Prior Park Service Station Clonmel Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 4m 20.5s

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Selected odds by:

Flemenstar²⁰⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: A E Lynch| T: Anthony Curran| D

7/2

Multiple Grade 1 winner over fences, whose last hurdle success was in 2011. Getting longer in the tooth, but powers have only waned gradually and if he could run somewhere near his chase mark he would be thereabouts in this field.

Form: 1264/35-

Hardline^h¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

1/3

Decent performer in bumpers and over hurdles and broke his hurdling duck at Wexford (2m, heavy) last time by a comfortable 10L. That was a marked improvement on his previous run and a repeat or better would make him tough to beat.

Form: FF22-21

Sound Money²⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 121| D

12/1

Improved in 2016, but handicapper has well and truly had him since he switched to that sphere. Couldn't rule him out of the frame even at these weights if he is better for having had a decent break, but it takes a leap of faith to see him winning.

Form: 124009-

Trade Marked²⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: A Leahy| OR: 108| C

33/1

Only seen three times since winning a 2m4f (good) novices' handicap hurdle here 14 months ago, one of those being another good effort over 3m here. Not sure that this drop to the minimum trip looks ideal and he appears best watched today.

Form: 2/81527-

Cash In Mind²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: D E Mullins| T: D Donovan

16/1

Finished 7½L runner-up to Roaring Bull at Tipperary last month, his best effort yet, but rather let that form down when thrashed at Cheltenham last time. Looks to have too much on his plate here.

Form: 26

Carrigeen Acebo^p1,h²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Miss E A Lalor⁽⁵⁾| T: R H Lalor

66/1

Yet to win over hurdles, though landed a novices' chase at Thurles (3m1f, heavy) in February. Well beaten in all starts since then and highly unlikely that the return to hurdles and such a short trip will see any change to the outcome.

Form: P0146-0

Non-Runners

Roaring Bull⁴⁴

Weight: 11-9| Age: 4

T: G Elliott J: D N Russell

Forecasts

Hardline (1/3), Roaring Bull (11/8), Flemenstar (7/2), Sound Money (12/1), Cash In Mind (16/1), Trade Marked (33/1), Carrigeen Acebo (66/1)

An interesting contest where Gordon Elliott appears to hold the key and therefore the market may prove to be our best guide. However, in taking sides the suggestion is the unbeaten ROARING BULL to maintain that record after an impressive win on his hurdles debut last time. Stablemate Hardline has taken more time to get his nose in front, but he has some very solid form and should also be thereabouts. Flemenstar shouldn't really have to toe for this and certainly has it to prove over hurdles, but check out the market in case there is any significant confidence in the Grade 1 winner's chance. Sound Money looks next best.