Clonmel preview
Tuesday, 17 November 2009 14:07Last year's first and second, Glenfinn Captain and One Cool Cookie, look poised to figure prominently in the rearranged Clonmel Oil Chase.
Tom Taaffe's Glenfinn Captain was receiving 7lb when dishing out a five-length beating 12 months ago, but One Cool Cookie gets 2lb this time and is entitled to reverse the form.
Both have the benefit of a recent run and look sure to go well, while Conna Castle and Fortria Chase third Watson Lake will handle the heavy ground.
The Fonze isn't far behind on official figures and highlighted his well-being with victory over War Of Attrition in the Gowran Park Champion Chase.
Former Paul Nicholls inmate Gungadu, having his first run for Gordon Elliott, adds another dimension to an intriguing contest and any market support for the 2008 Racing Post Chase winner must be heeded.
There is another decent pot up for grabs in the EBF T.A. Morris Memorial Mares Chase, in which Paul Nolan's Moskova kicks off her campaign.
The classy grey was put in her place in the Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival but had been mopping up in races of this nature prior to that and she revels in testing conditions.
Recent Cork scorer Keys Pride is the obvious threat but has a bit to find.
Exciting prospect Fionnegas features in the opening INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle (12.35).
The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old beat the likes of Rite Of Passage when winning a Curragh bumper in May and landed a Ballinrobe maiden hurdle with aplomb later that month.
He could go a long way this season, but faces no easy task with Edward O'Grady's Slieveardagh in opposition.
Colm Murphy's Miss Maximus is worth a look in the Clonmel Oil Day Handicap Hurdle having qualified for a mark with a fair effort at Navan.
The Powerstown Park INH Flat Race concludes the seven-race card, and Florida Pal is a leading player.
