N.H. racing at Market Rasen and Clonmel

With Hexham off, we are left with two jumps meetings today, with easily the best racing at Clonmel in Ireland, with the Grade Two Clonmel Oil Chase at 15.05 CET as the main feature. Glenfinn Captain (Tom Taaffe/ Martin Walsh) made no show on his sasonal reappearance, but won this last year and can follow up today, at the main expense of Watson Lake (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry) and Gungadu, having his first race for new trainer Gordon Elliott, but ridden as usual by Ruby Walsh. Ruby also has chances in the novice hurdle at 13.35 on Willie Mullins´ Fionnegas and at 15.35, in the Grade Three mares chase, on Paul Nolan´s Moskova, who has not run since the Punchestown meeting in April, but all of whose best form is on heavy ground, which is certain to prevail today. At Market Rasen, the 2 3/4 mile handicap chase at 15.10 looks quite open, but top-weight Bannister Lane (Donald McCain/ Paul Benson), Hockenheim (Howard Johnson/ Timmy Murphy) and Nirvana Swing (Sue Smith/ Shane Byrn e) runner-up the last twice, seem to hold the best chances. In the equivalent race over hurdles half an hour later, there is a clear lack of good recent form, so we go with River Logic (John Hetherton/ Keith Mercer), who won an easier race here last time, and can make his fitness advantage tell against higher-rated opponents. Best thing here should be top-weight Calzaghe (Jim Best/ Gemma Gracey-Davison) in the concluding handicap hurdle for lady riders. He should be able to shrug off a 7 lbs penalty for a ridiculously easy win this CD last time out.