18:40 Tipperary

Thursday 9 May 2019

All17:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:40

Tipperary Racecourse Handicap Chase (0-116)

Off time: 18:43 | Winning time: 4m 17.1s

Commandant¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 116

10/3

Off the mark at just the second time of asking for connections over the larger obstacles when landing a 13-runner Wexford beginners contest last month. Given a big enough mark for the short-head win but another bold show is likely on handicap debut.

Form: UP30C1-

The Irregular^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: S A Mulcahy⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 116| D

14/1

Badly out of form recently suffering heavy defeats in a number of chases, hurdles and Flat starts since April. Has work to do on current form.

Form: 90/9600-

Capture The Drama¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr E Mahon⁽⁷⁾| T: Aengus King| OR: 111| CD

7/1

Front runner who has won eight of his 48 starts over the larger obstacles, hitting the frame on a further five occasions. Won this contest over C&D 12 months ago at odds of 33/1 off a 1lb higher mark.

Form: 25P365-

Effernock Lad²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Killian Moore| T: G Keane| OR: 109| D

10/1

Winner of two of his 15 starts over fences, finishing in the money on a further four occasions. Distance winner but needs to improve on a number of below par starts since March.

Form: 350523-

Pack Your Bags^b⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 108| BF

11/2

Comes here on a hat-trick of wins over the larger obstacles following success since the turn of the year at Down Royal and Clonmel off a 12lb lower mark. Tough questions posed by the handicapper.

Form: 3P9117-

Winter Magic^b,t⁶³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Flanagan| T: J J Mangan| OR: 105| CD

8/1

Four from 27 over fences, collecting prize money on a further five occasions. C&D winner of this contest in 2016 off an 8lb higher mark. Looks to be regressing of late and not getting any younger.

Form: 2/444P4-

Stoughan Cross^t¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Donagh Meyler| T: T Gibney| OR: 101| C

6/1

Three from 17 starts over the larger obstacles, winner of his latest start at Kilbeggan last month off a 5lb lower mark. Has struggled around this mark previously and should be treat with caution here.

Form: 0P8081-

Rock Road⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: M J Bowe| OR: 100

7/2

Useful 11-rated novice hurdler who only ran well to halfway on chasing debut over 2m in a Naas beginners contest before another struggle at Thurles in March. Form doesn't warrant support here.

Form: 146687-

Non-Runners

De Benno⁵²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 14

T: J Grace J: C A Landers

Shrewdoperator⁶⁸

Weight: 10-10| Age: 9

T: P J Rothwell J: Ricky Doyle

Forecasts

Commandant (10/3), Rock Road (7/2), Pack Your Bags (11/2), Stoughan Cross (6/1), Capture The Drama (7/1), Winter Magic (8/1), De Benno (8/1), Effernock Lad (10/1), Shrewdoperator (10/1), The Irregular (14/1)

The Joseph O'Brien-trained COMMANDANT was quickly off the mark at just the second time of asking for connections over the larger obstacles when landing a 13-runner Wexford beginners contest last month. The Presenting gelding can set a high standard in this contest over impressive Kilbeggan winner, Stoughan Cross and the J P McManus-owned Pack Your Bags, who attempts a hat-trick of chase wins.