13:10 Thurles

Leg 1 Selections: Allegorie De Vassy, Brides Hill

ALLEGORIE DE VASSY is a highly promising mare, who is unbeaten in three starts for Willie Mullins and bolted up in a Grade Two on her chase debut. With a clear round, she should have way too much class for these. Just in case the favourite doesn’t complete though, BRIDES HILL will probably be the one to capitalise should the former not complete. She does have a tough task on her hands against the odds-on favourite who is destined to reach the top for connections. 

13:40 Thurles

Leg 2 Selections: Fakir D’Oudairies

The Joseph O’Brien-trained FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES will strip fitter for his return and this multiple Grade 1-winning chaser will relish conditions and this trip. He is a high-class horse, who I know was only second in this race last season, but doesn’t face anything the calibre of the winner (who is proven over this distance) and is the one to beat. Willie Mullins’ other runner - HAUT EN COULEURS shouldn’t be underestimated, who has a lot of talent and could go well at large odds. 

14:10 Thurles

Leg 3 Selections: Broomfields Jeremy, R’evelyn Pleasure 

BROOMFIELDS JEREMY fell on his sole previous visit here but did showcase some good bits of form over hurdles and has been highly tried behind some decent horses in all four starts over fences. He makes his handicap debut off a handy mark and could be set to go well, while R’EVELYN PLEASURE would have made the frame but for falling at the last fence when last spotted and might be worth another chance off the same mark here. 

14:40 Thurles

Leg 4 Selections: Belle The Lioness 

BELLE THE LIONESS bolted up on his bumper debut by five lengths at Cork and has finished runner-up in both starts over hurdles. She split two very good mares in a Listed event last time in the form of Liberty Dance and The Model Kingdom and will find this race easier. She wouldn’t need to improve much more on what she has displayed to date to easily get off the mark over hurdles in this race. Excellent chance. 

15:10 Thurles

Leg 5 Selections: Embassy Gardens, Cardamon Hill

EMBASSY GARDENS beat Santonito on his debut in a bumper and whilst he hasn’t been able to add to that victory since, the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old should be suited to the longer distance and can confirm her superiority over Gordon Elliott’s charge. I will also include CARDAMON HILL, who bolted up on his hurdles debut last-time-out and should have a lot more to come. 

15:40 Thurles

Leg 6 Selections: New Ross, Zoffanien

NEW ROSS made a successful return over track and trip from over a year off here last month and, although that form has taken a few knocks, his trainer is in fine form and he should make a bold bid in this. ZOFFANIEN is well-treated on the pick of some of his form and is weighted to finish a lot closer to the former, so he is worth inclusion with fewer units expected to be on his back as well.