UK Horse Racing Tips: Thurles

MONBEG PARK might beat some better-known hurdlers and win on chase debut. A debut point-to-point winner, he won well at the Punchestown festival in April and while 'just' a 137-rated hurdler, is built and bred for chasing so has potential in this sphere. Aspire Tower finished fourth as a five-year-old in the 2021 Champion Hurdle and should improve considerably from his recent reappearance, following 902 days off. He travelled with customary enthusiasm over 2m7f here last month before tiring but, being keen-going and Flat-bred, his task isn't straightforward on chase debut. Il Etait Temps himself won a February Grade 1 hurdle and is possibly best judged on his commendable fifth-placing in Cheltenham's Supreme Novices Hurdle - where some of Leopardstown's beaten horses turned form. Also keen, his hurdling technique was iffy but is another good chasing recruit. Ho My Lord has a tough task on chase debut.
Prediction : 1st Monbeg Park 2nd Aspire Tower 3rd Il Etait Temps

CAPODANNO was pulled up in the Grand National but should be ready on reappearance. Beaten eight lengths by stablemate Haut En Couleurs at Gowran in February, the selection is now 9lb better off and being a previous Grade 1 winner, possesses slightly more ability. Haut En Couleurs lacks a gear to be a top performer but was only six lengths away from giving Willie Mullins a first Cheltenham festival handicap chase win in March. He has course form – albeit when a final-fence faller in January, but a reproduction of that Grade 2 form should see him involved. Janidil, another stablemate, beat Haut En Couleurs 1.25 lengths in February and while race-fit, is 12lb worse off and wears a first-time tongue-tie. French Dynamite has a little to find with Haut En Coueleurs on that January course form although is 3lb better off. Farouk D'alene returned from 613 days off when falling at the first in the Troytown and is possibly best watched, despite being a dual Grade 2 winner. James Du Berlais, under his owners' retained jockey, was Grade 1-placed in April and holds Classic Getaway on that form.
Prediction : 1st Capodanno 2nd Haut En Couleurs 3rd French Dynamite

DUNDANIEL ran well from 3lb out of the handicap in a better race last Sunday and might now defy top weight. He was beaten just 3.5 lengths in Sunday's race and while his quick reappearance isn't ideal, is helped by stepping up a furlong and runs from a favourable rating. Reddys Island, a four-year-old point-to-point winner in 2021, returned to form recently and ran well in two recent northern chases. She is 3lb higher than when third at Down Royal but also drops in class today. Ardera Ru was beaten from a career high mark at Naas but being an October course winner, might fare better here. Toofareastiswest wasn't beaten far here last week and steps back up in trip while Black Samurai returned to form at Punchestown. Dorans River was well beaten at Listowel in September and while rated 18lb lower in this sphere than over hurdles, is a 13-year-old. Getaway Train failed to land a gamble in February but might do better over fences.
Prediction : 1st Dundaniel 2nd Reddys Island 3rd Ardera Ru

LOMBRON debuts for Willie Mullins having finished third on his only previous run, in an April hurdle. That Compiegne race is difficult to assess but the fourth-placed horse won an Auteuil chase subsequently and it is very encouraging he reappears in November with Paul Townend booked. Joyeux Vivo and Nathan Wells were separated by a neck when finishing second and third respectively to an impressive winner at Gowran recently. Joyeux Vivo was reappearing and Nathan Wells was debuting, so improvement can be expected from both but are nonetheless vulnerable to smart types. Whimsy ran well on Galway hurdles debut but faces a tougher task while Dollar Nolimit (beaten by Joyeux Vivo at Punchestown in April) can improve from a recent hurdles debut. Bobbi Gin Tree should improve from debut while stablemate and third-reserve The Great Unknown is from the family of Rhinestone Cowboy and ran well on point-to-point debut.
Prediction : 1st Lombron 2nd Joyeux Vivo 3rd Nathan Wells

FUN FUN FUN should prove hard to beat here if taking to hurdling on her jumping bow. The Martaline mare was among the leading fancies for the Cheltenham bumper following an impressive demolition job in the Grade 2 mares contest at Leopardstown last February. She made little impression at Cheltenham, and was turned over at a short price at Punchestown subsequently, but remains an exciting prospect given the level of ability she has shown. Gaillimh A Run was also a dual bumper winner and wasn't disgraced when sixth in the Grade 2 contest at Aintree. She could be the one to give the selection most to do. Rockstown Girl already has hurdling experience, having been a fine second to Leah Tricks at Fairyhouse early last month. She also has to be on the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Fun Fun Fun 2nd Gaillimh A Run 3rd Rockstown Girl

DADDY LONG LEGS was just denied when staying on strongly on his sole outing on the Flat in his native France and could be another nice pick up for Willie Mullins. The Almanzor gelding showed a nice attitude first time up when going down by a short-head at Saint-Cloud in May 2022 and cost 210,000 euros at the sales subsequently. Cleatus Poolaw was turned over at a short price on his 'track' debut but looked a touch green then and the point-to-point winner could improve for going over an obstacle now. Irish Panther has been knocking on the door and had some strong bumper form. He was no match for Farren Glory on his hurdling debut at Clonmel three weeks ago and needs to step forward from that.
Prediction : 1st Daddy Long Legs 2nd Cleatus Poolaw 3rd Irish Panther

HERCULANEUM was given a fine ride by Oran McGill to score here a week ago and may be able to follow up under his penalty. The Australia gelding travelled well down the straight and was produced with a well-timed challenge to lead on the run-in. He was value for a bit more than his winning margin of a neck. Dual course and distance winner Port Rashid didn't make much impression on heavy ground at Tramore last time and could get a lot closer now on a better surface. Be My Hero has been taken out a few times recently because of testing ground and is another that could figure here now.
Prediction : 1st Herculaneum 2nd Port Rashid 3rd Be My Hero