15:50 Clonmel

Thursday 2 March 2017

All14:1514:4515:1515:5016:2517:0017:30

Comeragh Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 6m 53.6s

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Selected odds by:

Letter Of Credit^h¹²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: P F Mangan| T: J J Mangan| OR: 109

33/1

In and out profile at this sort of level over hurdles, modest switched back from chasing last month at Gowran Park over 2m4f.

Form: 744305

Pacte In The Park¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: M P Fogarty| T: S J Kenny| OR: 109

25/1

Ran well for a long way at Naas last month over shorter trip, just third start over hurdles and has scope for better if stamina holds out.

Form: 8-90

Returntovendor⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: I J McCarthy| T: J P Fahey| OR: 102

7/1

Ran very well penultimate start over three-miles, not quite as good over shorter since. Generally in good heart of late and one to consider.

Form: 135131

Optimised⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott| OR: 100

11/1

Fourth of 18 in Cork maiden hurdle over this trip in January, that was a promising effort and could have a say in this on handicap debut.

Form: 347480-

The Ballyboys^b¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hackett| OR: 93

16/1

Limerick winner at Christmas, not as good off revised mark and dropped to minimum trip in one run since at Naas last month. Up to three-miles, could bounce back.

Form: 0/P8100-

Fiddlers Way⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: R Tyner| OR: 92

16/1

Is now a 14-race maiden and has been racing exclusively over fences since return from layoff to little effect. Two years since previous hurdles run, though he did go down narrowly over C&D then off 3lb higher mark.

Form: 2/90860

Sea Scorpion⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 92

16/1

Tramore handicap hurdle scorer over 2m5f off mark of 86 in December, struggled both subsequent outings.

Form: P603-U1

Oscar Chimes^t⁸⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: B J Foley⁽⁷⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 91

20/1

One win from 19 outings over timber, coming at Thurles in November 2013. Ran well enough over C&D in September off current mark to merit consideration now switched from chasing.

Form: 956490

The Grey Guy⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: D E Mullins| T: B O'Keeffe| OR: 90

12/1

Most recent run was over three-miles at Fairyhouse in January in similar contest, well beaten then and just 3lb lower now.

Form: 66229-7

Flathertys Gap⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Donagh Meyler⁽³⁾| T: L Whitmore| OR: 89

25/1

Overall profile isn't very inspiring, did run a promising race over two-miles at Tramore in December, though this is clearly a much different challenge.

Form: UF-P590

Itsallhappening²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: M P Walsh| T: N Meade| OR: 89

5/1

Run with credit in both handicap hurdle starts to date, upped in trip this time but every reason to be believe he'll have a say.

Form:

Twotensandalift⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: M P Burke⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Burke| OR: 91

16/1

Yet to win in ten starts, below par last week at Punchestown and now tackles three-miles for the first time. Others make more appeal.

Form: 55780-9

For Carmel^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Rachael Blackmore⁽³⁾| T: M Winters| OR: 86

11/1

Has tried a variety of trips in four runs over hurdles, without any hint of success so far. Back up to three-miles this time, has plenty to prove.

Form: 995623-

Highest Benefit⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: W J Austin| OR: 86

7/1

Best run for some time when fourth of 18 at Punchestown last week over 2m4f, upped in distance now and can get involved if building on that.

Form: 70094P

Boogily Lane⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: M J Bolger| T: S McConville| OR: 84

8/1

Well beaten all five starts so far, including at Ayr last time out. Trainer has been without a winner for a long time.

Form: 000756

Irish Mustard^p1³³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: R Loughran| T: P J Colville| OR: 82

16/1

Beaten at least 40-lengths on three most recent starts, all in maidens, upped to three-miles for handicap debut.

Form: 2/FP-00

Varene De Vauzelle^b,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: J J Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: M Hourigan| OR: 82

12/1

Extended winless record under rules to 20 last month at Thurles, though did shape slightly better in that contest over shorter trip than this.

Form: 3-23365

Millen Dollar Man¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: Robbie Colgan| T: W Harney| OR: 80

33/1

Long standing maiden, never a threat in two course runs last month at two-miles, upped in trip but still has it all to do.

Form: U4880-8

Forecasts

Itsallhappening (5/1), Returntovendor (7/1), Highest Benefit (7/1), Boogily Lane (8/1), For Carmel (11/1), Optimised (11/1), Varene De Vauzelle (12/1), The Grey Guy (12/1), Twotensandalift (16/1), Irish Mustard (16/1), The Ballyboys (16/1), Fiddlers Way (16/1), Sea Scorpion (16/1), Oscar Chimes (20/1), Pacte In The Park (25/1), Flathertys Gap (25/1), Letter Of Credit (33/1), Millen Dollar Man (33/1)

This looks a wide open contest on paper with few standout candidates. Itsallhappening has gone well enough in two handicaps to date and may have a say now upped in trip while Highest Benefit ran a better race at Punchestown latest than had been the case for a while. Fiddlers Way hasn't run over hurdles for a long while but would have leading claims if able to reproduce prior form now switched back. Returntovendor disappointed last time out but had run very well at this trip before that and can be given some hope here as a result but a chance is taken with OPTIMISED. His previous run in maiden company at Cork was promising and he could well gain his breakthrough at the fourth time of asking in his first handicap start. 1. Optimised 2. Itsallhappening 3. Returntovendor