13:20 Clonmel

Thursday 16 November 2017

All12:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:2515:55

Clonmel Oil Race Day Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 5m 24.20s

Chateauneuf Du Pap¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: A Mullins| OR: 107

8/1

Has gone well on several occasions in maidens and novices' contests without yet getting his nose in front. Now goes handicapping from a fair mark, shouldering topweight and back up in trip. Will need improvement to break his duck.

Form: 622534

Mister First^b1,t¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: A E Lynch| T: R Hennessy| OR: 105| CD

20/1

Seasoned campaigner and better over fences than in this discipline. Sole hurdles success was over four years ago from 3lb lower and has been out of form for a while, though revival not ruled out from this mark and in headgear.

Form: 33889P

Pat's Oscar⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 102| D

11/2

Has shown improved form recently. Beaten just a neck from this mark in a Perth handicap hurdle in September and then won a novices' contest there next time. Trip and ground no problem and should be a contender.

Form: 068P21

Finding Touch^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: C D Meehan⁽⁵⁾| T: C Roche| OR: 101| CD

5/1

Goes into this 10lb higher than when landing a C&D handicap (good/yielding) in first-time cheekpieces last year. Bettered that effort for the only time so far at Punchestown last time out and will need more improvement to win this.

Form: 157-4P4

Poker Party³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 100

13/2

Sent off at 11-1 but was a little disappointing on his handicap hurdling debut at Cork last month, beaten 33L that day. Has always hinted that there might be a little ability, but not sure he will get to show that yet from just 2lb lower.

Form: 4550

Feeling The Love^t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 95

7/1

Has improved for each run over hurdles so far and a 9L sixth of 16 at Thurles (2m, good/yielding) last time was her best so far. Handicap mark looks reasonable for this first run and step up in trip should be positive. Market check recommended.

Form: 956

Not Touch^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Paul Townend| T: M Hourigan| OR: 95

28/1

18-race maiden, seven of those being over hurdles. Sees out 1m4f on the Flat, so this trip likely to be within range, but form over timber so far has not been strong enough to suggest that today will be the day from this mark.

Form: 44-0F70

Perfect Leader²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: J M Moore| T: P Hogan| OR: 91

7/1

Has a bit to prove on what he has shown in his last three hurdles outings, but you only have to go back to a couple of runs in July/August to be able to give him a squeak from today's reduced mark. Conditions and trip no problem and not ruled out.

Form: 037709

Daisy Chicks²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Phillip Enright| T: E O'Grady| OR: 89

20/1

Well beaten in all races under rules to date. Now returns to the racecourse after a confidence-boosting point-to-point success and over a more suitable trip, but looks to have plenty to find.

Form: 906-01

Killahara Castle^h⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: M P Burke⁽⁵⁾| T: J M Burke| OR: 87

6/1

Another 18-race maiden. Comes into this following a couple of sighters after her summer break and dropped back to a mark from which she was runner-up at Wexford over 2m in April. Trip should be ok and she handles cut, so enters calculations.

Form: 6220-05

Pump Road¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: J G Lonergan| OR: 82

10/1

Was well held in all starts in the early part of this, but returned after a break to record his best effort so far when a 7¼L sixth here (2m½f, soft) earlier in the month. Step up in trip looks positive and could get competitive from this mark.

Form: 7-0006

Forecasts

Finding Touch (5/1), Pat's Oscar (11/2), Killahara Castle (6/1), Poker Party (13/2), Perfect Leader (7/1), Feeling The Love (7/1), Chateauneuf Du Pap (8/1), Pump Road (10/1), Daisy Chicks (20/1), Mister First (20/1), Not Touch (28/1)

PAT'S OSCAR has already won in handicap company and returned to beat a field of novices last time in a manner that suggested there is a fair bit of improvement to come back in this sphere, so she gets the vote. Perfect Leader could make his mark on the contest, while Killahara Castle and Pump Road have little weight to shoulder and can get involved. The fly in the ointment could prove to be Feeling The Love, who has also been improving and looks reasonably treated for her handicap intro. A market check is strongly advised.