UK Horse Racing Tips: Thurles

PONT AVAL can get her turn here after a couple of solid runner-up efforts. The Soldier Of Fortune mare chased home stablemate Instit at Fairyhouse last month before finishing runner-up again at Clonmel to My Design. That looks like solid form and a similar effort should be enough to get her head in front now. Nell's Well is an interesting rival on her chase debut. The Gold Well mare was a point-to-point winner so should transition to fences with few problems. She won three over timber, reaching a mark of 127, so is a decent sort. Happy D'ex has a mark of 127 over fences and is a player here at her best. She was well beaten behind Dinoblue at Cork when last seen in November and probably wants better ground than this.
Prediction : 1st Pont Aval 2nd Nells Well 3rd Happy Dex

FLAME BEARER jumped poorly at Navan last time but may be worth another shot here on slower ground. The Fame And Glory gelding has a serious engine but he hasn't been great over fences to date. He did win by a wide margin at Fairyhouse in testing conditions though when given a positive ride. With the recent rain they will be going a stride slower now than on the decent ground at Navan last time. He is now 7lb better off with Indiana Jones, who won the Flyingbolt Chase at Navan last time and has to carry a penalty for that success. The Mouse Morris-trained gelding has overcome his own jumping issues and has put things together recently, so he commands plenty of respect. The 143-rated Sole Pretender has to come into the reckoning but the ground would be a worry for him on his return to action.
Prediction : 1st Flame Bearer 2nd Indiana Jones 3rd Sole Pretender

It's interesting to see ISHAN sent straight over fences here off his hurdles mark. Sam Curling's charge landed a gamble on his penultimate start at Punchestown and had a troubled passage when sent off favourite to follow up at Clonmel earlier this month. He is sure to be well schooled and could be on a lenient mark now over the larger obstacles. Cahirdown Boy looked set to score here last month but was collared on the run-in by Mio Babbino. Off a 3lb higher mark, he looks a danger dropping back a bit in trip. Truckers Angel is another going straight into handicap company over fences off her hurdles rating and the recent Clonmel winner has to be respected as she was a point-to-point winner.
Prediction : 1st Ishan 2nd Cahirdown Boy 3rd Truckers Angel

The 113-rated QUIRKE'S GATE looks capable of landing a race of this standard. Barry Connell's charge hasn't been far away in some decent maiden hurdles over the winter and this looks an easier task now. He had Tophill Low a length and three-quarters behind when chasing home Hunters Yarn at Naas in January and may be able to confirm placings with that mare now on the same terms. Arthor is another that hasn't been far away on recent starts and he looks like another obvious one for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Quirkes Gate 2nd Tophill Low 3rd Arthor

ASTERION FORLONGE was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles as a novice in 2020 and has been campaigned since over fences. He only weakened in the straight when last seen in the 2022 Gold Cup and previously was unfortunate when exiting late on in both the John Durkan and the King George. He's well suited by a right-handed track. Summerville Boy won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham back in 2018 and was only beaten about six lengths in the Stayers' Hurdle two years later. He's been lightly raced in recent years and having joined Henry de Bromhead this season, showed he still retains a decent level of ability when second to Teahupoo in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park. Grand National entrant Lifetime Ambition also reverts to hurdles, while Vina Ardanza needs to bounce back after a disappointing run at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting.
Prediction : 1st Asterion Forlonge 2nd Summerville Boy 3rd Lifetime Ambition

BALLYGLASS BEAUTY won over a similar trip at Kilbeggan last autumn and has held his form well since including when beating all bar Old Soul on soft ground at Punchestown last time. The Liam Cusack-trained gelding can be a bit keen and is now fitted with a hood. Tangental won on testing ground at Fairyhouse two years ago but was generally disappointing until joining Ciaran Murphy after a 12-month break and justified good support when upped to this trip at Clonmel. That form can probably be upgraded as he met some interference before the straight. Dr Val won over this trip at Punchestown last month and is one for the shortlist off a 5lb higher mark, while Lizlucky and Lizrona are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Ballyglass Beauty 2nd Tangental 3rd Dr Val

MASTER OTIS made a promising debut when fourth to the odds-on Speculatrix at Punchestown last month and hopefully will progress with that experience under his belt. The form received a timely boost when the fifth ran well at Stratford on Monday. The market should provide vital clues to the relative merits of the newcomers including the Flat bred Factual Fact, who cost 90,000 guineas as a yearling and is partnered by Cheltenham hero John Gleeson. Perfect Nelson and Fourtowns both have significant jockey bookings, while Alshaheen represents a yard in good form and is out of an unraced half-sister to the useful Defy Logic.
Prediction : 1st Master Otis 2nd Factual Fact 3rd Perfect Nelson