19:40 Clonmel

Thursday 17 May 2018

All17:2017:5518:3019:0519:4020:1520:45

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:41 | Winning time: 5m 9.7s

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Selected odds by:

Mr Picotee^p,t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J C Barry⁽⁵⁾| T: V Halley| OR: 120

16/1

Winner of a couple of minor handicap hurdles last spring but has been struggling in both codes since and others preferred.

Form: 4U0998-

Double Speak⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: R Loughran| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 111

9/2

Dramatic improvement last time out in a Kilbeggan handicap hurdle over 2m earlier this month but need to produce that form here.

Form: 18548-2

Ardera Cross³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Geraghty| T: E Doyle| OR: 109

12/1

Winner of a Tramore beginners chase in December and has gone on to be a 121-rated chaser. Tough ask still 8lb higher than his last winning mark but looks capable enough in this company.

Form: 2015F5-

Big Ben^t²¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 109

5/1

Has shown some promise in maiden hurdles already, though has proved expensive to follow will need to improve on a disappointing 40L defeat last time out in a Punchestown handicap hurdle when last seen in October. Claims if on a going day.

Form: 2/2230-

Stacks Mountain¹²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 106

3/1

Better than his bare figures declare and always shaped like handicaps would be more to his liking and is worth a market check here.

Form: 48/37-

Carrigready^p¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: A E Lynch| T: V Halley| OR: 105

6/1

Still racing 9lb higher than his last winning mark back in October and could find this a little tough given his struggles on good ground in the past.

Form: 93142-0

Turasoir^p1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: M A Enright| T: J W Nicholson| OR: 100

7/1

Solid and consistent in a couple of starts between October and November last year. Has been plying his trade on the Flat recently and could be of interest on return to handicap hurdling.

Form: 313207-

Loupgarou^t¹⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 95| BF

9/1

Showed some promise on hurdling debut but regressed thereafter. Nothing of note on return following a break when last seen here in December.

Form: 4090/00-

Princess Mahler^t⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J J Walsh| OR: 94

8/1

Continued her good form following up on her second of 12 at Tramore in December when landing a Limerick handicap hurdle over 2m in March. Up 7lb for her efforts and another bold show looks likely.

Form: 000/021-

Forecasts

Stacks Mountain (3/1), Double Speak (9/2), Big Ben (5/1), Carrigready (6/1), Turasoir (7/1), Princess Mahler (8/1), Loupgarou (9/1), Ardera Cross (12/1), Mr Picotee (16/1)

Although Big Ben will have plenty of supporters he has become a little unreliable and it is expected he will lead here in the early stages of the contest here possibly handing advantage to the likes of Double Speak and PRINCESS MAHLER who continued her good form following up on her second of 12 at Tramore in December when landing a Limerick handicap hurdle over 2m in March and can overcome a 7lb hike here.