* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
* UPDATE: Today’s meeting at Thurles has been abandoned after failing an inspection.
13:30 Colreevy (NAP)
This looks a nice opportunity for COLREEVY to progress further over fences and give Willie Mullins another victory in this 2m 4f Grade 2 contest. The Mullins team has won this race four-times, with Vroum Vroum Mag, Westerner Lady, Camelia De Cotte and Elimay all successful in the past six seasons.
The mount of Paul Townend won nicely on her chasing debut at Punchestown and can give weight away to all rivals by remaining unbeaten over fences, following up her Grade 1 victory at Limerick at Christmas in the process.
She has several options at the Cheltenham Festival, including the newly created Paddy Power Mares’ Chase, while she’s also entered in the Grade 1 Flogas at the Dublin Racing Festival next month. Her hurdle form was solid having finished behind Minella Melody at Fairyhouse and fifth to Concertista at Cheltenham last March.
Elsewhere, Mount Ida, who had similar form over hurdles represents Gordon Elliott having won nicely in graded company at Cork in early December. Yukon Lil and Scarlet And Dove are two other principal challengers who can fight out the finish for some place prize money.
14:00 Allaho
The drop down in trip could prove enough for tentative selection ALLAHO to return to winning ways and secure the Horse & Jockey Chase following his fourth-place finish in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. There’s a case to be made that his stamina comes into question over a longer trip following several previous efforts at the 3m trip over fences.
He’s raced keenly in the past and jumped poorly in the John Durkan behind Min, with Battleoverdoyen back in fourth place at Punchestown that day. Elsewhere, Willie Mullins is also represented by Annamix, Easy Game and Elimay, so tactics should be interesting in a fascinating affair to determine who can reach the frame.
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- Horse Racing tips: Ruby Walsh and Frank Hickey’s Sunday punts at Thurles
14:30 R’Evelyn Pleasure
R’EVELYN PLEASURE returns to fences for this handicap chase hoping to follow up on his victory over hurdles at Punchestown last month. The Sean O’Brien-trained runner likes to race forward and found plenty to win last month with the form also enhanced earlier this week. Bloomfield Jeremy who finished third at Punchestown took a novice hurdle in easy fashion for Philip Dempsey at Clonmel on Tuesday.
The nine-year-old drops down to a rating of 124 over fences having not raced over the larger obstacles since a run at Fairyhouse (131) last January. Enjoy D’Allen could prove the biggest danger having won a novice chase recently, while Key Commander has gone up 12lbs for his easy victory at this venue before Christmas.
15:00 Gentlemansgame (Next Best)
Another big weekend runner for the Robcour team, with Mouse Morris training GENTLEMANSGAME for owner Brian Acheson. This horse really impressed Donnchadh Doyle on the gallops before his point-to-point victory at Curraghmore last October, with the trainer buying more of the family last year.
He changed hands for €250,000 last November before winning easily on debut for Morris at Cork over the minimum trip earlier this month. The five-year-old son of Gentlewave gets some weight allowance from his principal rivals and can relish the increase in trip to remain unbeaten and provide Morris with some nice options for the rest of the season.
Elsewhere, Heather Rocco has a similar profile following his Limerick victory over Christmas and looks the biggest danger for me, while Fighter Allen can bounce back from a poor performance when pulled up at Navan last month.
Thurles tips summary:
13:30 Colreevy
14:00 Allaho
14:30 R’Evelyn Pleasure
15:00 Gentlemansgame
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