UK Horse Racing Tips: Clonmel

CUTA DES AS gets the vote on her hurdling debut. The daughter of It's Gino was a bumper winner last season and ended that campaign with a fine effort to finish third in Grade 3 company at Fairyhouse. She already has jumping experience, having won a point-to-point, and this looks like a nice place to start off over timber. Kiltealy Park and Pallas Athene were third and fourth in a tight finish behind Annalecka at Punchestown a month ago. The former finished off really strongly then and is fancied to confirm placings. That was her track debut and she may have scope for a bit more improvement.
Prediction : 1st Cuta Des As 2nd Kiltealy Park 3rd Pallas Athene

MAROTO ran a nice race on his belated debut at Fairyhouse just over three weeks ago and is entitled to improve for the experience. The Sholokhov gelding looked set to finish fifth before a mistake at the last and a stumble soon after saw him eased up on the run-in. That was in a decent enough heat won by stablemate O'Moore Park. Undeniable Alibi looks the obvious danger having been third in a stronger maiden hurdle, won by Western Diego, at Fairyhouse 19 days ago. Milo Lises, stablemate of the selection, was disappointing at Limerick last time but is capable of better and can't be discounted.
Prediction : 1st Maroto 2nd Undeniable Alibi 3rd Milo Lises

LARGY HILL is proven over this trip in testing conditions and that may prove the difference. The Flemensfirth gelding chased home a smart horse in Stellar Story on his hurdling debut at Navan in November before getting off the mark in comfortable fashion at Cork last month. That form has worked out well, with a couple in behind placed since, and the fourth horse winning in Naas recently. The progressive Harvard Guy is the obvious danger as he steps out of handicap company. He won three on the bounce at Navan, over two and a half miles, and tries this trip for the first time. Search For Glory is already a Grade 3 winner, over this trip at Cork, but giving weight away to the aforementioned pair looks a tough task.
Prediction : 1st Largy Hill 2nd Harvard Guy 3rd Search For Glory

Not a strong contest and KILBARRY SAINT may be able to score after an improved showing at Gowran Park three weeks ago. The Saint Des Saints mare chased home cosy winner Champagne Mahler then in a more competitive event and is only a couple of pounds higher now. Half Off Six Pence weakened late on when a well-beaten third to Stoke The Fire at Tramore on New Year's Day but has hinted at ability, and dropping back in trip for her handicap debut could help. A Nod To Getaway was third over course and distance last month and is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Kilbarry Saint 2nd Half Off Six Pence 3rd A Nod To Getaway

CARLAS BIG JIM has filled the runner-up spot on his last three starts and can gain a deserved winning turn. The selection was let down by his jumping when beating all bar Lissen To The Lady over a similar trip here last month with Gowran winner Intersky Sunset half-a-length back in third, and now steps back up in distance after finding Brilliant Question too good at Limerick. Magic Conqueror has also strung together a series of consistent efforts this season including when placed behind West Away in a 20-runner novice handicap at Cork before Christmas. It'sallabouteve won a bumper and maiden hurdle at Limerick in the past and showed improved form last time when third to Morricone (won again since) at Punchestown while Nephin Beg reverts from fences with a chance.
Prediction : 1st Carlas Big Jim 2nd Intersky Sunset 3rd Itsallabouteve

MOUNT FRISCO handles testing ground well and gets the vote to make it three wins from four starts this year. The selection won in good style at Tramore on New Year's Day and again put up a fine front-running performance when reverting to hurdles at Limerick last time. Junot is another interesting five-year-old and tackles fences for the first time after he was just denied in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse last month. Mick Charlie has won two of his last four starts over hurdles and the lightly raced 12-year-old is having just his fifth run here over fences, while Dundaniel has two point-to-points and a hunter chase to his credit and has been placed twice in handicaps over varying trips.
Prediction : 1st Mount Frisco 2nd Junot 3rd Dundaniel

JOSHUA WEBB has been lightly raced since winning a bumper and maiden hurdle both on heavy ground at Navan in his younger days but has given plenty of encouragement that he can add to that tally over fences this term. The Noel Meade-trained gelding has filled the runner-up spot twice over similar trips including behind subsequent Paddy Power Chase winner Meetingofthewaters at Cork with Hartur D'arc ten lengths back in third and MacDermott sixth. Hartur D'arc previously went close at Galway, while MacDermott was again let down by his jumping when second to Farmers Lodge at Fairyhouse last month. Petit King was soundly beaten on both chase outings last autumn but has been in good form since over hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Joshua Webb 2nd Hartur Darc 3rd Macdermott