Grade 1 talent or race fitness? Tornado Flyer and Blue Lord face intriguing test

Thursday: 2.53 Clonmel
Clonmel Oil Chase (Grade 2) | 2m4½f | 4yo+ | RTV

The absence of sidelined superstar Allaho, from what had been touted as his potential returning point, has blown the Clonmel Oil Chase wide open as Willie Mullins calls on Grade 1 winners Blue Lord and Tornado Flyer to make an impact from off the substitutes' bench.

This four-runner contest still boasts a fair degree of quality, though, and features the thoroughly likeable Darasso — bidding for an eighth Listed or Graded success — and lightly raced eight-year-old Pencilfulloflead.

The race could hinge on just how ready the Mullins-trained pair are, as they return from absences of 203 and 180 days respectively.

Blue Lord bagged a pair of top-level prizes between the Dublin Racing Festival and Punchestown festival last season, and also finished third to Edwardstone in the Arkle at Cheltenham.

Blue Lord (right): edged out Riviere D'etel to win last season's Patrick Ward & Co Solicitors Irish Arkle Novice ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

However, the mount of Paul Townend must overcome being 3lb wrong at the weights with top-rated stablemate Tornado Flyer.

It will also be only his second start at 2m4f or further. He finished second behind Bob Olinger in the Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle at a similar distance in January 2021.

Mullins said: "We said we'd give Blue Lord a try over this extended two and a half miles. We'll look to see how he gets on, having been running over closer to two miles last season."

Danny Mullins maintains his partnership with King George VI Chase winner Tornado Flyer, who was last seen finishing down the field in the French Champion Hurdle in May.

He finished a respectable fifth to Allaho on his comeback last season in the John Durkan Memorial Chase, and the greater spacing between Thursday's contest and a return to Kempton at Christmas makes this an ideal starting point for his 2022-23 campaign.

Tornado Flyer: caused a 28-1 upset in last season's Ladbrokes King George VI ChaseCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"Tornado Flyer always tends to run very well on his first start of the season and he's not badly treated at the weights," said the champion trainer.

"He can run nicely fresh but race fitness is often hard to beat so we'll see how he goes."

Darasso is just 1lb wrong at the weights with Tornado Flyer and has the advantage of three runs since late June.

JP McManus's versatile campaigner is a highly-effective performer in small-field Graded events but emerged with plenty of credit from his second to Hewick in the Galway Plate, before finishing third to stablemate Busselton, who was in receipt of 10lb, in the Kerry National.

Joseph O'Brien's jumps string may be down in numbers nowadays, but big-race wins last weekend for Banbridge at Cheltenham and Home By The Lee at Navan came as a reminder that he will still be scooping major prizes in this sphere.

He will bid for back-to-back Clonmel Oil Chase successes after Fakir D'oudairies finished on top here 12 months ago.

Darasso and Luke Dempsey clear the when winning the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle (Grade 2)Fairyhouse.Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post18.04.2022Credit: Patrick McCann

O'Brien said: "Darasso has been holding his form consistently well and we're happy enough with how he's treated at the weights. He's fit and well so we're hoping for a good run."

The Clonmel Oil is one of few Grade 2 events that Gordon Elliott has yet to win, though he has supplied the runner-up in five of the last nine runnings.

Pencilfulloflead, who fell roughly halfway during his only start last season at Ascot, represents Cullentra this time around and will bid to recapture the form that saw him finish second to Colreevy in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase two years ago.

Elliott said: "It's his first start back after a break so we'll look to see how he gets on here and build on that. Hopefully he can run a nice race. It looks a hot enough race."

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