2:00 Thurles Tips

No comment made

Useful gelding has won handicap hurdles at Wexford and Listowel and got off the mark over fences with an easy success at Killarney in August. Raised 9 lbs for that but finished a solid 3rd at Listowel last time. Up another 2 lbs now , but top jockey back on board, replacing 7 lbs claimer.

Has to bounce back from a relatively poor run last time out. Had a break since and could go well now fresh. Not one to write off just yet.

The trainer has got 2 entered in this race, and they have got a 5 lbs claiming jockey booking/change. A good value each way bet for the 4 places available.

I am going to look beyond the top of the market in what looks like being a wide-open race. I am going to go with Finnians Row, who has won or placed in 3 of the last 4 and has won multiple times over this trip.

This horse caused a shock when winning two starts back (form ...70417). The 7th last time out is a slight concern, but it proved it has the ability to win a race of this nature. At 21.00, the odds are far too big if it can recapture that recent winning form. Interesting outsider.

With four places available here and a low enough mark, I think this one can run into a place. Yet to run well this term... gotta come sometime soon, surely.

Chase race with many that may give a good account of themselves. Tomas Maille has raced four times over fences with his first here, where he never jumped with zest, making errors and was blowing hard afterwards, this being a beginner's chase. He reverted to hurdles after this first stint over fences, and connections tried once more over the bigger obstacles at Ballinrobe, where he finished fifth. His next two outings, third places, were managed at Sligo and Tramore. Once again back over hurdles with him producing a win at Ballinrobe, being the last run of last season. Raced six times without much luck, pulled up on last outing, possibly found the ground too soft. Seems to act better on decent ground, which he gets today. Might blow these odds out of the water.