UK Horse Racing Tips: Clonmel

HILLSDALE won easily on his recent handicap chase debut and might defy an 11lb penalty. He was rated just 102 at his peak over hurdles and while his initial chase form was ordinary, he successfully dropped to handicap company at Naas where he won easily. He competes from a career-high rating but has just turned six, so might continue to progress. Three-time hurdle winner Cheerful Chap has run well in all his four chase runs this season and while well enough held at Limerick over Christmas, is again suited by conditions and is dependable. Freddie Robdal wasn't suited by reverting to hurdles at Leopardstown over Christmas but is better over fences, with both his wins coming at this distance.
Prediction : 1st Hillsdale 2nd Cheerful Chap 3rd Freddie Robdal

WEST OF CARRIG showed useful form in a similar race over Christmas and might cope better than most with dropping down to this distance. The selection showed just ordinary form over hurdles but is a three-time point-to-point winner, with his recent Limerick 2m6f form being quite strong, as prolific winner Rocky's Howya finished fourth. Milan Forth has two lengths to find with the selection on October form and while he subsequently showed good form and is just a six-year-old, has yet to race at this distance. Fountain House finished second in Punchestown's Ladies Cup last April and is noteworthy.
Prediction : 1st West Of Carrig 2nd Milan Forth 3rd Fountain House

BUNTING showed smart form last year and drops markedly in class since his most recent hurdle runs. A debut French Flat winner, he won on hurdles debut in December 2023 and while outclassed in three subsequent Grade 1s, nonetheless showed good ability and will be ready on his reappearance run. He is also ideally suited by race conditions. Byker finished second in the 2023 Fred Winter Hurdle but nonetheless lacks some of the selection's ability and hasn't run since October. The selection's stablemate Got Glory was placed at the Punchestown festival last May but burst blood vessels at that course last December and fell at Leopardstown over Christmas. She should struggle to win but has place claims.
Prediction : 1st Bunting 2nd Byker 3rd Got Glory

KARMA D'AIRY debuts for new connections having shown nice ability in France and contests an ordinary maiden on her Irish start. Beaten by Another World at Auteuil last June and bought for 250,000 euros the following month, that rival subsequently attained a Listed-placing and today's selection will be ready for her reappearance on suitably soft ground. Twentyfourcarrot was an impressive 16-length winner of a Limerick bumper in November but was reported to have had blood at both nostrils when pulling up at that venue over Christmas. Kilbarry Ce Ce has place claims.
Prediction : 1st Karma Dairy 2nd Twentyfourcarrot 3rd Kilbarry Ce Ce

The market is likely to revolve around FUNICULI FUNICULA. He kept on for second on his sole start in a hurdle at Auteuil in October 2023 and has subsequently joined Willie Mullins. He is already being quoted for two of the novice hurdle races at the Cheltenham Festival. The 123-rated Addragoole looks most likely to profit if Funiculi Funicula's Irish debut doesn't go to plan. He clocked up five runner-up finishes in a row (two bumpers and three maiden hurdles) before disappointing in a novice handicap hurdle at a foggy Leopardstown over Christmas. Gordon Elliott takes the wraps off Battleoftheboyne, who is a half-brother to a Grade 3 winner over flights and he should be given a market check.
Prediction : 1st Funiculi Funicula 2nd Addragoole 3rd Battleoftheboyne

ROBINDEVIDASTAR was tough off the front in Punchestown two months ago. He has previous placed form in Clonmel and Tiernan Power Roche's 7lb claim should keep him competitive in this grade. Falcon Park was a ready winner of an opportunity handicap hurdle in Punchestown which makes him dangerous, especially as Niall Prendergast can utilise his full 7lb claim in this race. Moudan's second run in a handicap brought about significant improvement as he finished a close fourth at Tipperary and that form has been franked. Barbaha Queen has been off for more than six months but didn't run badly when last seen in Sligo, while My Good Pal is a possible improver on his second start for Gavin Cromwell.
Prediction : 1st Robindevidastar 2nd Falcon Park 3rd Moudan

DOYEN FOR A DRINK departed at the penultimate flight when travelling well in the lead at Limerick last month. She encounters similar trip and ground, so should be heavily involved. Coffeys Forge has been out of form but has joined Gordon Elliott, who is well able to reinvigorate new recruits. Peter Smithers takes 7lb off top-weight Elusive Guy's back and his sixth in a slightly better class of race at Limerick over Christmas gives him a chance. Mount Shenshan drops back in trip after a fourth-placed effort at Ballinrobe in the summer and she isn't out of it on her handicap debut.
Prediction : 1st Doyen For A Drink 2nd Coffeys Forge 3rd Elusive Guy