19:20 Clonmel

Thursday 4 May 2017

All17:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Tipperary Perpetual Cup Handicap

Off time: 19:20 | Winning time: 3m 50.2s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Gusty Rocky¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: P J Smullen| T: P J Flynn| OR: 84

6/1

Should come on from recent return over hurdles at Cork as tends to need the run, produced career-best to win over 2m2f at Gowran Park in September on previous Flat run and is 6lb higher here (won by 3½L).

Form: 138/501-

Prickly¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: W J Lee| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 81

9/1

Pulled up over fences at Fairyhouse 18 days ago though had previously gone close in that sphere at Limerick. Record of 2/8 on Flat, may need best effort yet to score in this.

Form: 4/61210-

Rashaan⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: N G McCullagh| T: C Kidd| OR: 81

7/4

Game winner over this trip at Dundalk in February off today's rating, since run with credit in some top-class hurdles races. Has to have a great chance back in this sphere on these terms.

Form: 0/169-1

Cliff House¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: R P Whelan| T: J J Walsh| OR: 78

9/2

Is a C&D winner having snared this a year ago and has record of three wins in 14 starts on the Flat, last month's return at Cork over 1m2f potentially too sharp and this looks more his thing.

Form: 770/19-8

Coolfighter^p⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: J A Heffernan| T: N Dooly| OR: 77

16/1

Not in great form over jumps last month in two runs, though chances were limited both times. Appears better equipped in this sphere regardless and is potentially well-treated for this return off a mark of 77.

Form: 046514-

Henry's Girl²⁰⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: C T Keane| T: J E Kiely| OR: 77

14/1

Fair sort on the Flat with three wins on her CV, all over shorter trips but has won over 2m4f jumping. Has to recapture very best form to figure amongst some talented rivals.

Form: 198649-

Glendine River²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: K J Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: Dermot P O'Brien| OR: 72

20/1

Winner of a 2m maiden at Tramore when last seen on the Flat, fair effort over 2m5f jumping hurdles at that venue in last month's reappearance. Good deal more required to win this.

Form: 81-9

War Goddess^p1¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: S Foley⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 72

16/1

Filly has looked progressive on the AW over the winter but struggled in pair of turf starts and hard to fancy in current form unless first-time cheekpieces work the oracle.

Form: 328090

Magnetic Force^b²⁰³

Age: 10| Weight: 8-10| J: C D Hayes| T: R Hennessy| OR: 70

33/1

Ten-year-old has just two wins from 18 runs on the Flat, comes here off a layoff and probably going to prove vulnerable to a younger improving rival.

Form: 72126/3-

St Lawrence Gap²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: C P Hoban| T: E Doyle| OR: 70

20/1

Maiden after 13 starts on the Flat, beaten 30L in a maiden at Tipperary over shorter trip last month and has plenty to find with these rivals seemingly.

Form: 255/82-9

Tommy Welsh^t¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: W M Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 69

8/1

Has struck twice in five runs this year, both on Dundalk's AW and including over this trip. Not beaten far at Navan over 1m5f on first turf start and could have more to give with an extra 1lb in his favour now.

Form: 051168

Forecasts

Rashaan (7/4), Cliff House (9/2), Gusty Rocky (6/1), Tommy Welsh (8/1), Prickly (9/1), Henry's Girl (14/1), War Goddess (16/1), Coolfighter (16/1), St Lawrence Gap (20/1), Glendine River (20/1), Magnetic Force (33/1)

RASHAAN just needs to replicate his hurdles form to stand a strong chance of pocketing this prize and the signs were encouraging as he scored off this rating on the AW at Dundalk 83 days ago. He looks the standout in the field. Tommy Welsh has also been in flying form on the AW and showed he is going to be capable on turf with a good run at Navan recently, upped in trip and dropped in the weights, he also holds fair claims. Gusty Rocky merits a place on the shortlist on his final Flat outing last year at Gowran Park while Coolfighter is attractively weighted for this change in code.