Today's Tips: Sizing Silver can defy top weight at Clonmel
Conditions will be far more testing than he has previously encountered, but his sire, Baroud D’Honneur, secured his two successes on heavy ground, and that gives hope it won’t be an issue for the selection.
Last time out, in a maiden hurdle, he made much of the running before fading to finish fifth behind Falcon Crest, who went on to land the Grade 2 Monksfield Novice Hurdle on his next start.
That was Sizing Silver’s second start after more than two years on the side-line, and there is clearly a solid basis to believe he can improve further.
Entirely unexposed, the Henry De Bromhead-trained six-year-old likely won’t be as positively ridden as in previous outings and, as this is the easiest task of his career to date, he should be good enough to see off his rivals.
Indian Fairy, despite being a much better horse over fences than over hurdles, may pose the greatest threat on his return to hurdling following two very good runs over the larger obstacles.
Bello Conti can take the opening Clonmel Maiden Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Gigginstown House Stud. The four-year-old is, reputedly, a smart stayer in the making, and that looked the case when he stayed on strongly on his only start, in a hurdle race in his native France.
Demanding conditions should make this enough of a test for the son of former high-class stayer Coastal Path, and he is preferred to Madfuninthewest.
The latter boasts some fine form, including last time out when he found only the highly regarded Bleu Et Rouge too good. That sets the standard amongst those with hurdling form, and he could be an each-way steal in a race in which Bello Conti is likely to command most of the market.
Joshua Lane has the best bumper form, but has been disappointing over hurdles. It was noticeable that, prior to previous cancellations of this meeting, he had been popular at morning prices. A similar move today would be noteworthy, though it would still take an act of faith to row in with his supporters.
Vroum Vroum Mag will be the shortest priced runner on the card, and she’s almost unopposable in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares’ Hurdle. Unbeaten in six runs over fences since joining Willie Mullins, she had winning form over hurdles in France, and if as proficient over the smaller obstacles as she is over fences, she’ll come home in a canter.
