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The tipping column returns with two selections from Clonmel on Thursday…

It feels like the jumps season is firmly underway and the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase is the highlight of Thursday's racing. Although Allaho is a short-priced favourite (4/9) for the race based on his previous form, there appears to be plenty of evidence to suggest his winning streak could be ended on return from an injury.

Allaho has only won once from four occasions when returning from a break of 200 days or more, whilst stablemate Janadil is the opposite – he boasts a resuming record of 75% (3-4) and is making his seasonal reappearance. Although the nine-year-old has been well-beaten by Allaho in their recent encounters, Janadil arguably produced some of his best form last season, despite only winning once from three outings. A winner of the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park in February, the gelding was six lengths ahead when falling at the final fence in the Grade 2 Fairyhouse Chase and had excuses when disappointing in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

On equal terms, Allaho would be expected to beat Janadil easily, but with the former returning from an injury-induced absence, Janadil appears a value bet at 11/2.

SELECTION – JANADIL – 11/2

In the 2m4½f Listed T.A. Morris Memorial Irish EBF Mares Chase (2:15), we may have not seen the best of Maskada yet and her current price of 13/8 appeals. The mare only had four starts for new trainer Henry De Bromhead before winning the Grand Annual Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March and returns to Graded company for her return.

She was successful in a Listed mares chase for former trainer Stuart Edmunds in January 2022 and boasts a very consistent profile, only finishing out of the frame four times over fences. The seven-year-old is liable to the occasional mistake but jockey Darragh O'Keefe knows her fairly well now and is currently in great form with a strike rate of 38% from the last fourteen days (5-13).

SELECTION – MASKADA – 13/8