Thurles Racecourse Hunters Chase

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 6m 39.00s

Billaway^p²⁶⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| D

6/5

Useful chaser. 1 win from 1 run this season. 11/8, career best when winning 5-runner hunter chase at Punchestown (24f, good to soft). Second in this race last year and while he's prone to the odd mistake, is the one to beat on reappearance.

Form: 52/2111-

Ferns Lock⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: D M Christie

1/1

Successful in 2 of 3 point starts. 9/4, won 6-runner hunter chase at Fairyhouse (23.7f, heavy) on NH debut 68 days ago, easily. Open to progress and fancied to leave bare form of that behind.

Form: 1

Lord Schnitzel⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr A P Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 127

18/1

Fairly useful chaser. Winner in chase at Limerick in December 2021. Respectable second of 5 in hunter chase at Cork (20f, heavy, 7/4), going with enthusiasm. Off 9 months. Back up in trip.

Form: 1P2-312

Coastal Tiep^t²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr S Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 125

10/1

Unreliable type. Twelve runs since last win in 2017. 20/1, creditable third of 8 in hunter chase at Down Royal (24f, soft) 27 days ago. Yard in good form and not out of this on his best form.

Form: 6312/23

Daicheadacuig⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Ms H Phillips⁽⁷⁾| T: B Mortell| OR: 90

250/1

One win from 23 NH runs. Fifteen runs since last win in 2021. Tenth of 14 in handicap chase at Kilbeggan (25f, good, 66/1) 156 days ago.

Form: 3P00P6

Heroes Of Renown¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr T O'Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: T O'Connor| OR: 114

50/1

Fair chaser. Blinkered for 1st time, tenth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Killarney (20f, good, 33/1). First run for yard after leaving J. D. Motherway and he didn't show much in a point recently.

Form: 87-3003

Forecasts

Ferns Lock (1/1), Billaway (6/5), Coastal Tiep (10/1), Lord Schnitzel (18/1), Heroes Of Renown (50/1), Daicheadacuig (250/1)

BILLAWAY failed to land the odds in this race a year ago but has since established himself as the best hunter around and with fitness no concern given the yard he represents, he can get it right this time. Ferns Lock is very much a youngster by this sphere's standards but he's promising and is open to lots of progress.