Enda Bolger’s juvenile was better last time after not particularly enjoying himself on debut at Cork. He was hampered at the start and hit a bit of a flat spot half way round which shuffled him back through the pack. However, he stayed on well and picked off a few rivals in the run in, so we might not have seen the best of him yet. This looks like a very winnable maiden hurdle and the yard has been in the winners recently with three of the last eight getting their head in front. Declan Queally’s Roisin Ciara is possibly better than what we’ve seen of her so far, and she’s fancied for Exacta purposes.
This one has run well on his last couple of starts. Last seen at Clonmel earlier this month, he looked the likeliest winner 2f out, but just flattened out a bit between the last and second last. The drop in trip looks likely to suit here then and he looks to have a high enough cruising speed, so should have enough toe over the bare 2m. This doesn’t look as competitive an affair and still looks well treated off a mark of 91. The ground will be testing here, but he’s got form on heavy and won a point-to-point on it too, so that’s another positive.
It was hard not to be taken by this one when getting off the mark earlier this month at Wexford. He galloped clear of his rivals with ease before two out, and put 10 lengths between him and his nearest pursuer in a matter of strides. The handicapper has put him up a stone for that win, having set an RPR of 118 that day, he could still well be ahead of his mark. He’s reportedly not the easiest to train, but if Terence O’Brien has managed to figure him out, which it certainly looked like on his previous start, he can follow up here.
Henry De Bromhead’s remains without a win after seven starts under rules but dropping back into maiden hurdle company, this has to be her best chance of getting her head in front yet. A two-time winning point-to-pointer, the 7yo has understandably been campaigned predominantly over fences this season, but a reversion to hurdles last time saw her find just one too good in the shape of a useful Declan Queally mare. The front two were well clear of the field that day and this looks like a weaker contest. Sean Flanagan takes over from Rachael Blackmore.
Summer racing at Tipperary is split between national hunt and flat contests, with the Grade 2 Tipperary Hurdle the most prestigious race held at the venue.
While the course does hold two Group 3s on the flat, it is worth noting the Aidan O’Brien horses in early season maiden’s at the course. The Ballydoyle supremo has sent out the likes of Hawk Wing and Dylan Thomas for their career debuts at Tipperary, instead of opting for the bigger courses such as Leopardstown or The Curragh.
