Mares to the fore at Clonmel today Mares take centrestage at Clonmel this afternoon with three of the seven races on the card confined to equine females. The going is sure to be very testing with the third last fence already omitted due to ground conditions, and perhaps Joseph O’Brien and JJ Slevin can team up to take the Ballylooby Mares Handicap Chase with Deilginis. The daughter of Flemensfirth handled plenty of cut in the ground when justifying strong support in a Cork beginners’ chase last month and appears reasonably treated in her first handicap. The O’Brien/Slevin alliance may also have the answer to the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle with Arthurian Fame. His two victories on the Flat last year including a valuable handicap at Leopardstown were memorable for the boisterous celebrations of the Blackrock Racing Syndicate, and the Camelot gelding comes here with the experience of a couple of hurdle runs under his belt. Willie Mullins rarely leaves this venue empty-handed and has strong claims in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race with The West Awaits. Patrick Mullins’ mount boasts some classy form having run well last time behind Darling Daughter in a Grade 2 at the Dublin Racing Festival and should prove too strong for Daphne Moon. The latter’s trainer Gordon Elliott may have better fortune with Final List in the Mullinahone Rated Novice Chase, while Moll Dote is taken to land the Cloneen Mares Handicap Hurdle for the Declan Queally yard.
