Clonmel preview

Much interest at Clonmel on Thursday surrounds the Jim Dreaper-trained Venitien De Mai as he makes his debut under Rules in the Next Meeting Thursday February 5th (Q.R.) (C & G) Maiden Hurdle.

Plenty of attention was always likely to fall on the youngster when he turned up in the point-to-point fields, given he fetched 130,000 euros as a three-year-old, and he delivered in style in that sphere, winning four from four.

A son of Network, like the great Sprinter Sacre, Venitien De Mai never won by too far between the flags but he had followers of that game waxing lyrical.

Two of those victories were achieved under Jamie Codd and the champion rider from the 'points' maintains his association with Dreaper's charge now. As Codd is closely aligned with Gordon Elliott, who has a decent contender in here in the shape of The Unsub (David Mullins), that could prove to be significant.

Dreaper said of the Alan Potts-owned Venitien De Mai: "He's a nice horse and he did well in the point-to-points last season and we're just anxious to get him going now. We'd prefer a three-mile race if we could get it.

That's the race he got into though so we'll have a go. "He had four runs and it all worked on the day and to get so much experience was a bonus. He has a good attitude - he's a proper stayer, he stays going well and he's a chaser really. "We'd prefer not to do that this season and to give him another year. He won't be over-raced and hopefully we'll have him for novice chasing next year."

This concluding two-and-a-half miler is a well-contested affair with the likes of Jimmy Two Times, Rock On Fruity, Virtuoso Rouge, Motown Bob and Sambremont also worthy of close consideration. JP McManus and Charles Byrnes, owner and trainer of Rock On Fruity, have the obvious answer to the Powerstown Handicap Hurdle with Leave At Dawn. A mere four-year-old, he landed a gamble at Thurles last week, for which he was struck with a 16Ib rise in the ratings. He can compete here with the mandatory 6Ib penalty so his 15 rivals face an unenviable task.

The McManus colours should also be to the fore in the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Mares Maiden Hurdle with A Hardy Nailer in possession of strong credentials for Robert Tyner and Philip Enright.

Meanwhile the featured Clonmel Rated Hurdle can fall the way of Noble Endeavor for the aforementioned Gordon Elliott and rider Robbie Colgan.