Sport

Hogan's the trainer to watch

DENIS HOGAN has shown himself to be one of the shrewdest young trainers about in the last few years and he looks the man to follow at Clonmel on Thursday.

All three of his runners on the card look to have big chances and the Cloughjordan handler will surely be disappointed if he goes home without a winner.

Beautiful Ben is the first of his charges in the two-mile handicap hurdle and he remains on the same mark as when narrowly losing out at Bellewstown last week.

Hogan was in the saddle himself last time and it looks significant that he has decided to claim a valuable 5lb off his back now with Brian Cawley. He looked all set to win last time but found a very game foe in Effernock Lad and it looks lenient enough of the handicapper to leave him untouched.

This doesn’t look the strongest contest. Give Her Bach would be a threat if you could ignore her last run at Killarney but that was a very disappointing effort.

Santo Prince appreciated returning to the level at Wexford recently and connections felt he just wasn’t enjoying things over timber which is a worry on his return to jumping.

Hogan also gives Cawley the leg up on Emmy Lou who returns to handicap company having failed to cut the ice in a maiden at Down Royal last week. She had run really well on her two previous starts in handicap company at Kilbeggan, both on better ground, and back in an average looking contest now she should go close.

She is weighted to turn around Kilbeggan form with the consistent Cloudy Morning, who just got up to pip her for second there last month.

Hogan switches Ocean Glandore back to timber in the three-mile handicap hurdle after a good run on his chase debut at Tramore last month. The six-year-old had previously took a similar staying hurdle at Roscommon when narrowly beating Na Trachtalai Abu and that rival has run well again since.

He a lazy sort and as a result may just still have a found pounds up his sleeve. Kevin Darcy takes 4lb off in the claimers race and this looks a big opportunity for him to partner his first winner.

Best Value wouldn’t be far off him on a line through Na Trachtalai Abu, having finished second to that rival in Limerick in July, and he looks the danger.

Listed Dear, who got turned over on her hurdling debut at Downpatrick, should get off the mark now over jumps in the opener while Simiel shaped with promise on his debut and can claim the bumper.

GARY CARSON


4.30pm: Listen Dear (dbl)


5pm: Perfect Woman


5.30pm: High In The Clouds


6pm: Beautiful Ben (nap)


6.30pm: Emmy Lou


7pm: Ocean Glandore


7.30pm: Simiel

NEXT BEST


4.30pm: Spicy Fruity


5pm: Table Tips


5.30pm: Coolfighter


6pm: Give Her Bach


6.30pm: Cloudy Morning


7pm: Best Value


7.30pm: Bowenscourt