Irish Racing: Conduct Yourself Can Call The Tune

John Kiely’s 8-y-o mare can prove too strong for Osco Moscow in fascinating Beginners’ Chase.

14:40 – Tramore Amusement & Leisure Park Handicap Hurdleappeal as being well treated, although that is not a comment which can be made easily about Moonball, who is a half-sister to several winners out of a maiden half-sister to the unbeaten hurdler and sire Great Pretender, who finished fourth in Sulamani’s Prix du Jockey Club (my bank manager would have preferred if it was Act One’s French Derby, but c’est la vie, as they say at Chantilly). Moonball has had the requisite three runs for a mark, and she left Tom Cooper before her final qualifying run, when held up and never involved. She had shown definite ability in the first two outings, however, and is likely to show more of what she’s about now handicapping off a plater’s mark, and she is in very good hands with Gavin Cromwell. 

Tip:

Moonball   

15:15 Comeragh Veterinary Maiden Hurdle 

He is likely to be a short price, but Getareason looks to have plenty to spare in this maiden hurdle based on his excellent run at Galway at the start of the month when he finished 3¼ lengths second of 19 to City Island on what was his debut over hurdles. He won a bumper at Downpatrick and postyed better form in defeat on his next two starts in that sphere. The time of his Galway run was excellent, and he was clear of the odds-on favourite Debuchet, a horse who very nearly landed the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last year.  

Tip:

Getareason   

15:45  Jim Harney/Joe O’Shea Memorial Mares Beginners Chase 

Osco Moscow is the obvious market leader here, but she didn’t jump with any great conviction on her chase debut at Roscommon, and will need to brush up in that department to justify her place in the market. Conduct Yourself was also let down by her jumping at the first time of asking in this sphere, and has yet to match her hurdles form since switching codes. On the other hand, she has essentially been given a few confidence boosters, the last few on ground too soft for her, and the impression is that she will deliver when needed, with this Mares’ event looking a suitable opportunity for her to get her head in front without spoiling a potentially lenient handicap mark. Conduct Yourself was competitive off a mark in the mid-120s as a hurdler, which gives her an edge over Osco Moscow, admitting that Gordon Elliott’s 5-y-o may be open to progress being much the younger of the pair. The market is sure to favour the daughter of Oscar, though, and the value surely lies with veteran handler John Kiely’s mare. 

Tip:

Conduct Yourself