UK Horse Racing Tips: Thurles

WINDING RIVER won a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick in March and has been placed a couple of times over fences at the same track since then. He showed that he'd got over a heavy fall at Tramore during the summer when second at the northern venue last month and can go one better here. Prince Zaltar was runner-up to a useful type in his only point-to-point and scored over hurdles at Tramore in the spring. He was second in a novice hurdle last month and, although this trip might be a bit sharp, is one of the more interesting chasing debutants in the field. Toms Courage is a course winner over hurdles who ran well on penultimate start when third in a handicap hurdle at the Listowel festival. He's another first-timer over fences who looks capable of getting involved if his jumping passes muster.
Prediction : 1st Winding River 2nd Prince Zaltar 3rd Toms Courage

WELL JOEY is not getting any younger but might have one more in him. His latest win came at this venue two years ago and he had Early Arrival back in fourth when runner-up over a bit further here last month. That was a good effort after three months off and he can defy a 2lb higher mark to register a fifth success over fences. Ricky Langford won well at Killarney last month and is now 6lb higher. He was placed twice over C&D last year, including in this race, and should go well with his yard in good form. The Great White lost a race in the stewards' room at Kilbeggan during the summer and has put in two solid placed efforts since. He has yet to win in this sphere but has only once been out of the first three in six starts over fences.
Prediction : 1st Well Joey 2nd Ricky Langford 3rd The Great White

MOLLYS GLORY was a smart bumper mare and this looks a good opportunity for her even though she's been out of action for nine months. Her bumper win came at this venue and by far her best run over flights was when third in a Listed contest at the pre-Christmas meeting here last December. She was a little disappointing in a couple of maiden outings either side of that but those runs were over further and she might be best at this trip. Magic Contender went well for a long way before fading into fifth over 2m4f at Roscommon. That wasn't a bad effort after a break and she gets a nice bit of weight from her likely main rivals. Although a bit frustrating on the Flat, Pachmena has plenty of good form in the book and had Clonmel bumper winner Lady Of The Vale behind when third on hurdling debut at the last meeting here. That experience will stand to her and a tongue-tie might produce a bit more improvement.
Prediction : 1st Mollys Glory 2nd Magic Conqueror 3rd Pachmena

LIGHT PARADE has acquitted herself well since going into handicaps and had fourteen rivals behind when second over a longer trip at Cork. She handled rain-softened ground on that occasion and a 2lb rise seems fair. She can go close if proving as effective over this sharp 2m. Like the selection, Ucandoit is a daughter of Leading Light and she too ran a career-best last time when third over C&D. That was on better ground so she will need to prove her versatility in that regard. Mater Matuta won over fences and hurdles in the summer and has been very consistent. She is basically a good ground performer but ran a decent race on yielding ground when second at Tramore last month.
Prediction : 1st Light Parade 2nd Ucandoit 3rd Mater Matuta

A winner on hurdling debut at Kilbeggan in April, HOPE DES BLINS hasn't built on that success over the smaller obstacles but it may be worth giving her another chance to do so after a pleasing run over fences here last month. She chased home the odds-on favourite in a beginners' chase and is off a nice racing weight here with a good claimer taking 5lb off her back. Game And Glory is 2lb out of the handicap but that shouldn't matter too much and she has Rachael Blackmore's assistance after getting off the mark over this trip at Tramore. A winner over fences last season, Global Equity has to concede a lot of weight but she warmed up for this by landing a charity race at the Curragh last week and had some very useful form in this sphere as a novice.
Prediction : 1st Hope Des Blins 2nd Game And Glory 3rd Global Equity

A course bumper winner in early 2020, FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU has had some long intervals between appearances and clearly hasn't been easy to keep right. After a twenty-month absence, he ran well on hurdling bow when second to a useful sort at Galway just over a year ago and that winner has landed two more hurdling victories since. This isn't a strong contest and he may be up to the task even if likely to be better for the run. Paul Townend returns from injury on Dina Leen and that is the main reason to fancy her because she was disappointing when beaten at odds-on in a Wexford bumper in August. Wille Mullins also runs bumper and 2m Flat winner Kottayam who jumped poorly before eventually hitting the deck on hurdling bow at Listowel.
Prediction : 1st Favori De Champdou 2nd Dina Leen 3rd Kottayam

It will be a big weekend for Gordon Elliott at Down Royal and DEMANDRIVINGDOUVAN can set him up for that by landing this bumper. An impressive point-to-point winner, he has the standout piece of form by virtue of his second to exciting prospect Marine Nationale at Punchestown in May. That winner has won twice since and the third and fourth have also hit the target, so if the five-year-old runs close to that form he'll be hard to beat. Lakefield Flyer had stablemate Knockwilliambridge back in fourth when runner-up in a Fairyhouse bumper. The winner was placed in a hot maiden hurdle next time so it was a creditable display on his Rules debut. Housemartin was placed twice over hurdles and in a bumper last term. He disappointed on last month's return at Cork but should strip fitter here.
Prediction : 1st Demandrivingdouvan 2nd Lakefield Flyer 3rd Housemartin