20:25 Tipperary

Thursday 6 July 2017

All17:1517:4518:1518:5019:2019:5520:2520:55

Follow tipperaryraces.ie Handicap Hurdle (80-95) (Div 2)

Off time: 20:31 | Winning time: 6m 10.2s

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Selected odds by:

Cnoc Na Sioga⁶⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: T N Brett⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 93

16/1

Not seen much on a racecourse in recent times, and this will only be his sixth start in two years. Trip and ground fine, shaped a bit better than bare result at Ballinrobe last time (trip too short) and may strip fitter here too. Not discounted.

Form: 3U31/0-0

Shouband¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: S W Flanagan| T: J Morrison| OR: 92

11/1

Winner on good ground at Thurles last October, not really progressing this season but did do a little better at Down Royal last time and this step up in trip may help. Still plenty to find though, and others preferred.

Form: 717-978

Glen's Dd^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: B J Foley⁽⁷⁾| T: G J Power| OR: 91

33/1

Lightly raced and open to improvement but will need it on what he's shown so far. Not totally disgraced on the Flat at Leopardstown in June but plenty of questions to answer here, not least suitability of the trip.

Form: 6/84P-

Louie The Second²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: B Hayes| T: P McCreery| OR: 91

12/1

Only glimmers of promise in nine starts in bumpers/maiden hurdles but move to new yard (and into handicaps) seemed to spark some improvement at Wexford last time. Upped another half a mile in trip but way he finished off there suggests it's needed, and he's not discounted here.

Form: 74/78-85

Cher Why Not⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: M P Burke⁽⁷⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 90

25/1

Shaped with some promise at Cork in early May but didn't really build on that at Punchestown last time, although that run was needed for a handicap mark. Trip and ground no problem, so is worth a glance in the market on handicap debut tonight.

Form: PP0-56

Theatre Run⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P T Enright| T: M A Cahill| OR: 90

20/1

Some definite promise in her run at Fairyhouse last November and looked like this sort of trip would suit, but beaten big distances both runs back from a break and needs to turn her form around before being considered a likely winner here.

Form: 0040-00

Whitango^b1²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 90

12/1

Shown little in four runs so far and although he was staying on at one pace latest, suggesting this step up in trip might suit, not enough to convince he's capable of taking this. Headgear tonight may help, but still a risky proposition.

Form: 009-6

Chase The Clouds³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: D J Mullins| T: Miss M L Hallahan| OR: 89| D

11/1

Point-to-point winner last November, and looked for all the world like a step up in trip would suit after a never-nearer fifth at Listowel latest. Needs another step forward here but that's not impossible, so needs a look in the market at least.

Form: 1480-75

Uptake^p,t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: C D Maxwell| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 87

16/1

Looked regressive until stopping the rot with a better run at Down Royal latest, tried to make all and only gave way late on. Step up in trip here asks a new question, however, and others still look to hold stronger claims.

Form: 0/90PP-4

Milestone Prince¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: P D Kennedy⁽³⁾| T: M McCullagh| OR: 86| BF

6/1

In good form at present, runner up on last two starts and showed this trip holds no fears when not beaten far at Kilbeggan latest. Nudged up a couple of pounds for that, and faces different ground here, but comes into this as one of only a handful in form, and must hold chances.

Form: 3-90722

Millen Dollar Man²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W Harney| OR: 86| BF

11/1

Came good at Clonmel in May and drop back to 2m probably against him at that venue latest, so forgiven that. However, only the one win from 29 starts so no win machine, and this 3m trip asks a new question. Others preferred.

Form: 80-8125

Cadawill^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: D Meyler⁽³⁾| T: R Sweeney| OR: 85| D

12/1

Was getting beaten big distances until shaping a bit better at Clonmel latest, the switch to fences seemingly producing an improved effort. Back over hurdles tonight, and this 35-race maiden looks unlikely to make it 36th time lucky.

Form: 4PP0-08

Charlestown Boy^t⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: C D Timmons⁽³⁾| T: P Martin| OR: 85

25/1

Early casualty at Downpatrick on handicap debut last time, but 20/1 price tag suggests little was expected anyway. Well beaten all previous starts and can't be considered a likely winner here.

Form: 6/6000-F

Is That Marmalade^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: Arthur Goulding| OR: 85

25/1

Still a maiden after 17 starts, not disgraced at Limerick in May and these conditions fine based on that, but didn't build on that effort at Punchestown last time. Return to hurdles tonight may help, but others still preferred.

Form: FU0-458

Pass The Ball³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: N P Madden| T: N Madden| OR: 85| D

3/1

In good form in point-to-points, winning decent events at Stradbally and Ballingarry with something in hand. Clearly stays well, has clocked decent times in his point-to-point wins and looks well treated on handicap debut here. Looks a big player in a modest event.

Form: 213-211

Ballylibert^p⁶³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: J S McGarvey| T: J Dullea| OR: 84| D

40/1

Have to go back to 2013 to find his last win, and not seen out for the best part of 21 months after finishing sixth in a handicap chase at Punchestown. Well treated on best of his form but a very risky proposition at the age of 11.

Form: 106646/

Bee An Aristocrat³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Burke| T: P W Flynn| OR: 80

6/1

Well beaten all starts and pulled up in a point-to-point last time out. Needs some huge improvement from somewhere and hard to see where it's coming from.

Form: P3008/P

Premier Steel^v1³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: R J Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 80

50/1

Has shown little in a nine-race career and the first-time visor will need to work wonders on this veteran. Makes little appeal.

Form: 0P00/3P

Non-Runners

Miss Mcilroy⁷⁷

Weight: 10-11| Age: 5

T: G T Lynch J: D E Mullins

Forecasts

Pass The Ball (3/1), Milestone Prince (6/1), Bee An Aristocrat (6/1), Shouband (11/1), Chase The Clouds (11/1), Millen Dollar Man (11/1), Cadawill (12/1), Louie The Second (12/1), Whitango (12/1), Cnoc Na Sioga (16/1), Uptake (16/1), Theatre Run (20/1), Is That Marmalade (25/1), Cher Why Not (25/1), Charlestown Boy (25/1), Glen's Dd (33/1), Miss Mcilroy (33/1), Ballylibert (40/1), Premier Steel (50/1)

The key to this is whether PASS THE BALL can translate his good point-to-point form over hurdles as he looks very well treated if he can, and a moderate event could be his for the taking if he can. Milestone Prince would look the obvious alternative to take advantage if he can't, as he's in good form and shouldn't have any issue with conditions. Cher Why Not, Louie The Second and top weight Cnoc Na Sioga all make some appeal.