Hi all,
The first selections of the week.
Thurles
Thurles is the only jumps card today with it’s the rearranged Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase card. The feature race is the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase (12:45). Willie Mullins saddles four of the seven runners: Allaho, Easy Game, Annamix & Elimay all declared, as they were on Sunday. Gordon Elliott saddles Battleoverdoyen and Henry De Bromhead Balko De Flos.
12:45 – Allaho didn’t seem to get home over 3m when 4th of 14 in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown. The drop back in trip will be in the favourites favour and he’s the one to beat.
Balko De Flos hasn’t won since successful in the 2018 Ryanair Chase and and has probably go ot the game. However, the veteran does get the first time cheekpiece’s here and there is no doubt if the headgear works the oracle, he would be a massive price at around 20/1.
1pt win – Balko De Flos – 33/1 @ Bet365
There are couple of interesting handicaps on the Thurles card.
1:20 – Enjoy D’allen won a Fairyhouse novice chase 8-days ago. Up 8lb for that win but capable of more improvement and the cheekpieces left off last time return. Big chance of back-to-back wins.
Key Commander won at the fourth attempt over fences when winning here over 3m 1f last month. Seemed to find the step up in trip to his liking that say and has been hiked up 12lb for that win. There should be more to come from the 6-year-old if the drop back in trip doesn’t prove and inconvenience.
You must go back to 2015 for Kitten Rock’s last win but he hasn’t been running to badly of late and I don’t think a win is too far away. His best performance last season came at this venue over an extended 2m last February Not sure he wants this far though.
1pt each way – Key Commander – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
3:05 – Whatstoknow won a maiden hurdle here last February before finishing eighth in the Supreme at Cheltenham. Returns to hurdling after two starts over fences and must be respected on his handicap debut.
Strange Notions won a C&D maiden hurdle in March and was in contention when coming down at the last on her seasonal reappearance over C&D 35-days ago and the mare looks to have each way claims.
Blanketontheground has done well since joining her present yard and can’t have the ground soft enough. Back in handicap company today and shouldn’t be far away.
1pt win – Blanketonthground – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John