16:45 Thurles

Thursday 7 March 2019

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1016:4016:4517:15

Thurles Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 5m 40.60s

Salty Boy³²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 134

8/1

Won a Navan handicap hurdle in December over 2m4f on yielding ground off a 6lb lower mark. Beaten since making errors at Leopardstown over 3m but should go well here if jumping with more fluency.

Form: 431318

Getaway John²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 132| D

13/2

Won a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in January beating 13 rivals ½L. Beaten since when third of seven here over 2m4f last month and can be expected to run well here holding Martin Pipe and Coral Cup entries at the festival .

Form: 10-3313

Smoking Gun¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 128

6/4

Hat-trick bid was foiled under a double penalty at Navan in January before getting back to winning ways in a Gowran Park 19-runner handicap hurdle over 2m4f last month off a 8lb lower mark. Another bold show looks likely.

Form: 49-1141

Dorans River^t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 125

50/1

A winner over 3m, at Bellewestown in the summer but has lost his way since then and his recent completion rate is off-putting. 12th of 13 on latest start at Punchestown last month tailed off over 3m. Others preferred.

Form: 4FUPP0

Another Barney³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 123| BF

14/1

Backed from 8/1 to 4/1f on his last start in a Naas novice handicap chase finishing 10th of 11 beaten 70L in a mistake filled round, eventually found to be lame. Worth a check in the market.

Form: 55-9840

Dawn Raider^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Cooper| T: P G Kelly| OR: 123| D

7/1

Improved in 2018 without adding to his sole win at Killarney in 2017. Ran really well in a Pertemps qualifier at Cheltenham in October but burst blood vessels on return to action last month. Big run required holding Pertemps and Coral Cup entries.

Form: 632330

The Gatechecker^b¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: M Hourigan| OR: 123| C

16/1

In fine form towards the end of last season over both fences and hurdles. Got back to winning ways in a 3m handicap hurdle here last month off a 5lb lower mark and one of the more likely types here.

Form: 113001

Plan Of Attack^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 122| CD

7/1

C&D winner beating seven rivals 1½L off a 6lb lower mark in a novice hurdle in December. Well held in a Punchestown handicap last month finishing eighth of 13 beaten over 18L. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 346118

Kalum River⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: D J Mullins| T: P A Fahy| OR: 119

7/1

Not without promise in a number of hurdle starts since November including a fourth of 17 in a Gowran Park maiden hurdle when last seen in January. Could be of interest over this trip.

Form: 226544

Lucky Icon⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Donagh Meyler| T: T Mullins| OR: 115

33/1

One from eight over hurdles but has been struggling of late in novice and handicap company in a number of starts since last month failing to finish in two of his last three starts. Hard to make a case for him on form to hand.

Form: 646F0P

Forecasts

Smoking Gun (6/4), Getaway John (13/2), Plan Of Attack (7/1), Kalum River (7/1), Dawn Raider (7/1), Salty Boy (8/1), Another Barney (14/1), The Gatechecker (16/1), Lucky Icon (33/1), Dorans River (50/1)

A wide open contest where GETAWAY JOHN can get back to winning ways following defeat here last month over 2m4f and will relish the step back up in trip on his way to running in either of the Martin Pipe or Coral Cup at the festival. Gigginstown House Stud-owned Smoking Gun can emerge as the biggest danger on the back of an impressive win at Gowran Park last month off an 8lb lower mark. Dawn Raider who holds entries in the Pertemps and Coral Cup at the festival is capable of hitting the frame while, the Jessica Harrington-trained Another Barney was well backed before going lame in a Naas contest in January and is worth noting in the betting.