Thurles Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 6m 25.10s

Braeside³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 124| D

11/8

Off the mark for connections at the fourth time of asking over hurdles landing a 2m6½f maiden at Fairyhouse on heavy ground in January; fair effort on handicap debut at Leoparpstown last month; is improving and holds Cheltenham Festival entries.

Form: 4-33316

Bay Ambition¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 119| D

4/1

Has been very consistent of late being runner-up at both Limerick and Navan on his latest two starts; will be suited by the expected conditions and possibly still on the upgrade; one to consider.

Form: P-31F22

Castello Sforza¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 119

25/1

Will have disappointed connections with a number of dismal efforts since returning from two years off in March including when falling last time out at Navan; hard to back with confidence these days.

Form: 3/0-409P

Zenon⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 119

6/1

Useful Flat performer in 2017 for John Gosden and made a respectable start over hurdles at Down Royal when fifth to Envoi Allen; has failed to build on that and change of fortune may come from this switch to handicapping.

Form: 507

Sonny B^t⁶¹

Age: 13| Weight: 11-0| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 117| C| D

33/1

Has been chasing to little effect of late; has some fair hurdles form in the past but with age creeping up on him he is never the most obvious selection in races he competes in these days.

Form: 705P-37

Bua Boy¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: C F Hart⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 114

10/1

Made a mistake at the last before rallying to win on racecourse bow at 16/1 at Cork last April; has generally struggled since then in a number of handicaps; has been given a slight chance by the handicapper so no forlorn hope.

Form: 1-3890

Frere Fontaine^p³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Phillip Enright| T: T O'Brien| OR: 105| BF

3/1

Built on two solid efforts when scoring well at Limerick on his penultimate start and ran well in defeat next time at the same track despite huge rise in the weights; up another 2lb but seems in good heart and should go well.

Form: 8F3212

Forecasts

Braeside (11/8), Frere Fontaine (3/1), Bay Ambition (4/1), Zenon (6/1), Bua Boy (10/1), Castello Sforza (25/1), Sonny B (33/1)

BRAESIDE holds a few Cheltenham entries and if hoping to take his chance should be strong enough here based on the form he has shown in his last two outings. He followed up a win at Fairyhouse with a better performance when finishing sixth of 28 at Leopardstown last time out. He remains on the same mark and will relish the testing conditions. Bay Ambition has been knocking on the door of late and certainly deserves a win. He may still be on the upgrade and may give the selection most to do. Zenon has been frustrating since running a cracker on his debut behind Envoi Allen. He has talent and perhaps he will be capable of showing it on his handicap debut.