72

MarketNo market price available yet.

v1.3 rating — a field-relative score, not a win probability; for market-derived value see the Fair column in the runners table. Weights and method on /about. Tips are opinions, not advice.

Draw bias — Ballinrobe 1m1½f

full course data →

Sample too small to call at this course and trip.

Low (1–4)

IV 0.91

Mid (5–8)

IV 0.45

High (9–11)

IV 1.58

IV = impact value: 1.00 is neutral, above it a stall band wins more often than its share of runners predicts. 38 qualifying races at this course and trip, 3-year window.

Runners · sorted by finishing position

Pos	No.	Horse	Form	Wt	OR	RPR	TS	AI	SP
1	8	Merlin The Wizard J: Dylan Browne McMonagle · T: R P Cody · draw 6 6yo · G · b	025381	9-06	72	—	—	61.8	7/2·4.50 SP
2	1	Daler J: Colin Keane · T: G M Lyons · draw 2 4yo · G · btp	64871	10-02	82	—	—	52.2	5/1·6.00 SP
3	6	Marmeladova J: Billy Lee · T: K J Condon · draw 1 5yo · M · b	20814	9-09	75	—	—	43.3	15/8F·2.88 SP
4	3	Mocking J: Ben Coen · T: J P Murtagh · draw 3 4yo · G · bp	30166	10-00	80	—	—	52.9	4/1·5.00 SP
5	5	Dark Viper J: Shane Foley · T: Mrs J Harrington · draw 4 5yo · G · gr/bp	00688	9-11	77	—	—	46.2	16/1·17.00 SP
6	11	Lough Leane J: Leigh Roche · T: Maurice Ahern · draw 11 6yo · G · bt	27410	9-02	68	—	—	57.7	11/1·12.00 SP
7	7	Justenzia J: Chris Hayes · T: D Hogan · draw 9 4yo · F · b	52200	9-06	72	—	—	45.1	18/1·19.00 SP
8	2	Grey Leader J: Nicola Burns · T: R P Burns · draw 7 6yo · G · gr	15000	10-02	82	—	—	45.0	40/1·41.00 SP
9	9	Storm Averted J: Nathan Crosse · T: Maurice Ahern · draw 8 5yo · M · bt	41874	9-05	71	—	—	52.1	40/1·41.00 SP
10	4	Dark Summit J: Seamie Heffernan · T: D Hogan · draw 5 4yo · G · gr	78000	9-11	77	—	—	43.1	25/1·26.00 SP
—	—	Flying Fortress J: Jack Kearney · T: G P Cromwell · draw 10 4yo · G · bb	10508	9-03	69	—	—	35.2	—

OR = official rating · AI = model score (0–100) · form reads oldest → latest

Frequently asked questions

Who won the 18:55 Ballinrobe on 22 June 2026?

Merlin The Wizard (GB) won the 18:55 Ballinrobe at SP 4.50. Ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle. Trained by R P Cody.

Did the Racing Alpha AI tip win the 18:55 Ballinrobe?

Yes — the AI top-rated horse, Merlin The Wizard, won the race (AI score 61.8).

What were the placings in the 18:55 Ballinrobe?

Top finishers: 1. Merlin The Wizard (GB) (4.50), 2. Daler (IRE) (6.00), 3. Marmeladova (IRE) (2.88).

What was the winning time for the 18:55 Ballinrobe?

The winning time was 2m 10.45s, 4.95s slower than standard.

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