UK Horse Racing Tips: Clonmel

IRISH PANTHER can get his turn having shown strong form last season. Lightly raced for his age, his initial bumper efforts were smart and although an eight-race maiden over hurdles, he was twice placed at Listed level last season and was also beaten just seven lengths in Cheltenham's County Hurdle. Ground-versatile, he makes his seasonal reappearance under his regular 7lb claimer. In The Trenches is enormously frustrating, having finished second on 12 occasions without ever winning. Although race-fit and ready for battle, he'll probably finish second again. Kentucky Beach's form suggests he will take third.
Prediction : 1st Irish Panther 2nd In The Trenches 3rd Kentucky Beach

Point-to-point winner HICKEYS HILL scored on his handicap debut and can defy a 6lb rise. A winner at Quakerstown last November, his initial hurdles form was ordinary but, switching to handicaps with a rating of 82, finished well to beat 15 rivals at Fairyhouse and going an extra furlong should suit. No Big Deal is a 17-race maiden, but all his best form has come in recent months. Three times a runner-up and placed third on another occasion, he is sure to again run well. Three-time hurdles winner Flashthelights should benefit from his recent reappearance run.
Prediction : 1st Hickeys Hill 2nd No Big Deal 3rd Flashthelights

LAU AND SHAZ should benefit from her recent reappearance and was useful last season. Placed three times in bumpers, she now contests her third hurdle race and although nicely held at Listowel, that was a smart maiden and she drops to a more manageable race. Music Of Life was beaten a neck at Listowel and ran nicely at Roscommon eight days later, but might struggle to beat the selection. Courtmac Gesture finished fifth in a Listed bumper recently but debuts over jumps, while Clarnagh Maid was soundly beaten by a debutant stablemate at Tipperary. Moonlight Paradise was bought for 60,000 pounds after defeating a subsequent bumper winner in a point-to-point last May, while her reappearing stable companion Two Pair also debuts over timber.
Prediction : 1st Lau And Shaz 2nd Music Of Life 3rd Courtmac Gesture

Progressive four-year-old ELUSIVE OGIE finished a good third in a smart renewal of the Lartigue Hurdle last month. A maiden winner in May, at Listowel he finished behind runner-up Puturhandstogether - a Cheltenham Festival winner who subsequently bagged the valuable Irish Cesarewitch. Union Park hasn't won for almost two years but can benefit from his recent reappearance, when he was hampered. An able 123-rated chaser, he contested some smart races in that sphere last season and has a light weight. Rexem landed an ordinary claimer here recently and his rider now claims 7lb.
Prediction : 1st Elusive Ogie 2nd Union Park 3rd Rexem

After unseating at the first in the Munster National on Sunday, NARA is turned out again quickly. Fancied by many for that valuable Limerick contest, the Henry de Bromhead-trained five-year-old returns to calmer waters. The winner of what was a weak Grade 2 at Thurles last season, she has a rating of 136 and it will be disappointing if she fails to account for her four rivals. Second and fourth to Cloonainra at Listowel last month, Enjoy The Dream and Speculatrix are the dangers. The latter was since successful at Chepstow and might reverse the form. Littlebiggie and Ad Caelum complete the line-up, with both likely to struggle.
Prediction : 1st Nara 2nd Speculatrix 3rd Enjoy The Dream

After deservedly making the breakthrough at this venue earlier in the month, SPELLACY'S CROSS might follow up. The Jimmy Barcoe-trained six-year-old has gone up just 3lb and still looks nicely treated off a mark of 95. With Darragh O'Keeffe aboard, Listowel winner Ollie La Ba Ba is the second choice. Rated 7lb higher over flights, he could take advantage of his lower chase mark. Although pulled up in the same contest when last seen, Person Of Interest and Ceroc had valid excuses and are of definite interest in this competitive affair. The Dara Man was still in with every chance when unseating three out at Cork and, with Michael Kenneally again claiming a valuable 7lb, he should be able to make his presence felt.
Prediction : 1st Spellacys Cross 2nd Ollie La Ba Ba 3rd The Dara Man

The winner of a point-to-point and twice successful over flights, DUE COURSE might be able to defy top weight. While ultimately disappointing since switching to the larger obstacles, he ran his best race for quite some time when second in first-time blinkers at Sligo and it will be disappointing if he's not involved towards the business end in a contest of this quality. Runner-up on recent starts at Listowel and Downpatrick, Toor Moon is sure to have plenty of supporters. Onefortheditch, Seventy Eight Team and Sharetheknowledge are others for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Due Course 2nd Toor Moon 3rd Seventy Eight Team