Donagh Meyler© Photo Healy Racing
Tell Me Annie takes a drop in class in the Coral Free Bets Rated Novice Chase at Clonmel this afternoon.
Declan Queally ’s charge won twice over timber last year, including when beating recent Grade Three winner Go Another One at Fairyhouse in November.
The daughter of Shantou has faced stiff tasks on both her chase outings since, behind the smart mare Camelia De Cotte.
She finished sixth on her fencing debut at Cork in Grade Three company, before pulling up last time out in a Grade Two event at Thurles.
But having been rated 127 over hurdles, Thursday’s race looks a nice opportunity for her off a mark of 117.
The fact she was a dual point-to-point winner suggests fences were always going to be the long-term aim, and she faces a decidedly easier task than of late.
Stepping up in trip to two miles and seven furlongs also looks a plus for the 10-year-old, who has been a late bloomer.
Queally teams up too with jockey Donagh Meyler in the preceding three-mile handicap hurdle — in which Ask Heather looks an interesting contender, tried back over timber.
The daughter of Ask hit the headlines last month thanks to Mikey Sweeney’s miracle recovery on her in a point-to-point at Boulta.
That was her third win on the bounce ‘between the flags’, and she looks an improved performer.
She was running a nice race on her return to the racecourse before falling at the last in a beginners chase here a fortnight ago, and connections try to make use of her old hurdles rating now.
Considering her recent form, she could be nicely treated off a mark of 94.
Meyler is also on board big-money purchase Edelpour in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle.
Barry Connell paid 450,000 euro for the gelding, and trainer Alan Fleming tries blinkers on the seven-year-old now as he bids to open his jumping account.
The Mastercraftsman gelding has been placed three times over timber, and the form of his third at Wexford in October has been working out well — with runner-up Notebook recently chasing home the aforementioned Go Another One.
