Preview of Thurles action
Wednesday, 22 February 2006 14:27The chases may have fell by the wayside at a couple of recent meetings but there are no such problems on this seven race card due to begin at 2.15.
Most valuable event of the day is the mares beginners chase, one of three contests over the larger obstacles on the programme. Wont Leave An Oat gets the vote here.
With the same connections as Saturday's Gowran bumper second, Wolfhill, Willie Murphy trains the four time point-to-point victor and Derek O'Connor takes the mount.
It must be considered significant that the daughter of Beneficial now returns to the racecourse proper rather than attempt to take the maximum six in the pointing fields.
Nine O was twice successful in his time between the flags and the hat-trick scorer over hurdles is attractively weighted on his return to chasing in the 2m 6f h'cap.
He obviously has to overcome a disappointing effort last time over flights, but that was off a mark of 99 and he can compete here off just 77.
Similarly in the 2m 2f h'cap chase, Millanymare is in off 79 whilst her last outing in a hurdle in this country was off a rating of 110.
However she may need better ground and
a longer trip. Top-weight Island Pride is a cautious selection to defy the handicapper and gain his fourth course win.
The other leg of the Jackpot is 2m 6f h'cap hurdle. Stepping up in distance on her initial start in this sphere, Bitofpresent has an each-way chance.
