Missy Tata (Ruby Walsh) winning at Limerick earlier this month© Photo Healy Racing
Missy Tata s debut over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Mares Beginners Chase is the most interesting element to Clonmel's seven-race programme this afternoon.
Only a four-year-old, Missy Tata has already shown herself to be a good filly over hurdles, and she did what she had to do at Limerick earlier in the month when scoring at odds of 1-6.
Gordon Elliott 's charge reportedly had a good blow afterwards, hardly altogether surprising given that the daughter of Astarabad was having her first outing for 147 days.
Ruby Walsh rode Missy Tata to that victory and he maintains his link with the Graded-placed hurdler. She has a rating of 138 in that sphere and that puts her comfortably ahead of anything achieved by her rivals now.
Of course this is a different game, but Missy Tata also receives a weight-for-age allowance from all of her rivals, and she'll be a short price to come through the extended two-and-a-quarter-miler with flying colours.
The day could start well for Elliott and Walsh as they also join forces when Theatre Wine goes into battle for the opening Cahir Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Having her first outing for Gigginstown House Stud at Roscommon 10 days ago, Theatre Wine was denied by a short head. Her conqueror then, Golden Flowerpower, is quite exciting, and it's unlikely that there's anything of that potential in this line-up.
Indeed punters would be well advised to keep Elliott runners in mind right through the card, and Walsh is also on Orchard Road (3.15) and Rendezvous Peak (3.50) for the Cullentra House handler.
Meanwhile Mick Jazz begins for the County Meath yard under Barry Geraghty in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle.
This fellow was bought out of the Harry Fry stable, and he's got the form to win. He went off at the top of the market for the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last year. He pulled up then but it will be disappointing if he can't fare an awful lot better here.
