Today's Tips: Straightforward task for promising Yorkhill at Clonmel
Winner of a point to point 12 months ago, he made a successful bumper debut at Gowran Park, and followed up with a very impressive display in a hot bumper at the Punchestown Festival on his next and most recent start.
In third place, beaten almost 20 lengths, on that occasion was stable companion Up For Review, who was most impressive on his first start over hurdles, last month. One place and three parts of a length further back was Sandymount Duke, who won four hurdles in a row over the summer, while sixth-placed Solatentif also subsequently won his maiden.
The form stacks up nicely, five-year-old Yorkhill is clearly quite a prospect and has what looks a straightforward task this afternoon, despite having to concede weight all around.
Figurative may be the one to chase him home, though the Mick Winters-trained For Carmel, a half-sister to the stable’s For Bill, would be worth noting if called in from the reserves, and Silver Turtle may be better than he has shown in two starts. Mullins should also be on the mark with Vroum Vroum Mag, who makes her seasonal debut in the mares’ hurdle. Unbeaten in six runs – all over fences – since joining her current stable, she finished off last season with a mark of 155.
While it’s hard to know whether or not she can produce that level of performance over the smaller obstacles, it’s encouraging she won one and finished second in her only other start over hurdles, for her previous handler. Class should see her through, at the expense of Rock On The Moor.
Mullins runs Bello Conti in the opener, but he’s extremely hard to assess. He could well be up to the task, but the conditions of the race favour older horses which have not won a race under rules, and thus the nap goes to Double Island. Winner of a point to point, the Henry De Bromhead-trained gelding made his track debut at Fairyhouse last month and caught the eye finishing second behind former Doncaster November Handicap winner Open Eagle.
From the family of former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Jodami, he’s an imposing sort, and likely to really make his name as a chaser. However, there was enough in that last effort to suggest he would be up to winning a maiden hurdle, and today can be the day. If positively ridden, he should be very hard to catch, and can score at the expense of Ball D’Arc, Madfuninthewest and Bello Conti.
All Summer Long, for whom the booking of Jack Kennedy looks significant, can take the Powerstown Handicap Hurdle for trainer Paul Nolan.
Last time out, the mare sported blinkers for the first time and finished a close third behind Court Challenge. She didn’t enjoy the clearest of runs and, on the evidence of the run, looks up to winning a handicap hurdle. Under similar conditions and with the headgear and a tongue tie on, she looks the one to be on.
Long-standing maiden Dragon Khan ran well behind Long House Island last time and will be hard to keep out of the frame.
