2.55pm Clonmel Tips & Betting Preview 12/11/2015

Race Time: 2.55pm Meeting: Clonmel Day: Thursday 12th November 2015
Distance: 2m 4f  Full Race Name: European Breeders Fund T.A. Morris Memorial Mares Chase (Grade Three)

This Thursday will see the running of the T.A. Morris Memorial Mares Chase at Clonmel. The race is a Grade 3 chase run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs and is exclusively for mares aged five-years and older.

Trainer Willie Mullins has a decent record in the race, winning three out of the last five renewals and all eyes will be on his five-year old mare Vroum Vroum Mag, as she makes her seasonal reappearance in what could be an exciting and successful season her. Vroum Vroum Mag enjoyed an outstanding opening season over jumps, winning all five of her races by a cumulative total of 61 lengths, including success in two Grade 3 contests and 2 Grade 2 contests. The leading prize-winning horse in Ireland last season for owner Rich Ricci, Ricci has made no secret that he sees Vroum Vroum Mag as a possible Hennessy and Ryanair horse and Thursday’s race could well be a springboard to the Hennessy at the end of the month at Newbury. Trainer Mullins has publicly commented in recent weeks that a number of his string are behind on their work due to a lack of rain and it’s likely that he would have preferred to have had Vroum Vroum Mag out by now with the Hennessy just under three weeks away. An easy success on Thursday could well see all roads leading to Newbury as Mullins seeks his first ever Hennessy winner.

Off a mark of 153 and giving weight to her rivals, it is hard to find horses to oppose Vroum Vroum Mag with on Thursday. All seven of her potential rivals do however have the benefit of recent runs and three horses come into the race on the back of winning runs. The Mick Winters trained Perfect Woman is one of such horse, winning her last four races over both hurdles and a beginners chase at Sligo at the end of September. Miss Dinamic trained by Gordon Elliot has had a busy year, running 12 times since April, winning five times including over fences at Sligo and last time out at Thurles. Emcon made a winning debut over fences at Clonmel for trainer Willie Austin at the end of October, jumping well, especially over the final obstacles when challenged by the favourite Carrigmoorna Rock. Trainer Austin thinks she has the potential to be a force in mares’ chases over the winter and Thursday’s race will be a good measure of her potential.

Other potential runners on Thursday are the Joseph Mangan trained Perfect Promise, Indian Fairy trained by Elizabeth Doyle, Shesaportrait for Patrick Neville & I’m All You Need for Paul Nolan who won the race in 2009.