Nicat Could Benefit From Return To Clonmel

I thought Skewiff ran a massive race for us on Saturday considering she was given a ride that Adam Wedge would probably like to forget. Unlike on her previous couple of runs she settled very nicely at the rear of the field early on, jumping fluently and travelling well within herself.

She started to move into contention during the final circuit, but Wedge chose to chart a very wide course and after making up a lot of ground Skewiff was shuffled back. She had to be switched too before the last and when Wedge finally got stuck in she stayed on very well to get up for 6th. With a kinder trip next time she could go close in a weaker race.
 

Nicat's Benefit seems to love running at Clonmel.

I am a sucker for a horse that has strong course form, and in the 18.5f handicap hurdle at Clonmel Nicat’s Benefit certainly ticks that box. Liz Lalor’s 7yo daughter of Beneficial has an excellent record at the County Tipperary track and she returns for her first handicap start here off what looks a very workable mark of 102 with Roger Loughran booked for the ride.

Loughran was on board for her last win in a maiden hurdle over this course and distance back in March 2017. His form figures when riding her at Clonmel read 315, in comparison to form figures of 8880056P elsewhere. It is Lalor’s local track too and she has had 4 winners and 4 top four finishers from just 15 runners. A win strike rate of 27% and a frame hitting strike rate of 53%.

Nicat’s benefit has scored twice at Clonmel, in the aforementioned 18.5f maiden on heavy and also in a bumper on heavy (finished 2nd awarded race). Her other two visits resulted in a 3rd behind Chambord Du Lys in a maiden hurdle (16f hvy) and a well beaten 5th when well out of her depth in a Listed Chase here back in November.

She has looked  badly out of form so far this season, but she has been running at the wrong trips. 3 miles was too far for her last time when claimer ridden at Fairyhouse, as was 2m 5f at Tramore when she was pulled up on her penultimate start. She drops back to her optimum trip, Roger Loughran is back in the plate and she races off a mark of just 102, 14lb lower than her initial rating awarded after her easy maiden hurdle win here.

I think Trans Wood and Glens DD, two horses I have tipped up already this season, could easily sicken us. Especially Trans Wood, who stayed on eye catchingly over 2f shorter last time out when I put her up at Punchestown. However, the bookies haven’t missed either of those horses who are both around the 10/1 mark, and at 33/1 I would rather take a chance on Nicat’s Benefit each way for small stakes.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 15.25 CLONMEL-NICAT’S BENEFIT E/W @ 33/1