14:35 Clonmel

Thursday 7 December 2017

All12:2512:5513:3014:0014:3515:1015:45

Clonmel Racecourse Supporters Club Only 90 Beginners Chase

Off time: 14:37 | Winning time: 4m 33.00s

Blue Empyrean^p1³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: R K Watson

14/1

Proved disappointing for Gordon Elliott and has changed trainers after finishing tailed off last time. Makes chasing debut in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 24-4638

Carlitos Bay⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Short⁽⁷⁾| T: Peter Fahey

14/1

Behind a few of these on hurdle ratings and his last couple of runs on winter ground suggest he faces another struggle.

Form: 061497

Lilshane¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: M A Enright| T: T P O'Connor| D

10/1

Highest rated of these over hurdles and makes a belated chase debut. Suited to testing ground and should be better for last month's pipe-opener.

Form: 2P0-P59

Mindsmadeup^h⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R Loughran| T: J G Sheehan

16/1

Beaten a total of 70L on two career chase starts at Tramore and last time out at Thurles over 2m6f. Others make more appeal.

Form: 0-38488

Monbeg Chit Chat¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: H De Bromhead| BF| CD

2/1

£200,000 purchase after a point-to-point success but has taken a while to fulfil that potential. Well backed on his chasing debut when travelling well until a mistake four out. Returned minus a shoe and with an overreach so better to be expected.

Form: 53214-2

Robin Des Mana^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 116| D

7/4

Produced a better effort over fences last time when allowed to stride on in front. No match for the easy winner but finished clear of the third in a quick time. Similar tactics will ask serious questions of his rivals.

Form: 644-342

Steamboat Quay^t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

12/1

Has shown little in two starts over fences. Given his hurdles win came off a mark of 93, then handicapping is likely to be his route to future success in this sphere.

Form: 134650

Kiera Royale^t¹⁰⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: K J Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: D H Kelly

16/1

0-15 over hurdles and well beaten in both starts over fences. Claims on some of last winter's hurdling form but remains a risky option.

Form: 8-7F638

Oh Me Oh My¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: A E Lynch| T: Ms M Flynn| CD

16/1

Won a maiden hurdle for Joseph O'Brien 18 months ago. Fell on chasing debut for new yard when odds of 66/1 indicated the run was needed.

Form: 12556-F

West Bridge^t1²⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner

10/1

The pick of these over hurdles having landed a Fairyhouse maiden (2m4f, yielding-to-soft) for Sandra Hughes last winter before contesting two Grade Three contests. Off nine months and considered a real chasing type, but may need further.

Form: 2/26156-

Forecasts

Robin Des Mana (7/4), Monbeg Chit Chat (2/1), West Bridge (10/1), Lilshane (10/1), Steamboat Quay (12/1), Blue Empyrean (14/1), Carlitos Bay (14/1), Kiera Royale (16/1), Mindsmadeup (16/1), Oh Me Oh My (16/1)

The market should tell us if West Bridge is ready to make a winning start to her chasing career. She has the pick of the hurdling form but may want further than this. Monbeg Chit Chat was an expensive failure last time when there were legitimate excuses. Losses may be recovered here but he faces a tough rival in ROBIN DES MANA. Gordon Elliott's runner put in a bold effort last time when setting testing fractions that found out all but the eventual winner. There is nothing of that winner's calibre in this and he is taken to go one better.