16:55 Clonmel

Thursday 14 February 2019

All13:3514:1014:4015:1515:5016:2516:55

Sporting Press Handicap Chase (0-102)

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 5m 34.0s

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Selected odds by:

Bridies Boy^b¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: A McCurtin⁽³⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 99| C| D

20/1

One from 11 over the larger obstacles and has finished third of 11 here over timber in the past. Winner of a Cork beginners contest last month and should not be taken lightly.

Form: P-UF01P

Lettermacaward^b³⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 11-9| J: Brian Hayes| T: M Winters| OR: 96| C

12/1

Course winner that has also won over this trip. Lightly raced since July 2016 and is difficult to make a case for on his fourth start since missing most of 2018.

Form: 0/F5-4P5

Loch Luatha^p⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: L Young| OR: 96

14/1

Off the mark for connections under rules at the sixth time of asking over the larger obstacles. Beaten since off his new mark and may find one or two better suited to today's conditions.

Form: 7U3418

Pack Your Bags^b¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 96| D

7/4

Won a Down Royal handicap chase last month beating 14 rivals 8½L off a 10lb lower mark winning over fences at the sixth attempt. Should go well once again with a clear round.

Form: 2P-3P91

Oisin James^t³³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Miss D O'Shea| OR: 95| C

12/1

Course winner that has also won over this trip. Not seen since pulling up in a 2m7f handicap chase in March and likely to find it tough going here on return to action.

Form: U/073FP-

Golanbrook^b³⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-6| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: T Foley| OR: 93| C| D

8/1

Winner here in the past and is one from three over this trip. Missed three and a half years between 2014 and 2017 with the gelding currently running off a 34lb lower mark than his last success. Likely to find better handicapped sorts lurking.

Form: 7/PR-063

Ballybrowney Walk^h¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: J J Mangan| OR: 91

10/1

Nothing of note in a number of dismal efforts over larger obstacles since August before signs of promise when finishing third of 15 beaten 13½L at Down Royal last month. Open to more improvement.

Form: 550653

Smoking Dixie¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 87

9/2

11 race maiden without success in five starts over the larger obstacles for trainer-Warren Greatrex. New connections hold a 27% strike rate with their runners at the venue in February since 2016.

Form: 35-5782

Enduring Love⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 85

20/1

Only really been competitive once in six starts over fences and has failed to finish in the last two. Needs to improve on even his best form to land a blow in this.

Form: 6036-PU

Kilderry Prince⁴⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: Miss S Ahern⁽⁷⁾| T: A J McNamara| OR: 77

5/1

Sprung a 20/1 shock when landing a Tramore handicap chase over 2m5½f on New year's day off a 6lb lower mark. Capable of another bold show if in the mood.

Form: F0P4P1

Glacial Shadow^p,t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 9-11| J: D E Mullins| T: Thomas Coyle| OR: 70

16/1

Not disgraced in a number of starts over the larger obstacles including finishing 9L adrift of Gotaway at Fairyhouse last month. Pulled up on sole start since and needs to produce a vast improvement here.

Form: 04265P

Taboo^b1⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: J M Moore| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 69

33/1

Without success in 14 handicap starts and has failed to finish in three runs since returning to action in December. First time blinkers unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: P3P-PUP

Forecasts

Pack Your Bags (7/4), Smoking Dixie (9/2), Kilderry Prince (5/1), Golanbrook (8/1), Ballybrowney Walk (10/1), Oisin James (12/1), Lettermacaward (12/1), Loch Luatha (14/1), Glacial Shadow (16/1), Bridies Boy (20/1), Enduring Love (20/1), Taboo (33/1)

The J P McManus-owned PACK YOUR BAGS was a decisive winner of a Down Royal handicap chase over a similar trip last month winning by 8½L. The manner of the win from the Black Sam Bellamy gelding suggests the 10lb rise in the weights may not be enough to stop the nine-year-old in this contest. Smoking Dixie on debut for Gordon Elliott, Kilderry Prince and Ballybrowney Walk look capable of hitting the frame.