OFFICIALS are monitoring the situation at Clonmel with plenty of rain forecast for the area.
Charity Barnum looks worth taking a chance on in the opener if the meeting gets the go-ahead.
Gordon Elliott’s charge showed a nice level of ability last year but failed to fire first time up this season when weakening tamely at Punchestown last month.
There was obviously something amiss that day and the Sholokhov mare was reported to be blowing hard post race after beating just one home.
She is capable of a good bit better on what we saw from her last term. On her final start of that campaign in March she looked set to play a big part in the finish at Navan only to fall two from home.
Having travelled well to challenge going to the penultimate flight then she stepped at the hurdle and paid the price.
The form of that race, won by We Got This, has worked out pretty well since with the runner-up, Broomfield Bijou, in particular doing her part with a win and a couple of good placed efforts this season which has saw her mark rise to 125.
This looks a much easier task now for Charity Barnum in a race which is confined to horses that have run at least three times without being placed.
Another interesting one in the line-up is the Mark Fahey-trained Bigira, who has hinted at ability in bumpers and makes her jumping debut now.
Elliott may be able to land the other maiden hurdle on the card with the Gigginstown gelding St Cuthbert’s Cave.
He ran a nice race on his jumping debut when third to a smart horse in An Tobar at Fairyhouse last month and is entitled to come on a bit from the experience.
The winner was third in the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle on Sunday so the form looks very solid.
Only four go to post in the featured three-mile conditions hurdle and Cash Back makes most appeal at the weights.
He ran well over a furlong shorter when collared on the run-in by Beacon Edge at Thurles back in October and connections obviously felt he has no problem with this sort of trip as he goes slightly further now.
The 10lb pull he gets off Absolute Notions could be the major factor, particularly as there are concerns about whether that rival will handle very deep ground.
GARY CARSON'S CLONMEL SELECTIONS
(next best in brackets)
12.02 Charity Barnum (nap) - Bigira
12.37 Birdsandthebees - Natural Breeze
1.12 St Cuthbert's Cave - Great Universe
1.47 Cash Back (dbl) - Absolute Notions
2.22 Gamigin - Pana To Milan
2.57 Danny The Fence - Time Marches On
3.32 Henn See - Ask Anything
