UK Horse Racing Tips: Thurles

ZANAHIYR couldn't live with the winner of a Leopardstown beginners' chase, but the form got a boost when the horse that beat him followed up in a Grade 1 match race at the Dublin Racing Festival. There was promise in Zanahiyr's runner-up berth in that chasing debut and he had plenty of ability over flights as evidenced by being placed in a Champion Hurdle a couple of years ago. Aspire Tower's third place on chasing bow at this track in November reads well after the winner's recent exploits in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown. Feu Du Bresil looks the pick of Willie Mullins' pair and had Pinkerton a place behind him when runner-up at Fairyhouse in November. Mighty Tom has been highly tried in his first two starts over fences, but clearly has ability. He would prefer better ground, though.
Prediction : 1st Zanahiyr 2nd Aspire Tower 3rd Feu Du Bresil

THEDANCINGFARRIER put in a much-improved effort when runner-up over further in Cork and is taken to build upon that. He just lost out by half a length after a protracted battle in that beginners' chase and should be more than competitive off a mark of 90 with Liam Quinlan's claim factored in. Top-weight Mcgrath From Clune was a five-length winner when last seen in this sphere over an extended 2m2f here in November. He hasn't been quite as good over flights since, but ought to go well despite a 10lb rise in the weights. Prince Of Air hasn't been running badly in finishing fourth in his last three outings and is certainly in the mix for prize money. Itsalonglongroad handled attritional ground when making all on his penultimate start in Tramore while Port Rashid and Huit Reflets are capable of performing better.
Prediction : 1st Thedancingfarrier 2nd McGrath From Clune 3rd Prince Of Air

The 114-rated CLONSHIRE RIVER has to be respected in this company. He actually moved into a threatening position in the straight in a much better race at Leopardstown over Christmas before weakening out of contention before the final flight. His back form also reads well in the context of this race. Glendine Billy's fourth place in a maiden hurdle at Clonmel is one of the more meaningful pieces of form on offer. That run can be seen in a better light after the horse a place in front of him came out and finished second in a Punchestown maiden hurdle. On Your Way made some late progress for sixth on debut at Limerick and could get closer in this field.
Prediction : 1st Clonshire River 2nd Glendine Billy 3rd On Your Way

KINGS HILL was an eye-catcher when keeping on for fourth in a massive field at Leopardstown over Christmas. The winner of that race is very well regarded, so to finish just over three lengths behind him could prove to be more than decent form. Muhtaluza is in good hands and is highly likely to improve upon a sixth place on debut at Punchestown. Cappucino has been placed in three bumpers and a maiden hurdle, and should be well involved, while point-to-point winner Littlebiggie has finished runner-up in a bumper and a maiden hurdle albeit beaten a fair way in both. Newcomer Snugsborough Chime was very cheaply bought, but is a brother to a horse that has won twice over hurdles in Britain. The ground would be a concern for Tipperary bumper winner Crooked Tannie.
Prediction : 1st Kings Hill 2nd Muhtaluza 3rd Cappucino

ST CUTHBERT'S CAVE returned lame so had valid excuses for his December pulled up run and contests a weak maiden. A Kelso bumper winner in May prior to selling for 150,000 pounds, he ran very well when conceding 8lb and finishing third to two capable types at Fairyhouse subsequently. Reported to be 'lame on the off hind and to have a superficial wound on the off fore pastern' at Clonmel, he should concede weight and win. Our Boy Rocky showed promise at Limerick over Christmas and might finish second. Debut point-to-point winner Roxhill Roise was well beaten in a recent maiden hurdle but had previously shown bumper form while stablemate Hollow Rodger steps up from winning an ordinary mares maiden point-to-point last month. Toor Khov disappointed in a Leopardstown Christmas bumper but had previously been placed in three bumpers.
Prediction : 1st St Cuthberts Cave 2nd Our Boy Rocky 3rd Roxhill Roise

TOOR MOON is a 16-race maiden but has found his level in handicaps in recent times. Proven on testing ground and at similar distances, he is race-fit and finished ahead of subsequent winner Buachaillbocht at Tramore last month. Lily's Choice ran ok when well beaten into third at Fairyhouse last month and has claims racing from 1lb lower and, notably, under a 7lb claimer. 10-year-old mare Seangoell has been well beaten twice this term but has claims on her best from from last season. Another Nightmare won in September but pulled up recently while Rising Dust has some bits of form. One And Only has been well beaten in all his runs but showed some promise at Down Royal in December and steps up in distance on handicap debut. Similarly Brogue Man River steps up markedly in distance having shown little in four previous hurdle runs at two miles. Point-to-point winner Colline Fleurie has yet to show hurdles form.
Prediction : 1st Toor Moon 2nd Lilys Choice 3rd Seangoell

NED IN THE PARK is a distant relative to his owner's smart Mallowney and ran well on Fairyhouse debut. That form was boosted by the winner scoring (and indeed selling for 510,000 euros) subsequently, while more experienced placed-horses had prior form. Willie Mullins runs three, with Coco Masterpiece being interesting despite reappearing following an alarming 666 days absence. A debut point-to-point winner, he chased home a subsequent UK hurdle winner at Loughanmore subsequently, when conceding 5lb, and while he contests this less fashionable bumper, notably reappears in a bumper aged seven, with hurdling being put to one side for now. Ballygunner Castle - related to Yorkhill, Risk Of Thunder and The Listener, is ridden by an experienced UK-based rider while another debutant stablemate Fishery Lane was a 67,000-euro store purchase and is closely related to French winners, although today's jockey didn't ride last year. Le Grand Peinture ran well during Christmas but needs to improve to win.
Prediction : 1st Ned In The Park 2nd Coco Masterpiece 3rd Ballygunner Castle