18:10 Tipperary

Thursday 30 June 2022

All17:0017:3518:1018:4519:2019:5020:20

Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 18:11 | Winning time: 3m 50.10s

Darasso^t⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: D F O'Regan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 153| D

9/1

Smart chaser. Five wins from 11 runs last season. 33/1, creditable 7 lengths third of 6 to Honeysuckle in Punchestown Champion Hurdle at Punchestown (16f, good to soft) 62 days ago.

Form: 141213-

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Sole Pretender^h¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Simon Torrens| T: N Lee| OR: 150| CD

9/1

Smart hurdler. Winner of this race last year. 2/9, didn't need to be at best when winning 5-runner minor event chase at Roscommon (16.2f, good) 16 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 5/185-11

A Wave Of The Sea¹⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 138| D

50/1

Smart chaser. Six wins from 23 NH runs. Below form ninth of 16 in handicap chase (25/1) at Cheltenham (15.9f, heavy) 106 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 062F19-

Early Doors^p⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 152| D

50/1

Smart chaser. Good fifth of 27 in handicap chase (33/1) at Fairyhouse (29.2f, good to soft) 73 days ago, finishing well. Switches from chase to hurdles. Significantly back down in trip.

Form: 01/5655-

Felix Desjy^p⁶⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| D

25/1

Unreliable type. Eight wins from 26 NH runs. Improved to win 17-runner handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.4f, good to soft, 11/1) 65 days ago. This is tougher.

Form: 557001-

Francois³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Donagh Meyler| T: Mary Ellen Doyle| OR: 126

100/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 7/2, career best when winning 6-runner minor event hurdle at Punchestown (19.8f, good) 33 days ago, keeping on well. Difficult ask.

Form: 922P-31

Lunar Display^t1⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: D J McInerney| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 128| C| D

66/1

Useful hurdler. Creditable 2¾ lengths fourth of 11 to Anna Bunina in listed mares event at Killarney (17f, good to soft, 10/1) 46 days ago, running on late. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 36275-4

Saint Roi^t⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| CD

8/11

Very smart hurdler. C&D winner. 7 lengths fourth of 6 to Honeysuckle in Punchestown Champion Hurdle at Punchestown (16f, good to soft, 12/1) 62 days ago. The one to beat.

Form: 44/3444-

Santa Rossa⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 134| BF| D

9/1

Useful hurdler. One win from 2 runs last season. 11/10, respectable 2¾ lengths fifth of 11 to Anna Bunina in listed mares event at Killarney (17f, good to soft) 46 days ago. Open to improvement.

Form: 531/12-5

Celestial Horizon⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 137| D

28/1

Useful hurdler. Career best when winning 16-runner handicap hurdle (8/1) at Killarney (17f, good to soft) 46 days ago, keeping on well.

Form: 82512-1

Shewearsitwell⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143| CD

10/3

Useful hurdler. C&D winner. Didn't need to be at best when winning 5-runner minor event hurdle at Killarney (20f, good to soft, 2/7) 45 days ago, well on top finish. Not taken lightly.

Form: 111/F5-1

Forecasts

Saint Roi (8/11), Shewearsitwell (10/3), Santa Rossa (9/1), Sole Pretender (9/1), Darasso (9/1), Felix Desjy (25/1), Celestial Horizon (28/1), A Wave Of The Sea (50/1), Early Doors (50/1), Lunar Display (66/1), Francois (100/1)

A quality renewal of this Grade 3 contest, which may go the way of the 4-y-o CELESTIAL HORIZON. This is a much tougher assignment than what he faced when landing a handicap at KIllarney last month, but he did the job in good style and looks ready for a bigger stage. Last year's winner Sole Pretender has to enter calculations, but the main threats are likely to be posed by the Willie Mullins-trained duo, Saint Roi and Shewearsitwell.