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Thurles 13.20 – Cooldine Bog
Cooldine Bog makes each-way appeal in a race in which he finished a relatively close fourth last year. He runs off the same mark here and remains unexposed as a chaser. It is nearly two years since he last won but he has ran some excellent races in the interim. Last July he was just six lengths in third behind Flooring Porter at Gowran Park over hurdles and that form looks far more impressive now.
His three starts over fences this season all produced some promise, he was beaten just a half length in second at Punchestown in September off a mark of 124, over 2m 4f. He stepped up to three miles for the Troytown at Navan and ran a very fair race when finishing sixth off a mark of 128. He was then seventh in the Porterstown Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse, but he was held up to get the extended trip that day and those tactics aren’t ideal for him, as he enjoys being ridden prominently.
An aggressive ride from the front here, back over a shorter trip might well see Cooldine Bog cause a bit of a surprise.
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Thurles 15.05 – Whatsnotoknow
Whatstnotoknow makes his handicap debut off what looks a very appealing opening mark of 118. Last season Whatsnotoknow was 2nd in a maiden hurdle here beaten here just a half length by Arcadian Sunrise who is now rated 124. The now 131 rated Wingin A Prayer was back in 3rd that day.
On his next start, Whatsnotoknow won a maiden hurdle here in decent fashion, beating the now 112 rated The Broghie Man. He finished the season finishing a very creditable 8th in the Supreme Novices hurdle at the Cheltenham festival. On his second chase start this season over 2m 2f at Thurles, he was beaten six lengths by subsequent Grade 1 winner Franco De Port, with the 136 rated Front View back in third. All these form-lines suggest that an opening mark of 118 could prove lenient. His three starts with Racheal Blackmore on board have yielded a win and two seconds and he has finished in the first two on all three starts at Thurles.
A big run looks on the cards.
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