17:15 Tipperary

Thursday 1 July 2021

All16:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 3m 58.00s

A Wave Of The Sea⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Kevin Sexton| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 138| D

33/1

Useful chaser. Five wins from 16 NH runs. Pulled up in handicap chase at Punchestown (21f, good to soft, 22/1) 62 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Back down in trip. Uphill task.

Form: 37510P-

Band of Outlaws⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J S McGarvey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 145| BF| D

6/1

Smart hurdler. 11/1, creditable third of 15 in handicap at Naas (8f, heavy) 46 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Smart hurdler, creditable on last hurdle run. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 111523/

Darasso^b,t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 148| D

10/3

Didn't need to be at best when winning 9-runner minor event chase at Listowel (19f, good, 11/2) 24 days ago, plenty in hand. Worth considering bidding for a hat-trick back over hurdles.

Form: 4330-11

Hearts Are Trumps⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: D McDonogh| OR: 137| D

8/1

Useful hurdler. Won 20-runner handicap hurdle (12/1) at Fairyhouse (16f, good to soft) 89 days ago by ½ length from Magic Tricks, responding well. Hard to rule out.

Form: 280701-

Modus⁸³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: E Bolger| OR: 156| D

33/1

Smart chaser. Ten wins from 32 NH runs. One win from 3 runs last season. Switches from chase to hurdles. Down in trip. First run for yard after leaving Paul Nicholls.

Form: 706/130-

Sole Pretender^h⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul Townend| T: N Lee| OR: 150| D

5/4

Smart hurdler. 18/1, bit below form 25½ lengths fifth of 14 to Klassical Dream in Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown (24f, good to soft) 63 days ago. Leading player back down in trip.

Form: 1115/15-

Winter Escape^t²⁷⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: A A Howard| OR: 138| D

40/1

Useful chaser. One win from 2 runs last season. 11/4, career best when winning 8-runner handicap chase at Listowel (17f, soft). Off 9 months. Switches from chase to hurdles. Not discounted.

Form: 60P0/91-

Effernock Fizz⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: A W Short| T: Miss K Brown| OR: 123| CD

6/1

Fairly useful hurdler. C&D winner. 22/1, improved to win 10-runner handicap at the Curragh (12f, good to firm) 4 days ago, having run of race. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Plenty to find.

Form: 966-627

Non-Runners

Magic Tricks⁶⁵

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: Mrs D Foster J: R M Power

Forecasts

Sole Pretender (5/4), Darasso (10/3), Effernock Fizz (6/1), Band of Outlaws (6/1), Hearts Are Trumps (8/1), Magic Tricks (8/1), Modus (33/1), A Wave Of The Sea (33/1), Winter Escape (40/1)

SOLE PRETENDER was a non-stayer in the Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown last time and, back at a more suitable distance, he should take the beating. Band of Outlaws is thriving and closely matched with the selection on form, so he and stablemate Darasso look the chief dangers.