Clonacody (C & G) Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 17:55 | Winning time: 4m 58.9s

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Selected odds by:

Game Present¹⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

3/1

Good second in a Boulta point in December but unsold after for £34,000. Now joined top yard for rules debut and therefore must be respected here.

Form: 2-

Gone Racing²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D E Mullins| T: K Purcell

33/1

Very moderate form in two point-to-points with a pulled-up and an eighth. Others from that sphere bring stronger credentials.

Form: UU88-

Grouse Hall

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: L Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan

25/1

Arcadio newcomer; second foal; dam achieved little bumper/point, out of half-sister to smart staying chaser Lean Ar Aghaidh. Probably best watched here.

Form:

Kearney^p1¹⁰⁴

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

33/1

Little impact in five previous maiden hurdles or on AW when racing on the Flat at Dundalk latest. Makes no appeal here.

Form: 97070-

Market Parade

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: S J Gray⁽³⁾| T: E J O'Grady

14/1

Rule Of Law newcomer; first foal; dam point winner/placed 2m-3m1f hurdles/chases, half-sister to useful 3m-3m5f chase winner Embracing Change. Likely want a great deal further than this but could still go well.

Form:

Pass Cross¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: S A Mulcahy⁽⁷⁾| T: L Young

50/1

No impression and one pace on debut finishing 14th of 18 beaten 70L at Limerick and little better next at Sligo when a tailed off ninth of 14. Makes no appeal.

Form: 0-9

Touch Of Oscar²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: S A Shortall| T: J P O'Brien

4/6

Third at Limerick was promising two starts back and ½L second at Kilbeggan since even more so. That form the best on offer Rules so this looks a golden opportunity.

Form: 60532-

Rip Rocks Paddy Ok¹³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: A Slattery

7/2

Bumped into smart juveniles Gardens Of Babylon and Band Of Outlaws before Christmas but latest sixth beaten 8¾L by aforementioned merits a great deal of respect in this company.

Form: 596-

Forecasts

Touch Of Oscar (4/6), Game Present (3/1), Rip Rocks Paddy Ok (7/2), Market Parade (14/1), Grouse Hall (25/1), Kearney (33/1), Gone Racing (33/1), Pass Cross (50/1)

TOUCH OF OSCAR has been steadily progressing and may not need any more improvement after his close second at Kilbeggan latest which surely is form good enough to win a race such as this. The logical threat is Rip Rocks Paddy Ok who was a fair juvenile late on in 2018. Best of the rest may be newcomer to Rules Game Present who represents top connections.