15:40 Thurles

Tuesday 5 March 2024

All14:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:1017:40

ThurlesRaces.ie Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 15.60s

Chosen Witness^t⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins

10/3

Fair hurdler. 8/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, below form fourth of 12 in novice hurdle at Navan (20f, heavy) 45 days ago. Surprise were he not capable of better given connections.

Form: 504-054

Arthur's Victory²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: J Nash

125/1

Fair Flat winner. Once-raced maiden over hurdles. 100/1 and hooded for 1st time, seventh of 13 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (16.7f, soft) on NH debut 29 days ago. Low-grade handicaps will suit in due course.

Form: 7

Thebeautifulgame⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J B Foley| T: C Collins

80/1

Fairly useful Flat winner, making GB/IRE jumps debut. 25/1, won 14-runner handicap at Chelmsford City (10f) 44 days ago. First run for yard after leaving Tom Clover and betting should prove a useful guide as to expectations.

Form:

Answering⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr D Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: T Doyle

10/1

Modest in bumpers but better with each outing over hurdles, good second of 14 in novice hurdle at Clonmel (16.5f, heavy) 54 days ago. A repeat should see him thereabouts.

Form: 748562

Ballycallan King^b1¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Cleary-Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: Barry J Fitzgerald| OR: 109

10/3

Fair hurdler. Remains a maiden after 10 hurdle runs. 13/2, creditable fourth of 13 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, heavy) 10 days ago. Blinkers on 1st time. Respected.

Form: 420024

Brave Fortune¹²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Doyle| T: P M J Doyle

15/8

Twice-raced maiden under NH rules (successful in points in between). 11/1, 13¾ lengths fifth of 7 to Solitary Man in listed hurdle at Cork (24f, soft) on hurdles bow 121 days ago. Significantly back down in trip and of interest in these calmer waters.

Form: 7-15

Kilbrin Rocco¹¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: A P Heskin| T: M Winters

200/1

Shirocco gelding who has finished well held both starts in maiden hurdles late last year.

Form: 00

Matagorda³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ricky Doyle| T: W J Burke

200/1

Twice-raced maiden. Seventh of 12 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (16.1f, heavy, 250/1) 36 days ago.

Form: 07

Mywayorthehighway^t1¹⁰⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell

125/1

Sageburg gelding. Half-brother to modest hurdler/chaser Leverock Lass. Wears tongue strap. Pulled up sole start in points (Nov 26).

Form: P

Our Chezney^h¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: L A McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: Ms H P Markham

150/1

Poor hurdler. Sixth of 16 in novice hurdle (250/1) at Punchestown (16.7f, heavy) 13 days ago.

Form: 0-9PP86

Storm Ryder^h¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Conor Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: Ms H P Markham

200/1

Thrice-raced maiden under NH rules. 300/1, ninth of 16 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (16.7f, heavy) 13 days ago.

Form: 809

The Striker Dylan²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R Deegan| T: L P Cusack

80/1

Twice-raced maiden. 50/1, fourth of 12 in novice hurdle at this course (15.6f, soft) 21 days ago. Looks a likely type for low-grade handicaps moving forward on what he's showed in 2 starts to date.

Form: 04

Touch Me Not³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

5/2

£150,000 4-y-o, Malinas gelding. Clear when fell last sole start in British points last year and promising start under Rules when third of 12 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (16.1f, heavy) on NH debut 36 days ago. Likely to improve and leading claims.

Form: F-3

Hollow Rodger²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Flanagan| T: D M O'Brien

22/1

Beat Hollow mare. Off mark in points at third attempt (Jan 14) and she offered something to work on starting out under Rules when fourth of 14 in novice hurdle at this course (19.8f, soft) on NH debut 21 days ago. Could build on that.

Form: 23-14

Manhattan Brook²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: E Walsh| T: A Murray

200/1

Twice-raced maiden. Tenth of 14 in novice hurdle at this course (19.8f, soft, 25/1) 21 days ago, never on terms. Can only be watched.

Form: 00

Chance Another One⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Simon Torrens| T: S M Duffy

100/1

Won sole start in points (May 2023). Pulled up in novice hurdle (100/1) at Navan (20f, heavy) on NH debut 45 days ago, pulled up before 3 out. Reserve 2.

Form: 1P

Non-Runners

Doctor Glide⁷⁰

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: Tom Dreaper J: Keith Donoghue

Sharetheknowledge⁴⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: Paul Tobin J: Jordan Gainford

Win Some Lose Some¹¹⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: P Roche J: Reserve 1

Bodybuilder²⁹⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Brave Fortune (15/8), Touch Me Not (5/2), Chosen Witness (10/3), Ballycallan King (10/3), Doctor Glide (6/1), Answering (10/1), Sharetheknowledge (12/1), Hollow Rodger (22/1), The Striker Dylan (80/1), Thebeautifulgame (80/1), Chance Another One (100/1), Mywayorthehighway (125/1), Arthur's Victory (125/1), Our Chezney (150/1), Kilbrin Rocco (200/1), Manhattan Brook (200/1), Matagorda (200/1), Storm Ryder (200/1)

A £150,000 purchase from points, TOUCH ME NOT showed plenty to work on when third in a Punchestown novice 5 weeks ago and, in good hands and open to improvement, he could be the answer here. Brave Fortune will find this easier than the assignments he's faced to date and is feared, with Ballycallan King and Chosen Witness others fancied to play a part.