20:10 Clonmel

Thursday 18 May 2017

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3520:1020:40

Sliabh Na mBan Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 20:10 | Winning time: 4m 47.5s

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Selected odds by:

Rockey Storm¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B T O'Connell| T: J R Barry| OR: 95

6/1

Performed with credit in point-to-points i 2016 (winning one) and looked to be getting the hang of things over hurdles on latest start, finishing a close-up fourth. Won't mind a drop of rain and every chance on that form.

Form: 63860-4

Athloman Cottage¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D J McInerney⁽⁷⁾| T: Donncha Duggan| OR: 93

20/1

Some reasonable efforts in maiden hurdles but not pulled up any trees on any of her four handicap starts so far. Mark is dropping and this small step up in trip may suit, but needs improvement.

Form: 66067-7

Tintown Robin¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: V Halley| OR: 92| BF

7/2

In good form at present and although a beaten favourite on latest start, not disgraced behind an unexposed winner. May not want too much rain and upped in trip here, but still a player on current form.

Form: 14882-2

Bobbythegangster¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: Don Cashman| OR: 90| C

6/1

Not a bad effort at Wexford in April but still questions as to what best trip is, and hasn't repeated that run in two runs since. Bit to prove now.

Form: 4P850-0

Select Opportunity¹¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: C D Timmons⁽⁵⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 88

14/1

Tailed off or pulled up on all four starts so far, and hard to see what he's done to justify even this lowly mark. Only of interest if strong in the market on handicap debut here.

Form: 0P00-

Aurora's Dream¹⁸⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: M P Flanagan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Keane| OR: 86

18/1

Just the one win in 18 starts (in blinkers, missing here) and not seen out since finishing well beaten at Navan last November, so looks an unlikely winner on balance. Others preferred.

Form: 340040-

Rebel Cry^p,t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Donagh Meyler⁽³⁾| T: N Lee| OR: 86

14/1

Lightly raced for one his age and does know how to win when to opportunity arises. Won't mind any rain and stays the trip, not disgraced latest start and may well outrun likely big odds.

Form: PP385-7

Crocosmia^p1,t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D E Mullins| T: Miss E McCutcheon| OR: 85

25/1

Seems to be regressing at present and no better lately for the addition of a tongue tie, so needs the first time cheekpieces to have a major effect. Makes little appeal.

Form: 78U0P-0

Royal Roslea⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: A E Lynch| T: M J Smith| OR: 85

16/1

Four hurdles starts to date and a little better on the last of them, hinting at possibly better things to come. Possible step up in trip may help on handicap debut and a bit of market support would further help her cause.

Form: 0F99-

Oskar High¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: N Lee| OR: 84

25/1

Goes handicapping from a low mark and showed a little bit of ability on latest start, but not really enough to make him of interest here unless marker spoke strongly in his favour. Others preferred.

Form: 00-8

Bullowney¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Jody McGarvey| T: G J Power| OR: 82

11/1

Hadn't looked to be going anywhere until returning from a break and running much better at Wexford on latest start, finishing close up third. worth a go at this trio and if building on that effort, has chances, although may prefer the rain to stay away.

Form: 6/85PP-3

Courtin Bb¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Duffy| OR: 82

8/1

Good effort over this C&D last September when a close second and is a pound lower here, so no qualms on handicap mark, but still a maiden after 19 starts and although not disgraced on recent Flat run, more is required here.

Form: 292058-

Country Capers^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Brian Hayes| T: S Ryan| OR: 80

20/1

Not disgraced on recent run at Ballinrobe where he faded late on after trying to make all. That was his first run since January so may come on for it, but on balance, others still hold stronger claims.

Form: 70/00P-8

Dontdelay^p1⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Flanagan| T: L Casey| OR: 80

25/1

Poor efforts when last seen out in the spring and first time cheekpieces need to turn his form around in a major way. Makes little appeal.

Form: 594P00-

Emerald Honours⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 80

25/1

Fourth at Killarney last August (over this trip) not a bad effort, but hasn't repeated that in two efforts since and this 14-race maiden doesn't jump off the page as a likely winner here.

Form: 886400-

Millen Dollar Man¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Rachael Blackmore⁽³⁾| T: W Harney| OR: 80

14/1

Still a maiden after 26 starts and although not disgraced on latest start at Wexford, goes back up in trip here and others are readily preferred.

Form: U4880-8

Shanroe Society^p1¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: D J Hand⁽⁷⁾| T: R K Watson| OR: 80

14/1

Veteran has only won 1 of his 34 starts, so no win machine, but did do a bit better on latest start when sticking to the task to finish in the money at Down Royal. Late in the day to be trying new headgear but chances of finishing in the frame again.

Form: 688/00-3

Kings Mistress^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: Donncha Duggan| OR: 81

50/1

Stayed on to finish in midfield on her latest start at Cork and seems to be improving, albeit slowly, Goes handicapping on a basement mark but still plenty to prove.

Form: PPP700-

Non-Runners

Steak And Spuds³⁸

Weight: 10-11| Age: 5

T: J J Mangan J: E O'Connell

California Soul⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: D Hogan J: Reserve 2

Freedom Square⁷

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: J R Barry J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Tintown Robin (7/2), Rockey Storm (6/1), Bobbythegangster (6/1), Courtin Bb (8/1), Bullowney (11/1), Millen Dollar Man (14/1), Rebel Cry (14/1), Shanroe Society (14/1), Select Opportunity (14/1), Freedom Square (14/1), Royal Roslea (16/1), Aurora's Dream (18/1), Country Capers (20/1), Athloman Cottage (20/1), California Soul (20/1), Steak And Spuds (20/1), Emerald Honours (25/1), Oskar High (25/1), Dontdelay (25/1), Crocosmia (25/1), Kings Mistress (50/1)

The ground may play a part here - if the rain stays away, the chances of Bullowney and Tintown Robin would improve considerably, but as it stands preference is for top weight ROCKEY STORM who came back off a break with a good effort at Wexford last time. This step up in trip ought to bring out a bit more improvement and this lightly-raced 7-y-o can take this. Royal Roslea and Rebel Cry are others to consider.