CLONDAW COURT won a point-to-point by 15 lengths in April and was purchased for £130,000 at the Cheltenham sales the following month. He began his career under Willie Mullins' guidance with a wide-margin success in a Punchestown bumper in November and looks an exciting prospect. He's taking on six previous winners in what should be an informative event with Kilbarry Beauty, an easy winner at Cork last spring before a fine run behind the classy Zuzka, likely to make this a stiff test. Agent James and Fredsmemory both made surprise successful starts at Navan while Stolberg battled on to score in very testing ground at Listowel.
Agent James (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Settled behind leaders, 5th 4f out, clear leader when reppeared from fog 1f out, kept on strongly (poor visibility), won at Navan 2m N H flat hvy in Jan beating Wicklow Gold (11-12) by 5l, 7 ran.
Clondaw Court (IRE) 2-5fav (12-0) Held up early, 3rd after 6f, improved to lead 3f out, eased clear from 2f out, impressive, won at Punchestown 2m N H flat hvy in Nov beating De Glebe Star (11-7) by 27l, 6 ran.
Fredsmemory (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, progress to lead and ridden over 2f out, strongly pressed final furlong, kept on well under pressure, won at Navan 2m N H flat hvy in Dec beating Very Vite (12-0) by 1l, 10 ran.
Pumbaa (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leader mainly 3rd, ridden and tried to challenge early straight, no impression in 3rd from 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Sizing Tennessee (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m N H flat hvy in Jan.
Somethingwonderful (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Held up, mainly 6th, headway into 4th 4f out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, soon 4th and no impression, kept on same pace, 3rd close home, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Outlander (11-11) at Leopardstown 2m N H flat sft in Dec.
Stolberg (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Waited with in rear, headway into 5th before straight, ridden to challenge in 2nd over 1f out, led well inside final furlong and stayed on well, won at Listowel 2m 4yo nhf hvy in Sep beating Giantofaman (11-7) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Kilbarry Beauty (IRE) 13-8fav (11-7) Soon rear of mid-division, niggled along to close from 4f out, ridden in pursuit of winner approaching final furlong, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Zuzka (11-7) at Limerick 2m N H flat gd in May.
Silver Pheasant (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Ww rr, cl 6th 3out, prog 2out to ld bypassed last, hdd over 50 yards out; fin 2nd, demoted to 4th, 4th of 12, 6l behind Seskinane (12-0) at Killeagh 3m ire ptp sft in Jan.
Elsie Freda (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Waited with towards rear, no danger and kept on from 4f out, 6th of 14, 33l behind Moorhill Lad (11-7) at Kilbeggan 2m 3f N H flat sft in Aug.
Qi Jiguang (IRE) Catcher In The Rye gelding out of Rem Time.
