Despite an official ground forecast of "good" for Tipperary this evening, there is watering going on at the track which should give punters the nod to follow horses who can act on a quick surface.
Grimshaw looks to fit the bill in the novice hurdle. A flat winner in Britain before being bought at the Newmarket sales last October, Grimshaw justified some confidence when bolting up at Clonmel in a maiden hurdle at the end of May.
The Thomond O'Mara-trained horse made most of the running and then kicked 10 lengths clear of Teknash, despite jockey Willie Slattery having some difficulties with an iron between the last two flights. Crucially as a son of St Jovite, Grimshaw should appreciate decent ground and is preferred to last Friday's Wexford winners, Rith Dubh and Greenflag Princess, whose jumping may be a little big for this company.
Another Wexford winner from Friday night, Classic Referendum, could also find one too good, this time Star Defector in the opening 14-furlong handicap. Star Defector was an eight-length second to Persian Life over hurdles at Fairyhouse but before that had beaten All The Colours and Bamford Castle by a neck and a head on the flat at the Curragh. A reproduction of that will see him bang there.
Nordic Isle steps up in trip for the 12-furlong handicap, but if he lasts it out should go close; while the Tralee fourth, Savu Sea, is marginally preferred in the three-mile handicap hurdle. The difficulty of this card, however, can be judged by the seven-furlong conditions race, where possibly Tribal can score on the basis of its two-year-old form.
