A field of 14 runners will line up for the first hunter chase of 2020 as the Clonmel Rathronan Maiden Hunter Chase takes place tomorrow Thursday the 9th of January.
Complete Sizing, who has only once been beaten, is a four times points winner and finished fourth at Down Royal in May on his Hunter Chase debut behind Rewritetherules. The son of Network will make his seasonal reappearance here for the Dreaper team.
Stuart Crawford’s Cosmic Flight opened his account in hunter chase company at Down Royal on Stephen’s day. The son of Winged Love was runner-up a handful of times last season before ending the season on a good note when landing his six-year-old maiden at Loughbrickland by three-quarters of a length, denying track performer Impressive Duke in the process.
Brothers Darragh and Sean Allen combined to success at Kinsale in November, when Concrete King, got his head in front for the Cork-based handler and the pair once again team up here in a bid to secure another success with this son of Morozov.
Holycross Lito, who is already a five-time winning mare, is looking to follow up her success at Loughanmore in October, where she beat reigning Champion Mare Longhouse Music by six lengths. The ten-year-old is leading the charge to become Champion Mare this season and will be making her hunter chase debut at Clonmel tomorrow, where she could well post a high mark in her bid to becoming Champion mare.
Aidan Fitzgerald is set to have his first track runner courtesy of Rosfoyle, who will be another in this contest making her hunter chase debut. The daughter of Milan has won on three occasions between the flags for Fitzgerald and most recently when coming home a neck in front of Chenery at Knockinroe in October and could once again return to the winners’ enclosure here.
Some Man makes the long trip from the North with handler David Christie and has been enjoying a lucrative season in points since returning from a spell under rules with Paul Nicholls. The seven-year-old won his seasonal debut at Toomebridge when beating Limerick Hunter Chase victor Samurai Cracker by two and a half lengths. A close relation of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman, the Beat Hollow gelding could make this three in a row.
Steelers Appeal finished third in a top-class Boulta winners contest on his latest outing. Aloneamongmillions and Crossing Lines filled the first two placings on that occasion but this Lisronagh maiden winner was only beaten fourteen lengths on his first start out of maiden company and could be open to improvement.
The line-up for the 2m, 4f contest is completed by Call It Time, Kilcolman DJ, Kilgorey, Like a Demon, Presenting Europe, Saint Benedict, and Walshestown.
To see a full list of of the declarations please click here
