UK Horse Racing Tips: Thurles

This looks a nice race for FOLLY MASTER on his chase debut. The Famous Name gelding came good in fine style when stepped up in trip over timber at Punchestown in late January and went up to a mark of 109 as a result. That means he just scrapes into this race for horses with that rating or less. As a former point-to-pointer this was always likely to be his game. Gaspard Du Seuil comes here having been placed in an 'Open' point-to-point last month and could be a danger. The Fuisse gelding also has an official mark of 109 over hurdles. Bocelli's Voice looks like another for the shortlist. He also has point-to-point experience and won a Clonmel maiden hurdle last March.
Prediction : 1st Folly Master 2nd Gaspard Du Seuil 3rd Bocellis Voice

GLOBAL ASSEMBLY has some solid hunter chase form and looks good enough to land a race of this standard. The Kayf Tara gelding just lost out by half a length to Grange Island at Fairyhouse back in November and a repeat of that form would be good enough to get his head in front now. Ryehill and Miners Bridge were fighting out the finish when the latter fell at the last in a winners of one contest at Bellharbour early last month. They both look like they could be contenders here now.
Prediction : 1st Global Assembly 2nd Ryehill 3rd Miners Bridge

TOUCH ME NOT shaped with promise when third behind easy winner Anotherway on his debut at Punchestown in late January. The Malinas gelding is entitled to improve a bit from that initial outing and this looks like a slightly easier task now. Willie Mullins is represented by Chosen Witness and the Well Chosen gelding could be a big player here. He was well beaten when fourth in a strong contest, won by My Trump Card, at Navan last time but can be expected to get closer now. Ballycallan King has also run well in some decent maidens and he is another that has to be on the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Touch Me Not 2nd Chosen Witness 3rd Ballycallan King

PANA TO MILAN put it all together to win over fences in Thurles last month and could follow up over the smaller obstacles. This is a significant drop in trip, however, she has back form over this distance. Furthermore, she competes off a lower hurdle rating in comparison to her chase mark. Smallcraftwarning sprang a 40/1 surprise over a similar trip in a higher grade, so could be up to defying a 7lb rise in the weights. Depeche Mo hit a bit of form in the autumn in being placed in Wexford and Fairyhouse. He has run well off a break before and Niall Moore's 7lb claim has him on an attractive mark. He wouldn't want the ground too deep, though. Dontdooddson is capable on a going day, but was pulled up when last seen in Punchestown.
Prediction : 1st Pana To Milan 2nd Smallcraftwarning 3rd Depeche Mo

BALALLY PARK showed ability in fourth at Wexford and in fifth at Limerick which gives him bright prospects in a weak race. Trip and ground look ideal for him, and first-time cheekpieces could elicit some improvement. Sainte Baol represents a powerful stable and ought to be heavily involved as it was a decent mares' maiden hurdle that she finished seventh in at Punchestown in January. She is a former wide-margin winner of a point-to-point. John The Diva showed a bit more in fourth at Punchestown which gives him a shot at prize money.
Prediction : 1st Balally Park 2nd Sainte Baol 3rd John The Diva

Former point-to-point winner NATIVE SPEAKER catches the eye on handicap hurdle debut. He was a somewhat remote second in maiden hurdles at Punchestown and Limerick, but the horses that beat him are smart and have both followed up. The Punchestown winner subsequently landed a Grade 2 novice hurdle. Shannon Royale won a Punchestown maiden hurdle in November by a whopping 24 lengths and the horse in second is now a leading contender for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He disappointed on his next appearance in Navan, but got back to work when a close second in Punchestown. He has to give plenty of weight away, but is a big player. Linden Arden is markedly up in trip for Willie Mullins, but was an easy winner in Punchestown and should have plenty to offer while Ishan didn't run at the Dublin Racing Festival and is a solid stayer.
Prediction : 1st Native Speaker 2nd Shannon Royale 3rd Linden Arden

RED HUGH's best point-to-point form is on much better ground, however, testing going isn't a negative for progeny of his sire so he is taken to graduate to the track with a win. Barry Connell's newcomer Net Boy has to be given a market check. He made 60,000 euro at the Land Rover Sale and is related to a five-time winner in Britain. Machismo was successful 'between the flags' last December yet was easy to back when last of five on track debut at Limerick in January. There is likely to be much more to come from him. Eastbank Warrior fell when leading his point-to-point and was only 5/2 for his racecourse debut in Limerick where he finished fourth (a head in front of Machismo). There could be improvement in him.
Prediction : 1st Red Hugh 2nd Net Boy 3rd Machismo