SEAN - Cork 3.58 - Handicap Hurdle - 2 miles 4 furlongs - 22 4un soft > heavy

 

This is a Qualifier (the last I think) for a big Handicap Hurdle Final at the forthcoming Punchestown Festival.

 

There are 23 declared and after about an hour and a half I still had 15 that I thought had got decent chances here and it's that type of race. Having weeded out those who might need the run, those who may not appreciate the ground, those best or worst handicapped, I arrived at a final list of 4 but it has to be admitted another 3-4 that it was very hard to leave out.

 

It's best not to dwell on those and I really do think they are cracking each way shrapnel bets to enhanced odds and at nice prices.

 

ROLLY BOWLEY BRIDGE has put up a nice sequence of places and solid runs over fences and reverts to hurdles for the first time in almost a year. Off a hurdle mark that it was very competitive off before it really does have a cracking each way chance here.

 

NOBLE TALENT who won off a mark of 102 on penultimate run and who had genuine excuses last time out when unseating close home when just fading over 2 miles 7 furlongs, has a cracking chance if repeating the form of the win at its optimum trip here and the booking of JJ Slevin is I think a considerable asset

 

CLONBURY BRIDGE has some interesting place form and enough evidence to suggest these are absolutely optimal conditions for it to gain an overdue but deserved win.

 

At big odds and for £1 each way the form of REBEL EARLY may not stand anyones scrutiny, Pulled Up 3 times and last twice on its last 6 runs, BUT is has Course form and this enigmatic Mare is one of those "pop up types" who throws in a big placed run at big odds every now and again and if it' going to do that, and one is due, then if you look at the Course form, you can make a mildly compelling case.

 

Tips (1s) Rolly Bowley Boy / (2s) Noble Talent / (3s) Clonbury Bridge / (£1 e/w) Rebel Early