Clonmel Oil Chase Guide 2021

The first runner of the race is the Gordon Elliott trained Hardline who made a very pleasing return to form last time out which gave you hope he could bounce back to his best.

Having lost his way since his novice chasing season where he went off as favourite for the Arkle at the Cheltenham festival, when last seen he showed big signs of a revival.

Racing over 2m4f at Gowran Park he went on to finish a narrow second behind rival again Royal Rendezvous by half a length and now recieving weight from him could reverse the form.

Outsider of the field but not to be taken lightly.

Royal Rendezvous for Willie Mullins is another big player in the event, coming into the event seeking a four timer, having landed a hat-trick through the summer and autumn.

Starting his season off at Ballinrobe in a hurdle contest, he got back to winning ways in fine style and then used that run in the Galway Plate to land the 22 runner event over fences, beating stablemate Easy Game who he takes on again.

Looking for the hat-trick last time out when stepped up in class into the Grade Two Champion Chase at Gowran Park he saw off Hardline to take the contest.

He now has to concede weight to Hardline so will need to improve again only being 1/2 a length in front, but once again he has obvious claims.

The horse to beat in the field is the Joseph O'Brien trained Fakir D'Oudairies who has been a superstar since being turned to fences over the last few seasons, having also been a nice hurdler.

Bounded onto the scene in the UK when bolting up a Grade Two at Cheltenham for juveniles. His impressive antics saw the gold and green of McManus swoop and purchase him before he was sent off favourite for that years’ Supreme. 

Beaten into the he stayed on like a trooper and hinted then that his future could lie over further than the minimum trip. 

Immediately moved to chasing, he made handy use of his four year old weight for age allowance. Beating Melon on chase debut, he was then a lucky winner of the Grade One Drinmore when Samcro blundered two out. 

Second in last years’ Arkle he again looked tapped for a bit of pace, but again put in a solid performance to take Put The Kettle on all the way.

In open company he’s ran over two miles being beaten by Notebook, three miles where he didn’t stay the trip and pulled up and then dropped right back down to two miles to be second to Chacun Pour Soi in the Dublin Chase.

He then headed into the Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham festival and was again another solid second behind the wide margin winner Allaho, who would have beaten anyone on the day.

Next time out the six year old gave a career best performance over fences to take the Grade One Melling Chase at Aintree, seeing off the likes of Politologue.

Looking to round the season off in style he went up to three miles for the Grade One Punchestown Gold Cup and although finished third he was a long way behind Clan Des Obeaux and Al Boum Photo, with the three miles being too far.

This trip is his ideal distance and if fully tuned up could be tough to beat.

The final runner of the race is the second for Willie Mullins in the field with the smart Easy Game looking to land another nice race.

The seven year old has been a superstar chaser for the yard, picking up races like the Grade Two Devenish Chase, Gowran Champion Chase and also finishing second to Faugheen in the Grade One Flogas Novice Chase.

Having not been given a break all the way through the summer, he was first seen in May being pulled up but since then has been seen finishing second to Royal Rendezvous in the Galway Plate.

Off the back of that he won a small runner event at Listowel, but last time out was seen unseating his rider and will need to have a better performance at his fences in this field.