Willie Mullins sends just two horses to Clonmel this afternoon. His recent Wexford winner The Paparrazi Kid, Ruby Walsh’s only ride at the meeting, bids to follow up in the €17,500 Suir Valley Chase while his bumper runner Clitandre is the mount of Katie Walsh.
The conditions of the two-and-a-half-mile chase specifies no penalties for handicap chases so The Paparrazi Kid escapes any extra for Friday’s success.
The handicapper has raised him 4lb for the future, however, so the 10 year-old is attractive enough here.
He was winning for the first time since Christmas 2013 when gaining that Wexford veteran’s chase success and should be capable of coping with these.
Mozoltov is another who has been kept busy of late but was tailed off behind A Toi Phil at Navan on Sunday, although this is a major step down the ladder from Group Two.
Val De Ferbet won't mind returning to fences and will be suited by the testing conditions, so he could be the danger.
Gordon Elliott has enjoyed a stellar few days and will be hoping the good run continues with Strike It Back in the opening maiden hurdle.
She failed narrowly against Mary Frances at Limerick on Saturday and is entitled to a change of luck here against the likes of Born To Size, Beginningtogetup and the penalised one-time Navan Flat handicap winner Jacobs Well.
Tom Taaffe’s Nanny Stone chased home the classy Sutton Manor (now rated 138) two starts ago at Wexford and was unfortunate subsequently when a faller two out behind Coquin Mans at Limerick over Christmas.
Her dam is a half-sister to Denman and she can get her career started properly here. She is one of five with chances, including Moroval, Hickey’s Rock, Elliott’s Soul Kaliber and Nicat’s Benefit, in this seven-runner field.
Elliott’s Third Opinion has his chance in the two-mile Slievenamon Beginners' Chase.
But the trainer will need to have worked all of his magic as his charge returns from a mammoth absence of 680 days and the likes of Logical Song, Knockraha Boss and No Dice will be there to exploit any chinks in the armour of his runner.
No Dice (Denis O’Regan) is of particular interest having fallen when seemingly set to score decisively at Down Royal last time.
This modest contest is confined to those rated 116 or less over hurdles, and No Dice’s chase rating is 116. Should be capable of beating Logical Song and Knockraha Boss.
The Martinstown Handicap Chase has attracted the biggest field of the afternoon but can be narrowed down to a group of five with Larry Capri, Flynsini, Dinnie’s Vinnie, Soaring High and Town Pond all holding valid claims.
Soaring High was a gamble in this race 12 months ago but unseated at the first fence. His only outing since was at Thurles in January when third behind Winter Music and Cappacurry Zac. That effort gives him a nice chance here
The Vee Handicap Hurdle won’t take much winning and the 10-year-old top weight Zipporah arrives in good form following a win and a placed effort in her last two starts.
Another bold bid can be expected from her, though the likes of Wilms Warrior and Stay With It boast solid claims themselves.
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Neville Ring
1.55 Strike Is Back
2.25 Nanny Stone
2.55 Zipporah
3.30 No Dice (Dbl)
4.05 The Paparrazi Kid (Nap)
4.40 Soaring High
5.15 Imperial Way
Next Best
1.55 Beginngtogetup
2.25 Moroval
2.55 Wilms Warrior
3.30 Logical Song
4.05 Val De Ferbet
4.40 Larry Capri
5.15 Clitandre
