Big Day in Prospect at Clonmel At a reception before racing at Clonmel today, details were announced of next Thursday's meeting, the highlight of the year at Powerstown Park. The Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase of E60,000 will be the richest race ever staged at the south Tipperary venue.Run over two and a half miles, previous winners include such household names as Imperial Call, Dorans Pride, Moscow Express and Beef Or Salmon. Of course last year another wonderful racehorse found the winner's enclosure, Edredon Bleu coming out on top after a pulsating drive for the line with Arctic Copper (an intended starter next Thursday) with Beef Or Salmon, crucially blundering at the last when appearing to be the likely victor.Unfortunately the last named will miss this year's renewal after injury himself when gaining a stylish win in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday last. However a quality line-up is assured on November 18th nonetheless, with Native Jack, Arctic Copper, Risk Accessor and Impek all intended starters.Arthur Moore is quoted in a press release on the contest as saying of his Native Jack, 'it is very difficult to find suitable races, most ground is not a problem for him and whilst he was disappointing in the Munster National he is an intended runner next Thursday and is in great form.'Gillian O'Brien meanwhile commented on Arctic Copper, 'he has come out of his race at Navan last Sunday (runner-up to Moscow Flyer) in good form, he is back to his old enthusiastic self and he's fit and well to turn-up for the big day.'Risk Accessor will bypass a trip to Cheltenham for the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Frank Berry, racing manager to J P McManus, owner of the Christy Roche-trained gelding said, 'he's in good form, and he misses Cheltenham to go to Clonmel.'Henrietta Knight, last year's winning trainer, bids to make another successful raid, this time with Impek who also sports the Jim Lewis silks of Edredon Bleu. Knight suggested that this fellow runs best when fresh before adding, 'we're hoping to get Timmy Murphy to ride, it will depend on Mr Johnson (David Johnson, Murphy's retainer), two and a half miles around Clonmel will suit him well, he handles most distances and Mr Lewis is keen to return having enjoyed his win immensely last year.'Alcapone has also been put forward as a likely participant by his handler, Mouse Morris.
