UK Horse Racing Tips: Thurles

SALDIER is taken to make a winning transition to fences. He's a former winner of the Galway Hurdle who has also landed a pair of Grade 1 victories. He has been lightly raced since his last success in a Grade 3 at Tipperary in October 2021. The nine-year-old gelding has been unplaced in his last three runs at the highest level and connections are sending him over fences. If he transfers his class to this discipline, there will be good prizes to be won. He is more than comfortable on drying ground. Solness won over hurdles in his native France last year. He weakened in a novice hurdle at Punchestown in November and now switches to fences. He looks to have more upside than most in this field. Battle Of Mirbat faced a hopeless task well behind a 1/6 favourite in Gowran Park, but it was canny placing for prize money. This is more like it for his second start over fences. Pats Choice finished fifth on chasing debut at Down Royal. He's back at the sort of trip he won at over hurdles and is in the mix. The Priests Leap has plenty of experience over fences, but prefers slower ground.
Prediction : 1st Saldier 2nd Solness 3rd Battle Of Mirbat

ENA BAIE is likely to appreciate this better ground. She was fifth over further on slower ground at this track in November, but has winning form over a similar trip in the book. Junior Rattler faced very tough tasks in beginners' chases at Wexford and Fairyhouse, but could make an impact on handicap debut. He won twice over hurdles on his way to a rating of 114. He starts his chasing career on 106. If Dreamsrmadeofthis could replicate the run she put in for second at Tramore in October, it would give her a shot. She gets first-time cheekpieces. Itsalonglongroad likes to bowl along from the front and won on the Flat on his sole previous visit to Thurles. Withallduerespect has won off a break before and is one to monitor in the market ahead of his first start since switching to Michael Kennedy.
Prediction : 1st Ena Baie 2nd Junior Rattler 3rd Dreamsrmadeofthis

BIALYSTOK was a beaten favourite in third on his track debut at Punchestown, however, that run looks better with hindsight. The winner followed up in a rated novice hurdle at Punchestown while the horse in sixth has since landed a handicap hurdle at Punchestown. Bialystok holds a Grade 1 entry in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Sunchart was six lengths behind Bialystok in fourth at Punchestown. He was well fancied for his hurdling debut, but was a little keen. Improvement should be forthcoming and Danny Mullins has been booked. Mon Coeur finished in a different parish to a possible Cheltenham contender in another maiden hurdle at Punchestown, but was best of the rest in second. He showed an aptitude for this game after being campaigned in bumpers. Razdan is more known on the Flat, but has been placed twice over flights in his career. Soldier Solid refused to race in a Down Royal bumper but, prior to that, was a never-nearer third in a Tramore maiden hurdle. A hood is tried.
Prediction : 1st Bialystok 2nd Sunchart 3rd Mon Coeur

RIAAN disappointed in a Grade B handicap hurdle at Punchestown, but is worth another shot. Gordon Elliott's charge travelled notably well when obliging over this trip at Cork in November, and before that he banked a couple of runner-up berths at Navan and Gowran Park. He receives 4lb from Spanish Harlem which tilts the verdict in his direction. Spanish Harlem is another French recruit for Willie Mullins after landing a conditions hurdle there last summer. He has had two runs in Ireland and finished third and second in novice hurdles at Gowran Park and Fairyhouse respectively. The suspicion is there is plenty more to come from him. Eye Van weakened quickly over 3m in Fairyhouse, but should be more suited to this assignment having won over an extended 2m4f at Down Royal. Kiki Badger isn't out of it.
Prediction : 1st Riaan 2nd Spanish Harlem 3rd Eye Van

YEAH MAN has been a beaten favourite on his last two starts and can pick up compensation. He finished second in both of those races at Naas and Clonmel and should relish this better ground as he won his point-to-point on good to yielding going. Several of these have questions to answer after their last performances. Dinoland went out like a light on debut in a bumper at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day. He represents the champion trainer who swiftly sends him over hurdles. He is a half-brother to a horse who was second in a Grade 2 staying novices' hurdle at Cheltenham in November. Rowdy Romeo has place claims after a fair second at a big price behind an easy winner over an extended 3m at Punchestown. Japers Jack is another eyeing prize money.
Prediction : 1st Yeah Man 2nd Dinoland 3rd Rowdy Romeo

PRESENTING POINT has solid claims. He is entitled to respect after a third place in a higher grade over further at Clonmel on his penultimate start. He has switched stables and is returning off a break, but has won at this track before and drying ground is in his favour. Thecornerhouse has her chance. She left previous efforts in the rear-view mirror when finishing third in a big field at Gowran Park. The runner-up came out and won on her next start to bolster the form. Evan Dwan's claim is a help. He rode a winner for trainer Julie Cashin in November. Maggie Walsh made the breakthrough by a nose in Fairyhouse after a power-packed ride from Cian Quirke. She could build upon that with Brian Hayes in the plate. Rideau Canal has switched from Alan King in Britain to Denise Foster and made a promising start to life in Ireland with a third place in Fairyhouse.
Prediction : 1st Presenting Point 2nd Thecornerhouse 3rd Maggie Walsh

At first glance, it was disappointing that former point-to-point winner NICK ROCKETT couldn't justify favouritism on track debut in a Fairyhouse bumper in December, however, the form of that race is working out very well. Plenty of winners have come out of it and fifth-placed Nick Rockett had three subsequent bumper winners behind him. Littlefoot represents a shrewd stable and looked a winner waiting to happen when pipped by a nose in Down Royal. He is a major player. Lazer Wolf starts out for Gavin Cromwell after a pair of runner-up finishes in point-to-points and could get in the mix. First-reserve Shannon Royale was an expensive purchase and can do better if getting a run.
Prediction : 1st Nick Rockett 2nd Littlefoot 3rd Lazer Wolf