Thurles Preview

The Vendee Hurdle features on a seven-race card at Thurles and Schindlers Hunt is very much the star on show.

Dessie Hughes' charge has always looked to have heaps of class but took his form to new heights when stepped up in trip last season.

Third in the Ryanair Chase, he followed that with placed efforts in the Melling Chase and Guinness Gold Cup, and this looks an ideal stepping stone before a potential clash with Kauto Star in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal next month.

This is no one-horse race, however, with fellow high-profile chasers Glenfinn Captain and Garde Champetre also capable of victory.

Oscar Dan Dan failed to land the odds at Navan last month but has the edge in terms of race fitness, while Earth Magic is more than useful and can go well fresh.

Racing starts at 2.15 with the Thurles Beginners Chase and Streets Of Gold will be popular if excused his Tipperary flop.

Larkwing has done enough in his first two starts over birch to suggest he can figure, and Mountain Snow are Bob Lingo are respected, but Whatuthink is the one that stands out.

Oliver McKiernan's seven-year-old was just short of top-class over timber and is an exciting recruit.

The Horse & Jockey Beginners Chase also has an interesting look.
Coolcashin boasts fencing experience and is fit from the Flat, but Noel Meade's An Innocent Man must be accorded respect.

The smart bumper performer proved costly to follow over hurdles at first but broke his duck at Punchestown in May and promises to be ideally suited by the larger obstacles.

Well-connected newcomers Barrel Of Fun, Bay Of Kotor, Strain Of Fame and Doctor Deejay all have Descaro to beat in the Killinan 3-Y-O Hurdle, while Gwens Spirit looks the one to side with in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle.