Fakir d’Oudairies will need to beat five rivals to regain the Clonmel Oil Chase on Thursday.
Joseph O’Brien’s classy operator claimed the Grade 2 contest in 2021 and will need to roll back the years as it is 22 months since his last victory.
A pair of hat-trick seekers, stablemate Solness and the Willie Mullins-trained Saint Sam, are the main dangers, although the latter has to concede weight to the rest of the field.
Gordon Elliott’s runner, Fil Dor, is bidding for a first victory in the Robcour colours after three sub-par outings following a big-money sale earlier in the year.
Bronn makes his stable debut for Thomas Gibney after disappointing last term and lowly-rated mare Influential Lady completes the line-up for Thursday’s 14:40.
The latest Clonmel Oil Chase odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Clonmel Oil Chase 2024 verdict
Timeform: SAINT SAM looked as good as ever over fences in the summer and completed a straightforward task over hurdles in France last time, so he’s the obvious one back in this sphere. Fakir d’Oudairies and Fil Dor both have the ability to trouble him if right on their game.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Clonmel Oil Chase 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Clonmel Oil Chase 2024.
Saint Sam
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 7 Weight: 11st 8lbs
High-class chaser. Didn’t need to be at best when winning 12-runner minor event hurdle at Auteuil (17.9f, soft, 2/1) 54 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Expected to be bang there.
*****
Bronn
Trainer: T. Gibney Jockey: D. J. O’Keeffe Age: 7 Weight: 11st 3lbs
Useful hurdler. 16/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Naas (24.8f, heavy), tailed off when pulled up seventh. Off 8 months. First run for yard after leaving W. P. Mullins.
**
Fakir d’Oudairies
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien Jockey: M. P. Walsh Age: 9 Weight: 11st 3lbs
Smart chaser. C&D winner. Tongue strap on for 1st time, below form seventh of 17 in handicap chase (20/1) at Listowel (23.8f, soft) 43 days ago, not knocked about. Caught the eye last time and is a definite player on form.
****
Fil Dor
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: J. W. Kennedy Age: 6 Weight: 11st 3lbs
Very smart chaser. Pulled up in William Hill Champion Chase (20/1) at Punchestown (16.4f, good to soft) won by Banbridge, outpaced from some way out. Off 6 months. Has the quality to get involved if he’s back on track.
****
Solness
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien Jockey: D. E. Mullins Age: 6 Weight: 11st 3lbs
Smart chaser. Much improved when winning 3-runner minor event hurdle (10/11) at Sligo (17.8f, good to soft) 13 days ago, unchallenged. Switches from hurdles to chase. Deserves plenty of respect.
****
Influential Lady
Trainer: James M. Barcoe Jockey: Donagh Meyler Age: 10 Weight: 10st 10lbs
Fair hurdler. Tenth of 11 in minor event at the Curragh (12f, soft, 150/1) 16 days ago, ridden too aggressively. Switches from Flat to chase. Poor on last hurdle run. Up against it.
*
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