15:05 Thurles

Thursday 23 February 2023

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:20

www.thurlesraces.ie Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 4m 11.01s

Vado Forte¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-3| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 135

18/1

Latest win in chase at Galway in July. Eighth of 12 in handicap chase (125/1) at Leopardstown (17f, good to soft) 19 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 513588

Falco Blitz^p¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: C P McNamara| T: E McNamara| OR: 129

20/1

Seventeenth of 23 in handicap chase at Leopardstown (21.2f, good to soft, 50/1) 18 days ago. Back down in trip. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: P4U840

Espion Du Chenet^p,t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Cian Quirke⁽⁷⁾| T: Louise G Lyons| OR: 128| CD

9/2

C&D winner. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, creditable seventh of 12 in handicap chase at Leopardstown (17f, good to soft, 20/1) 19 days ago. Has good chance on form.

Form: 654657

Kitty Galore⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 119| D

9/1

Fourth of 7 in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (16f, heavy, 14/1) 64 days ago.

Form: 529F44

Brandy Harbour^h³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: D Moloney⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs G O'Connor| OR: 118| C

18/5

Course winner. Creditable fourth of 16 in handicap hurdle (10/3) at Punchestown (16f, heavy) 38 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Respected.

Form: 2211F4

Clonbury Bridge^p,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 114

5/1

Latest win in chase at Downpatrick in October. 15/2, bit below form fourth of 8 in handicap chase at Naas (20.4f, soft) 25 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Not discounted.

Form: 212334

Leahman^b1¹⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: J Beamish| OR: 106

40/1

First run since leaving Terence O'Brien when 66/1, folded as if amiss pulled up in handicap chase at Killarney (17f, good to soft) 144 days ago, dropping away 4 out. Blinkers on 1st time.

Form: 9603B-P

Union Park^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 106| D

2/1

Latest win in chase at Clonmel in January. Good second of 10 in handicap chase (7/1) at Fairyhouse (17f, soft) 26 days ago, flattered by proximity. Solid claims.

Form: 442312

Itsalonglongroad^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁷⁾| T: C Coakley| OR: 101| C| D

11/1

Eighteen runs since last win in 2021. Below form seventh of 14 in handicap chase at this course (16.4f, good to soft, 15/2) 14 days ago.

Form: 702P47

Forecasts

Union Park (2/1), Brandy Harbour (18/5), Espion Du Chenet (9/2), Clonbury Bridge (5/1), Kitty Galore (9/1), Itsalonglongroad (11/1), Vado Forte (18/1), Falco Blitz (20/1), Leahman (40/1)

UNION PARK arrives on the back of a good second at Fairyhouse and takes preference over Brandy Harbour, who hit the frame over hurdles at Punchestown on his latest outing. Espion du Chenet is also on the shortlist.