UK Horse Racing Tips: Clonmel

ZOFFANIEN is top-rated in this and looks the pick. He failed to make much impression in a competitive event at Killarney the other day, but this is an easier task. He had run well over slightly shorter than this at Ballinrobe last month and John Shinnick is back on board having rode him then. Robinstown looks an obvious danger but may need a stiffer test of stamina than this. He was third over 3m2f over fences at Down Royal last time. It Could Be You won a claimer over a similar trip here last month and also has to be on the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Zoffanien 2nd Robinstown 3rd It Could Be You

LIEBER NICC ran with promise in a couple of strong contests over the winter and should be up to winning at this time of year. The Champs Elysees gelding was last seen finishing third to Argento Boy in a Fairyhouse bumper having been a staying-on eighth in a good maiden hurdle at Leopardstown previously. The fact that he doesn't have to carry a penalty here looks a plus. Ayiko has to give 8lb away having won a bumper at Ayr last December. He was a decent third over timber at Naas last month and is a big player on that form. Clodders Dream ran well in a rated novice contest when last seen at Limerick over Christmas and is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Lieber Nicc 2nd Ayiko 3rd Clodders Dream

TIDEWAYS HERO ran well on her handicap debut at Punchestown when last seen in October and is capable of winning a race of this standard on her return. The Mount Nelson mare made up plenty of ground from the rear when third to Irish Envoy and there looks scope for further improvement. Whatyouwant showed significant improvement when scoring at 20/1 at Ballinrobe nine days ago. She went up 8lb for that victory and should be competitive again. Across The Ocean ran solid enough races on his last couple of starts last year and is another for the shortlist on his seasonal debut.
Prediction : 1st Tideways Hero 2nd Whatyouwant 3rd Across The Ocean

FLICKER OF HOPE could be well named having shaped with much more promise on his handicap debut at Limerick last month. The Buck's Boum gelding had been well beaten in three maiden hurdles, but got a lot closer when fourth to The Big Cloud last time. Better jumps then at the last two might have seen him even closer and he's open to further improvement. Tingarran Express comes here in fine form and is entitled to be a big player again. She ran well under a penalty at Tipperary last time and is only 1lb higher now. Victory Star won a Dundalk claimer and is one to note on his first start for Charles Byrnes.
Prediction : 1st Flicker Of Hope 2nd Tingarran Express 3rd Victory Star

ABOY JOEY has run well on his last couple of outings and going a bit further now may suit the Arctic Cosmos gelding. He went down by three-parts of a length to the in-form Ernie From Nurney at Limerick last month and still looks fairly treated, despite a 4lb rise. Malinas Glory is another who has been showing up well recently and looks like an obvious danger. He gained a confidence-boosting win in a point-to-point in February and ran well on his return to the 'track' when chasing home King Of Cong at Limerick. Teagarden Jazz wasn't running too badly when falling at Bellewstown and is still relatively unexposed. She's another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Aboy Joey 2nd Malinas Glory 3rd Teagarden Jazz

KIMY was outclassed in Grade 1 company when last seen, but would be the one to beat on her previous form over hurdles. She ran a nice race on her Irish debut when fourth to Highwind in a strong event at Punchestown and had been runner-up in France before joining Tom Mullins. This looks like a nice opportunity now that she has her sights lowered. Stoneyford Lady is another who could be a big player. She was fourth to Tullyhill on her hurdling debut at Naas before a disappointing effort in a mares' bumper at Leopardstown. Stormalong was well beaten in a competitive handicap at Leopardstown, but previous form gives her a chance of getting involved.
Prediction : 1st Kimy 2nd Stoneyford Lady 3rd Stormalong

Phidelma Elvin got a good tune from WOODSTREAM LAD when he won on his first start for Philip Rothwell at Thurles last November and he may be able to strike again on his return. The Soldier Of Fortune gelding ran well in a competitive event at Leopardstown subsequently and despite a 4lb rise since, he could still have a bit more improvement in him. She's A Fine Wine impressed on her first start for Henry de Bromhead before a decent effort in Grade 3 company at Navan. She is better than she showed on her final outing in very testing conditions at Limerick. Dame Rapide is still fairly unexposed over hurdles and is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Woodstream Lad 2nd Shes A Fine Wine 3rd Dame Rapide

Willie Mullins introduces Soldier Of Fortune gelding CUCKOO VALLEY and he may be good enough to make a winning start. The five-year-old is a half-brother to the ill-fated Timesremembered, who was a Grade 2 winner over hurdles and was runner-up in Grade 1 company. Fad Eadrainn looks the pick of those to have run. The Mustameet gelding was third on his first couple of starts, including behind Readin Tommy Wrong on debut at Tipperary. The market may prove the best guide to the chances of Beaufort Scale, who was fourth in a point-to-point for Gordon Elliott last December.
Prediction : 1st Cuckoo Valley 2nd Fad Eadrainn 3rd Beaufort Scale