18:55 Clonmel

Thursday 7 September 2017

All16:2516:5517:2517:5518:2518:5519:25

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:55 | Winning time: 6m 0.7s

Sweet Home Chicago⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁴⁾| T: C Bowe| OR: 112| D

9/1

Off the mark in facile fashion at Wexford in June when attempting this 3m for the first time. Off since and respected ahead of handicap debut, despite apparently tough opening mark.

Form: 829-361

Blixt²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: N M Kelly⁽⁴⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 111| BF

16/1

Mare is closely related to the great Hurricane Fly, she was frustrating in bumpers but landed a maiden hurdle over 2m2f at Downpatrick first time out in July. Since folded tamely back there on handicap bow over longer trip. Questions to answer.

Form: 34-2417

Cloudy Morning^v⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Foley⁽⁴⁾| T: M Kennedy| OR: 110| C| D

25/1

Won three times last October/November including here over shorter trip and twice at Wexford over 3m. Chasing to little effect early this year and beaten back over hurdles at Roscommon in July over this sort of trip.

Form: 5032-39

War Of The Pennys²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁴⁾| T: Don Cashman| OR: 109| CD

7/1

Won this race 12 months ago but not able to repeat the trick in 15 outings since, previous effort at Tramore (2m5f, soft) was one of the better ones however and rated 1lb lower than last year.

Form: 9437B2

Small World¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R M Short⁽⁴⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 104

9/4

Still lightly-raced and gone well in three starts for this yard, justifying favouritism last time over 2m5½f at Downpatrick to score by 11L. Up 9lb for that, claimer replaces champion jockey Walsh, not discounted.

Form: 0-04351

Theydon Park^b¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 110

11/2

Yet to score in 10 attempts over timber but best effort came when ½L second over this trip for the first time at Bellewstown in July. Considered on that evidence, though unseated rider next time at Galway.

Form: 5222U4

Fleurys Fort^p1,h¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: D J McInerney⁽⁴⁾| T: L Young| OR: 100

20/1

Four-time winner over timber, up to 2m6f, has been showing tentative signs of return to form lately and sports first-time cheekpieces now going back up in distance.

Form: 4U0549

Whatsinaname^b²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: D P Holden⁽⁴⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 99

25/1

Improved on third hurdling start last month to finish remote third (9¾L) of 13 at Kilbeggan upped to 3m1f for the first time. Handicap debut now and appears on a fair opening mark.

Form: 803

Ned's Island^t1⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: E O'Connell⁽⁴⁾| T: D M O'Brien| OR: 97

16/1

14L sixth of 20 at Cork (good) over 3m in May, before being pulled up on last two starts at Limerick and Tramore in June. Bit to prove on form.

Form: 81-36PP

Milestone Prince²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: P D Kennedy| T: M McCullagh| OR: 95| BF| D

7/1

Form since June over this sort of staying trip reads 221, and may have found 2m5f at Tramore sharp last month when 7L fourth of 15. Respected back up in trip.

Form: 722214

Presentingoscar^t²⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: A McCurtin⁽²⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 95

16/1

Not seen since finishing 14th of 18 in Limerick handicap hurdle (2m5f, soft) in December. Probably best watched on return to the track.

Form: 7436/90-

Wee Tiger^t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: P E Corbett| T: R Hackett| OR: 93

8/1

No win in 15 starts over timber but has hit the frame on a third of those runs, tackles this 3m trip for the first time and not be entirely discounted.

Form: 0-20429

Stonehall Jack¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Rochelle Murphy⁽⁴⁾| T: D E Fitzgerald| OR: 92

25/1

Won at Tramore (2m5f) and ran some brave races in defeat over fences earlier in the year, reverts to hurdles now and has no easy task based on most recent form in this sphere from a year ago.

Form: 2-30886

Forecasts

Small World (9/4), Theydon Park (11/2), War Of The Pennys (7/1), Milestone Prince (7/1), Wee Tiger (8/1), Sweet Home Chicago (9/1), Blixt (16/1), Ned's Island (16/1), Presentingoscar (16/1), Fleurys Fort (20/1), Cloudy Morning (25/1), Whatsinaname (25/1), Stonehall Jack (25/1)

Small World justified strong support last time to score decisively in the hands of the champion jockey (missing today) for the first time. His ratings hike is somewhat negated by the claim, and he should be capable of going well again but is set to be priced accordingly. Blixt is not entirely written off, despite a flop on handicap debut, while last year's winner War Of The Pennys is on a positive mark now but hasn't look as good lately. Theydon Park and Whatsinaname could go well but, despite top weight, SWEET HOME CHICAGO may oblige on handicap debut. He relished this trip when last spotted in June at Wexford should give a decent account here.