12:25 Clonmel

Thursday 7 December 2017

All12:2512:5513:3014:0014:3515:1015:45

Clonmel Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:25 | Winning time: 4m 23.6s

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Selected odds by:

Monbeg Worldwide³⁰

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

11/10

Smart form in bumpers last term and, unsurprisingly, a warm order ahead of his hurdling bow a month ago. Beaten by a useful looking rival that day and made to look one paced. The drop to 2m is a worry but he looks a class above these.

Form:

Rathcannon²²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: P Townend| T: E J O'Grady| D

12/1

Beat a decent horse in a Cork bumper in July 2016, but tailed off on only subsequent start nine months later. Returns to action following another break and probably best observed for now.

Form:

Edification^h¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: S W Flanagan| T: R P McNamara| OR: 110

25/1

Fairly useful Flat winner is a four race maiden over hurdles. Last of 13 at Navan last month and needs to improve appreciably.

Form:

The Graduate³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: L P Dempsey| T: A J Martin

25/1

Good staying handicapper on the Flat for Andrew Balding. No show on either hurdling start, but he will qualify for handicaps after this and will be of more interest then.

Form:

Belle Helene²³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: T J Taaffe

20/1

Had some good horses behind her when landing a Sligo bumper. Highly regarded but has looked one paced on each hurdling start and may need this after an absence.

Form:

Adolphius¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs D A Love

50/1

Bred for the Flat if truth be told and makes very limited appeal for the jumping game on the evidence of his turf and Dundalk AW form.

Form:

Ballinabearna¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: P T Enright| T: R Tyner

50/1

Has failed to threaten in two starts over hurdles at big prices. Needs to improve significantly on current form.

Form:

Bold Frost⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Bernard Crowley

33/1

Winner of sole outing in the point-to-point sphere back in April 2015. Entitled to have needed his latest run but still has a lot to find.

Form:

El Mono Verde²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: S P Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: M M McNiff

100/1

Poor effort on debut and needs to bring his game up a good number of levels before he can be a serious contender.

Form:

Game Of War⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead

5/2

€62,000 son of Shantou out of a winning point-to-pointer. Made a pleasing debut at Punchestown and travelled well for a long way on his hurdling bow when fourth to Fayonagh. Each-way claims on that evidence.

Form:

Hitdroadjack⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: A E Lynch| T: H De Bromhead

10/1

Improved effort on latest point-to-point start and has now moved to a top yard. Interesting that stable jockey seems to prefer him to Game Of War and the market should tell us more.

Form:

Nonameyet²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: L Young

50/1

Sent off at 50/1 on bumper debut and was soon in trouble. Hard to fancy on that evidence.

Form:

Rakhine State⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: B Hayes| T: G Elliott

8/1

Purchased by current connections for £32,000 after a very promising debut third at Ballinrobe. Went well in a bumper here next time but was a shade disappointing six weeks ago. Makes hurdling debut for the yard who also have the likely favourite.

Form:

Reelingintheyears²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D J Mullins| T: P Nolan

16/1

€55,000 son of Flemensfirth who has been well beaten in two bumpers here and at Punchestown. Plenty to prove on hurdling debut.

Form:

Timmie Roe²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D E Splaine| T: E O'Grady

33/1

Point-to-point winner who has shown ability in a bumper and hurdles contest. May do better when confronted with fences, but not without hope in a race lacking depth.

Form:

Countess Cathleen²⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: J M Moore| T: D Hickey

25/1

Has shown some ability in bumpers and makes hurdling debut after an eight month break. Likely to need this but a likely type for a mares race in the future.

Form:

Georgia Grace^p1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: M A Enright| T: Miss H McLoughlin

66/1

Showed little ability in point-to-points and on hurdling debut. Cheekpieces now fitted but hard to see them having sufficient impact.

Form:

Queen Barack^t1¹⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: D E Mullins| T: D Hassett

20/1

2-9 in the point-to-point ranks and makes hurdling bow for new trainer. Off six months since latest start and potentially meets fitter and quicker rivals.

Form:

Cracking Up¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Reserve 1| T: F J Flood

66/1

Well held in both starts and handicapping is likely to be a more fruitful route. Entered as first reserve.

Form:

Spring Hill⁵⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Reserve 2| T: H De Bromhead

16/1

Showed promise in two bumpers for Chris Bealby, but off the course 19 months and certain to improve for the run. Entered as second reserve.

Form:

Ellie Mac¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Reserve 3| T: H De Bromhead| BF

10/1

Sent off favourite for her hurdling debut but pulled up early after her saddle slipped. Entered here as third reserve.

Form:

Forecasts

Monbeg Worldwide (11/10), Game Of War (5/2), Rakhine State (8/1), Hitdroadjack (10/1), Ellie Mac (10/1), Rathcannon (12/1), Reelingintheyears (16/1), Spring Hill (16/1), Queen Barack (20/1), Belle Helene (20/1), Countess Cathleen (25/1), Edification (25/1), The Graduate (25/1), Timmie Roe (33/1), Bold Frost (33/1), Ballinabearna (50/1), Nonameyet (50/1), Adolphius (50/1), Georgia Grace (66/1), Cracking Up (66/1), El Mono Verde (100/1)

The drop to 2m is hardly a positive for MONBEG WORLDWIDE as he looks more of a staying type. However, his bumper form and sole start over hurdles put him head and shoulders above these. Game Of War was a fair fourth on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse and holds place claims and stable companion Hitdroadjack needs to be monitored in the betting. Timmie Roe and Queen Barack are other each-way possibilities