14:55 Thurles

Thursday 26 October 2017

All14:2014:5515:2516:0016:3017:0017:30

www.thurlesraces.ie Beginners Chase

Off time: 14:58 | Winning time: 5m 55.8s

Adimelo^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: P D Kennedy⁽³⁾| T: M M McNiff

50/1

Managed only one win from seven over hurdles, but a decent operator in that sphere (rated 121 at best). Very poor last month on chase bow at Sligo (2m1½f, heavy) and work to do going up in distance.

Form: 4/60-465

Bilbo Bagins²⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: A E Lynch| T: A Murray

33/1

Won a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Navan in March off a mark of 98, comes here on the back of a 207-day layoff and has a bit to find with some of these potentially over the larger obstacles in any case.

Form: 976819-

Carrig Cathal¹⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

11/10

Three wins from 10 starts over hurdles, reaching a mark of 137 having run in some hot handicaps in the spring. Represents the in-from Elliott team on first chase start and no surprise to find him going well.

Form: BU3240-

Close Shave¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: Mrs J Harrington

9/4

Appeared to have gleaned plenty from chase debut at Galway when 3L second of 14 over 2m2f at the same track earlier this month. Can put that experience to good use and should handle this longer trip.

Form: 6418-72

Coole Craft⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: R Donohoe| C

100/1

Gained sole hurdles win (from 17) at this venue in March (2m, heavy), sent off 100/1 in a beginners' chase won by Petit Mouchoir at Punchestown recently, finishing tailed off. Makes little appeal for now.

Form: 4U010-0

Corskeagh Express²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: M M McNiff

100/1

No form of note in four hurdles outings, was returning from 309 days off when finishing tailed off at Sligo last month in 2m5f heavy-ground beginners' chase. Quickly passed over here.

Form: 01/897-5

De Name Escapes Me^h²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: N Meade

5/1

Fairly decent hurdler with two wins from six starts in that sphere, was backed for last month's reappearance / chase debut at Gowran Park (2m2f, soft to heavy) but looked to be in need of the run. Up in trip, may leave that run behind.

Form: 11/00P-7

Fruits Of Gold¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: P F Mangan| T: D Budds

100/1

Unplaced in eight starts under rules to date, fell early on when making chase bow at Galway in August and tailed off this month at Limerick on second attempt, both over this trip. Has work to do.

Form: P13-F94

Joxer¹⁶⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: K C Sexton| T: W Harney| OR: 109

25/1

No realistic threat in seven of these so far, including over this C&D, question mark remains over stamina having failed on most recent start at Tipperary in May (2m7f, good) and a watching brief is prescribed for now.

Form: 54P75-6

Lacken Bridge¹⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: C Bowe

12/1

Prolific point-to-point performer with three wins and three seconds from just seven starts early on this year (fall on the other start). Trainer knows the time of day and not underestimated now going under rules for the first time.

Form: 211F21-

Mannin Island^p1,t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: S J Mahon

25/1

Not the most fluent jumper in each of his starts over fences but has proved he can take fences in his stride. May have needed recent Limerick outing (2m6f, soft) and capable of getting involved with first-time cheekpieces added.

Form: 6772-46

Mindsmadeup^h1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: J G Sheehan

50/1

Kilbeggan maiden hurdle winner August 2016, promising start for this trainer at Killarney (2m4f, good) in July when second in handicap hurdle off mark of 104. Gone backwards since, including heavy defeat on chase bow at Tramore (2m, soft).

Form: 00-3848

Moores Road¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: M Hourigan

33/1

Fell on chasing debut over this C&D in March when starting to backpedal, that was a heavy tumble and was eased home over 2m4f at Cork this month on return to action. Has to go on the watchlist for now.

Form: 2119F-0

Steamboat Quay^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

33/1

Second runner for the Elliott yard in this field, will have plenty to do if hoping to get the better of stablemate Carrig Cathal based on hurdles ratings.

Form: 2F1346

Tyrrell's Succes⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: C D Maxwell| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 115| BF| D

14/1

Fair handicap hurdler with one win from 10 starts in that sphere, switched to this yard ahead of chase debut and market may reveal where expectations levels are at.

Form: 514-244

Weather Watch^p,t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

33/1

Represents Jessica Harrington but far from a leading light in that yard, has recorded heavy defeats in both chase starts at Limerick and Galway and not an obvious contender stepping up in distance.

Form: 7-68709

Non-Runners

Florianopolis²⁰⁸

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: D A McLoughlin J: Reserve 1

Sea's Aria¹⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: D Hogan J: Reserve 2

Time And Times¹⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: D McNamara J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Carrig Cathal (11/10), Close Shave (9/4), De Name Escapes Me (5/1), Lacken Bridge (12/1), Tyrrell's Succes (14/1), Sea's Aria (20/1), Mannin Island (25/1), Joxer (25/1), Florianopolis (25/1), Steamboat Quay (33/1), Moores Road (33/1), Bilbo Bagins (33/1), Weather Watch (33/1), Time And Times (33/1), Adimelo (50/1), Mindsmadeup (50/1), Coole Craft (100/1), Fruits Of Gold (100/1), Corskeagh Express (100/1)

Lacken Bridge rates a very interesting contender on rules bow, given his consistent profile in the point-to-point sphere and in market confidence in his bid would prove noteworthy. Mannin Island may have needed a recent run at Limerick and could do better here while similar comments apply to De Name Escapes Me, who should prove much better than his Gowran Park reappearance. Carrig Cathal was about the best of these over hurdles and has to be noted on chase bow for the in-form Elliott yard but CLOSE SHAVE already looks a better chaser than he was hurdler and if he can take another step forward as he did between his two recent Galway outings over fences, his experience could be telling under Barry Geraghty.