Ross Moff can get off mark for the season
Tony Martin’s Ross Moff, with the conditions of the contest very much in his favour, has to be fancied to land the nap in the Gerry Chawke Chase.
He has a minimum of 6lbs in hand of his rivals at these weights and if producing his best will surely deliver!
The selection has clearly had his training problems, but has come back as good as ever this campaign. Following a pipe-opener on the level at Galway, he was well backed to defy 12-0 in a competitive handicap at Fairyhouse in early December.
That race was eventually won by Macs Gildoran, but Ross Moff was coming with a determined challenge when falling at the final fence.
His latest effort was at Cheltenham in December, when mildly disappointing in finishing only fifth behind Horus. That was over an extended three miles and a furlong, however, and he didn’t appear to get the trip!
If Tony Mullins’ Azur Tonic puts his best foot forward, he should go very close in the Clonmel Racecourse Supporters’ Club Novice Hurdle.
The six-year-old was returning from a break at Fairyhouse last month, failing to get in a blow in the closing stages when fourth behind Florida Coast.
A repeat of that effort won’t be good enough to get through here, but Azur Tonic is better judged on his defeat of the smart Silver Steel at Thurles and the useful Heads Onthe Ground on this track.
If the market speaks in favour of Mullins’ Air Marshall in the Killaloan Maiden Hurdle then he should not be opposed.
Absent for some 21 months, he was a top class stayer when trained in England by Michael Stoute. Air Marhsall is a Group Two winner and was second to Millenary in the Doncaster St Leger of 2000.
