Clonmel Oil Chase

the Co. Tipperary track at Clonmel stages its best card of the year today, with the Grade Two Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 1/2 miles at 15.25 CET as the main feature. This is always a good race and today´s field of six runners is very select. Willie Mullins saddles two of them., Arvika Legionnaire (Ruby Walsh) and bottom weight Mikael d´Haguenet (Paul Townend) clearly preferred. He was a top novice last season, winning 3 Grade Ones and was not suited by the track when well beaten at Cheltenham. He is expected to go right go the top this season, and today´s track and distance should be ideal. Rubi Light (Robbie Hennessy/ Andrew Lynch), even though he concedes weight and would prefer heavier going, looks the main danger. The mares chase half an hour later is also a graded race, but the field is much weaker. Avondhu Lady (David Fenton/ MA Enright) was third here last year, but that was a much stronger renewal, and she might be good enough to score this time. Also to be noted here is German-bred Quartetto (Tom Taaffe/ Townend), the likely favourite for the handicap chase at 16.25. His last two runs, both placed, were over hurdles and he does not seem to be so well handicapped over fences; he has not won for 3 years, and while he clearly has a chance, we are a bit sceptical at the likely odds.
We are certainly more interested in some of the German-breds running in British N.H. races today, in particular Irving (Paul Nicholls/ Nick Scholfield) in the novice hurdle at 15.40 at Taunton. He was a listed race performer for Schlenderhan last year and now makes his hurdling debut for a stable that always has them well primed first time out.
At Ludlow, Nicky Henderson saddles Nesterenko, previously trained by Uwe Stoltefuss, in the maiden hurdle at 14.30 and Willpower, out of German-bred Group One winner Noble Pearl, in the introductory hurdle at 16.30. Both are partnered by David Bass and are making their debuts over sticks; we hope they run well. Another German-bred running here is Lava Lamp (Evan Williams/ Adam Wedge) in the 3 mile+ handicap chase at 15.00. He has never run over this distance before, but he goes well at this track and could be worth a small each-way bet.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Unic De Bersy - Dun Scaith - The Job Is Right
2. Race: Famous Ballerina - Go Paddy Go - Softboiledsergeant
3. Race: Questions Answered - Catch Me - Sarabad
4. Race: Arvika Ligeonniere - Rubi Light - Texas Jack
5. Race: Avondhu Lady - Backinthere - Caoimhe`s Delight
6. Race: Quartetto - Beckwith Star - Instant Impacked
7. Race: Flaming Dawn - Tom`s Article - Truth Be Told