Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle 3m

Verdict

The once-useful veteran Powerstation alternates between fences and hurdles these days and is better handicapped over the bigger obstacles, unlike the potentially very useful chaser Allee Garde who will probably just need this before tackling fences again. A Decent Excuse was a little unlucky when beaten narrowly by ROADTOABBEYFEALE at Limerick last month and followed that with an astonishing 33-length victory in a maiden at Naas where the very heavy ground took its toll on his rivals. But the winner is going from strength to strength and, with a 6lb pull in the weights, can confirm the form and complete his hat-trick. Irish Soul completed a hat-trick around this time last year and is still potentially reasonably treated while Quietly Fancied has some fine form over fences to his credit and reverts to hurdles on what looks a lenient mark.

Quietly Fancied (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led, mistake 6 out, disputed next, ridden in 2nd 3 out, no extra in 3rd 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 17l behind Come To The Party (10-9) at Clonmel 3m hcp hdl 8Evens23.

Harold's Cross (AUS) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, 9th entering straight, ridden in 5th 2 out, no extra, 5th of 18, 7l behind Bundle Of Fun (10-6) at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs 0-130 gd in Oct.

A Decent Excuse (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Led or disputed lead to halfway, led from 7th, asserted early straight and clear before last, kept on well, easily, won at Naas 3m mdn hdl beating Our Only Option (11-7) by 33l, 8 ran.

Powerstation (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Towards rear, never a factor, no extra from 3 out, last of 9, 24l behind Mossley (11-0) at Thurles 2m 6f hdl in Oct.

Roadtoabbeyfeale (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway into 6th 5 out, travelled well in 3rd before straight, improved to narrow lead 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well under pressure from before last, drifted left under pressure run-in, won at Limerick 2m 6f hcp hdl 80-109 sft in Oct beating A Decent Excuse (10-13) by 1/2l, 17 ran.

Betterthanalright (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Chased leaders early, mistake 5th, soon lost place, moderate 10th 3 out, no impression, 9th of 16, well behind Sraid Padraig (11-12) at Limerick 2m 3f beg chs sft in Oct.

Ballyburke (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 4th, 5th and pushed along entering straight, no extra from 2 out, weakened, last of 5, 28l behind Maller Tree (11-0) at Naas 2m 4f hdl sft in Oct.

The Bishop Looney (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Fell 1st, in a race won by Raz De Maree (11-3) at Cork 3m 4f hcp chs 0-150, 17 ran.

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Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle 3m