UK Horse Racing Tips: Thurles

TELMESOMETHINGGIRL jumped poorly in defeating Instit last month and can confirm placing. Winner of Cheltenham's 2021 mares' novice hurdle, she is suited by today's much drier ground, should stay this distance having won over 2m4f in testing conditions at Naas and should benefit jumping-wise from that experience. Instit has good-ground form and while held by the selection at Naas, won well subsequently and is dependable. Darrens Hope was pulled up twice recently but has bounced back from pulled-up runs in the past. She has good-ground form and has strong claims on November's Grade 2 success but nonetheless was beaten 2.25 lengths by the selection on identical terms in a September 2020 good-ground hurdle, over this distance. Brides Hill is held by both the selection and Instit on previous meetings while reappearing Motown Maggie, which likes good ground, has a tough task.
Prediction : 1st Telmesomethinggirl 2nd Instit 3rd Darrens Hope

GOODNIGHTNGODBLESS is a 24-race maiden chaser but ran well here in December and likes good ground. Once rated 116 over hurdles, she bounced back to form on her latest run, is now ridden by a 5lb claimer and had previously finished third from a 107 rating, here in January 2022. King Ferdinand returns from a mini-break following a December disappointment. He chased home now 149-rated Final Orders in Killarney and won on a sound surface here in October. Dual points winner O Mio Babbino makes her chase debut and ran well behind a well handicapped winner over hurdles at Naas. Ground-versatile Cahirdown Boy was in contention when falling at Punchestown while Legacy Of Dreams has been running fairly well. Shamrock'n Roll was in contention when exiting at Naas but had fallen here in December. Merry Moves barely got to see Allegorie De Vassy at Limerick and is better judged on previous form.
Prediction : 1st Goodnightngodbless 2nd King Ferdinand 3rd O Mio Babbino

FALCO BLITZ was beaten 58 lengths in the Leopardstown Chase but had previously shown form. Rated 139 when winning a Kempton handicap chase in January 2022, he has recently contested smart Irish handicap chases, is ground-versatile and holds Brandy Harbour on his useful fourth-placing in a Grade B Christmas chase. Course and distance winner Brandy Harbour fell when held in that Limerick race, but should appreciate better ground. He holds Union Park, being 5lb better off, on his winning December form. Last year's winner Espion Du Chenet is ideally suited to this distance and has been running well in better races while Clonbury Bridge should be suited by drying conditions and is in-form.
Prediction : 1st Falco Blitz 2nd Brandy Harbour 3rd Union Park

IFIWEREARICHMAN jumped right at Navan and will be better suited by reverting right-handed. He ran well on hurdles debut, won well at Down Royal and while fortunate to finish second (due to three casualties) at Navan, did well in that smart race considering he surrendered ground in jumping and now steps up in distance. Sa Fureur is an in-form distance winner although the horse he beat (La Malmason) to win at Punchestown had previously defeated today's rival Knockanard Lady, which is still a maiden, at Cork. Rexem showed promise last summer but disappointed on reappearance and would prefer further. In-form Henning steps up in grade while Buddy One had two quick runs last month and also jumps in grade. Still Ciel disappointed at Leopardstown while new stablemate Whiskey Lullaby steps up from handicaps.
Prediction : 1st Ifiwerearichman 2nd Sa Fureur 3rd Rexem

FRANCISCAN ROCK is consistent and could be suited by stepping up in distance. He has run solid races in defeat recently, has stamina in his pedigree and has form on a sound surface. Principal rival Sir Argus defeated a subsequent dual bumper winner to win a course bumper last March and was an unlucky loser when falling at Clonmel in December. He could be much better suited by today's drier ground, over a longer trip, but nonetheless made jumping errors behind a stablemate at Punchestown and now carries a penalty. Misty's Gift is ideally suited by good ground and has hurdles form but also carries a penalty and makes his seasonal return. So Des Flos failed to concede 14lb to a now 88-rated mare at Fairyhouse and now steps up in distance.
Prediction : 1st Franciscan Rock 2nd Sir Argus 3rd Mistys Gift

THEONEWEDREAMOF was useful on the Flat and won on handicap hurdles debut. Consistent in middle-distance Flat handicaps, she can defy an 8lb rise for winning at Punchestown recently, being an unexposed four-year-old who is open to more progression, with good ground in her favour. Port Rashid is ground and trip-versatile and returned from a 491-day absence to run well at Limerick, behind two well-handicapped and subsequent winners. He is 12, but notably competes from a career-low rating. Must Be Dreaming and Tullyhogue Fort both return from winter breaks and are suited by good ground, while Pharisees was 11/2 favourite when beaten 122 lengths at Clonmel and runs in first-time cheekpieces. Dual Flat winner Alphonse Le Grande makes his handicap hurdle debut on a suitable surface and could be a price for the Bet Small Win Big Syndicate.
Prediction : 1st Theonewedreamof 2nd Port Rashid 3rd Must Be Dreaming

MILANAWAY has a good pedigree and showed some promise on debut. Out of a bumper winning half-sister to Irish National victor Glebe Lad, she was beaten 14 lengths at Cork by the smart winner, should improve and could be better suited to a sound surface. Newcomer West End Victory, also related to Glebe Lad, is a notable newcomer from the top yard. She is a half-sister to two blacktype performers, including their Grade 1-placed Tell Us More although concedes 7lb to the more experienced selection. Silver Lark is a half-sister to a bumper winner and is by Don Cossack's sire while Ballerina Boxer has point-to-point form on yielding ground. Mag Dillane and Final Decision have some form but need to improve while Baby Chou runs in a first-time tongue-tie.
Prediction : 1st Milanaway 2nd West End Victory 3rd Silver Lark