Sizing Europe in Clonmel Oil Chase

The four U.K. meetings today are all very poor, but there is some good N.H. racing in Ireland, where the Grade Two Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 1/2 miles at 15.25 has attracted one of the big stars of the jumps scene - Sizing Europe (Henry de Bromhead/ Andrew Lynch). The 2011 Champion Chase winner - and runner-up this year- is arguably better over the minimum trip, but is also effective over this distance and has over a stone in hand of his four opponents today. He has won 16 of his 32 races and never runs a bad race, in fact it is over 3 years since he last ran unplaced. Tranquil Sea (Edward O´Grady/ Barry Geraghty) is ideally suited by this CD and has won this race for the past two years; it will be a huge surprise if he can beat Sizing Europe at level weights, but he looks booked for second place. Let Yourself Go (Martin and Shane Hassett) was runner-up here in 2010, but will do well to be placed today, as the Gigginstown pair Magnaminity (Dessie Hughes/ Davy Russell) and Rath lin (Mouse Morris/ Bryan Cooper) are both smart and should fight it our for third place.

The other graded race is the mares chase over the same trip half an hour later. Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh have won this for the past 2 years and can take it again with the very promising Tarla.She has never yet run over fences, but is highly rated by her connectilons, who certainly know the time of day with top mares. Top-weights Knockfierna (Charlie Byrnes/ Russell) and Our Victoria (Colin Bowe/ Martin O´Neill) can fight it out for the places; Knockfierna has a lot of ability, but is not one in whom to place total trust in view of her unfortunate tendency to run out at a vital stage of a race.This has happened twice in her last 5 starts - she won the other 3, all Grade Three events, but if Tarla is as good as her trainer expects, she should win. The other interesting race at Clonmel is the opening maiden hurdle at 13.55, in which the two smart bumper winners Lord of Lords (O´Grady/ Geraghty) and The Paparrazi Kid (Mullins/ Walsh) both make their debut over sticks.

The U.K. cards are of little interest by comparison. We hope that German-bred Lava Lamp (Evan Williams/ Adam Wedge) runs a bit better in the handicap hurdle over an extended 2 miles at 16.10 at Taunton. This half-brother to Lady Marian has been very inconsistent, but is down in grade here and has also been dropped in the weights. Tisfreetodream (Paul Pritchard/ Nico de Boinville) is a similar case in the amateur riders handicap hurdle at 14.30 at Ludlow.

Clonmel - betting forecast:
1. Race: The Paparrazi Kid - Clara Bel La - Dushybeag
2. Race: Chu Chu Thomas - Hugbensin - Short Grass
3. Race: Roadtoabbeyfeale - Quietly Fancied - Ballyburke
4. Race: Sizing Europe - Tranquil Sea - Magnanimity
5. Race: Knockfierna - Tarla - Our Victoria
6. Race: Fourth Class - Days Ahead - Yeoman
7. Race: Turnandgo - Giantofaman - The Pounds