18:48 Clonmel

Thursday 4 April 2024

All16:0316:3817:1317:4818:1818:4819:18

Botanica International Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

4YO plus | 2m 2f 152y | Heavy | 15 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: S Crawley| OR: 94| BF

Below form eleventh of 19 in handicap hurdle (10/3) at Naas (15.5f, heavy) 25 days ago. Back up in trip with more needed.

Form: 90-8230

King Of Cong⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: John Shinnick⁽⁷⁾| T: T O'Brien| OR: 93

Thrice-raced maiden. Seventh of 10 in novice hurdle at this course (16f, heavy, 18/1) 49 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Open to improvement.

Form: 3697

The Niffler^h,t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: A McCurtin| T: E O'Connell| OR: 93| BF

11/4, below form fourth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Down Royal (20f, soft) 18 days ago. Eleven runs since last win in 2022.

Form: 080-P74

Bossofthebus³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁵⁾| T: Paul Tobin| OR: 90

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 200/1, respectable fifteenth of 25 in novice hurdle at Naas (15.6f, heavy) 39 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Should progress.

Form: 60090

Natural Breeze^p⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 90| C

C&D winner. Sixteen runs since last win in 2021. Good second of 9 in handicap hurdle at this course (18.9f, heavy, 13/2) 49 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 224482

Beeverstown Place⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: R P Treacy| T: M A Cahill| OR: 89

14/1, thirteenth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (16f, heavy) 65 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 003040

Kilbrin Rocco³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: A P Heskin| T: M Winters| OR: 89

Thrice-raced maiden. 200/1, tenth of 16 in novice hurdle at Thurles (16.2f, soft) 30 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Likely to improve.

Form: 000

Ella Rose¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: N T Prendergast⁽⁷⁾| T: D E Prendergast| OR: 87

40/1, 31½ lengths fifth of 15 to Lilian Bland in handicap chase at Thurles (20.3f, heavy) on debut over fences 19 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Others more persuasive.

Form: 070205

Joeswayornoway^b,t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Shane Fenelon⁽⁷⁾| T: E Sheehy| OR: 87| C

Course winner. Two wins from 42 NH runs. Ninth of 12 in handicap hurdle (11/1) at Down Royal (20f, soft) 18 days ago. Blinkers/tongue strap back on. Unreliable type.

Form: 053079

Lilian Bland^h¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: R Deegan| T: N P Hennessy| OR: 87

9/1, career best when winning 15-runner handicap chase at Thurles (20.3f, heavy) 19 days ago, keeping on well. Switches from chase to hurdles. Expected to be bang there off a 3 lb lower mark.

Form: 2P3461

Fourleaf Shamrock^p1⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: C G O'Dwyer⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Mangan| OR: 86

Lightly-raced maiden. Sixth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (16f, heavy, 100/1) 65 days ago. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 0806

Jonny Mansie^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Kevin Sexton| T: D Queally| OR: 86

Lightly-raced maiden. Eighth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Thurles (16.2f, soft, 28/1) 30 days ago.

Form: 9P808

Tingarran Express⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: Miss D O'Shea| OR: 82

Remains a maiden after 20 runs but she posted a good second of 16 in handicap hurdle at this course (16f, heavy, 10/1) 49 days ago, faring best of those held up. Well in the mix.

Form: F05572

Champagne Rebel^h1³⁹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: D Moloney⁽⁷⁾| T: S Aherne| OR: 80

First run since leaving Gearoid Patrick Brouder when pulled up in handicap hurdle at this course (24f, soft), flattening second. Off 13 months. Down in trip. Hooded for 1st time.

Form: 079P/0P-

Stellar Stow⁶⁹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 80

Thirteenth of 18 in handicap hurdle (20/1) at Cork (24.2f, good to soft). Off 23 months. Down in trip with her ftiness to prove.

Form: 03643/0-

Forecasts

Lilian Bland (11/4), Tingarran Express (4/1), The Niffler (5/1), Natural Breeze (7/1), The Big Cloud (10/1), Joeswayornoway (12/1), Beeverstown Place (16/1), Ella Rose (20/1), King Of Cong (20/1), Fourleaf Shamrock (20/1), Stellar Stow (25/1), Champagne Rebel (25/1), Kilbrin Rocco (25/1), Jonny Mansie (25/1), Bossofthebus (25/1)

LILIAN BLAND comes here on the back of chasing success at Thurles and is fancied to follow up reverted to this sphere off a 3 lb lower mark. Maiden Tingarran Express and C&D scorer Natural Breeze appeal as the pick of the rest and can chase home Niall Hennessy's mare in that order.