14:40 Clonmel

Thursday 14 February 2019

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

Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 6m 11.20s

Capuccimix³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| C

5/1

Gelding by Al Namix out of a Lavirco mare. Cost €77,000 as a three-year-old. Impressive winner of a 2m3½f maiden hurdle on debut here last month. Trainer holds a strong 54% win and place strike rate at the track in February since 2016.

Form: 1

Minella Indo⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| BF| D

8/1

Beaten but not disgraced when running well in defeat in point-to-point, bumper and maiden hurdle disciplines since March. Yard have a strong record at this track in February meeting since 2016 and one to note in the betting.

Form: 13-3

Allaho⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| BF

5/2

Can be expected to improve on bumper defeat at Leopardstown on debut when last seen in December finishing 4½L adrift of the winner Exit Poll. Leading yard boast a terrific 47% strike rate in the last three years at the track in the month of February

Form: 2-4

Eurobot⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| D

8/1

Well-backed and duly obliged in an Andoversford point-to-point, winning by 20L. Bought for £105,000 afterwards and went on to claim an impressive win at Cork on maiden hurdle debut last month. Should be among the leading players.

Form: 1-1

Swordsman³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 131

5/1

Built on promise of Fairyhouse second on hurdles debut when a hugely impressive winner there last month. Beaten since stepping in to Grade 2 company but capable of better. Yard have a 27% strike rate with their runners here in February since 2016.

Form: 6-214

Cool Saint²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Paul Townend| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 125

10/1

Ran on well to land a Limerick maiden hurdle over 2m4f last month before tipping up at the last when holding a narrow advantage at Tramore last month. Trainer boasts a 54% win and place strike rate in February since 2016 at this venue.

Form: 3-71F

Moskovite⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 127| D

8/1

Solid efforts from the mare winning on a couple of occasions at Navan and Limerick following on from a promising second to the Henry De Bromhead-trained Honeysuckle in November, the current favourite for the Mares' novices' hurdle at the festival.

Form: 6-55211

Vanellope³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: D J Mullins| T: P Croke| OR: 112

25/1

Can consider herself unlucky when falling two out when holding every chance at Fairyhouse last month but needs to up her game once more to play a part at this level.

Form: 70-013F

Western Victory¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Mark Walsh| T: C Bowe| D

4/1

Front-running winner of a 2m maiden hurdle at Galway on yielding ground in October. Beaten since but the manner of her Grade 3 second of seven beaten 6L behind the highly thought of Honeysuckle puts the Westerner mare firmly in the mix.

Form: 42-1622

Forecasts

Allaho (5/2), Western Victory (4/1), Capuccimix (5/1), Swordsman (5/1), Minella Indo (8/1), Moskovite (8/1), Eurobot (8/1), Cool Saint (10/1), Vanellope (25/1)

Trainer Denis Hogan could have a decent improving mare on his hands with MOSKOVITE who comes here on a hat trick of wins following success at Navan and Limerick in December after a fine second of nine behind Honeysuckle at Fairyhouse. The daughter of Flemensfirth can continue her development in this Grade 3 contest at the expense of The Willie Mullins-trained Allaho with the yard boasting a solid 47% strike rate in the last three years at the track in the month of February. Capuccimix, Swordsman and Western Victory could ensure a competitive confrontation.