ONLY four go to post in the feature event at Clonmel this afternoon but it looks an interesting little heat and Willie Mullins can bag another nice prize with Largy Hill.
The Flemensfirth gelding is already proven over the three-mile trip after his victory in Cork last month and stamina will be all important in very testing ground today.
Having chased home a smart horse in Stellar Story on his hurdling debut at Navan in November, Largy Hill justified a short price in fine style last time.
The form of that race has worked out well since with a couple in behind placed and the fourth horse, Glen Kiln, winning at Naas recently.
Harvard Guy sets the standard in the Grade Three contest after rattling off a hat-trick of handicap wins at Navan this season.
The progressive Telescope gelding now has a rating of 142 and is entitled to take his chance in graded company.
He has seen out the two-and-a-half mile trip at Navan well but this is another step into the unknown ground which is going to be attritional.
Search For Glory is already a winner at this level, when scoring at Cork in December, but as a result has to carry a penalty. Giving weight away to the aforementioned pair looks a tough task.
It could be another profitable day for Mullins, whose runners tend to prove a cut above when the going gets really tough.
Cuta De As makes her hurdling debut in the opening mares’ contest and she gets the vote.
The daughter of It’s Gino won a bumper at Down Royal last season in fine style and ended that campaign with a good effort to finish third in Grade Three company at Fairyhouse.
She already has jumping experience from point-to-points and looks to tick all the boxes.
In the following maiden hurdle, Paul Townend also takes the mount on Maroto and he is entitled to improve a nice bit from his debut effort at Fairyhouse last month.
The Sholokhov gelding was set to finish fifth then before a mistake at the last, and a stumble soon after. He was eased up in the closing stages.
With that run under his belt he looks capable of stepping forward now and winning a race of this standard.
Connections have been patient as he only made his debut this year at the age of seven and they can get their rewards now.
