Tony Keenan looks ahead to this afternoon’s action at Thurles where he has a 16/1 selection.
Thurles today marks the start of a quiet spell before the busiest single day of the year in Irish racing on December 26th, and it is an interesting card with the going softening up since declaration time, currently yielding with yielding to soft in places.
The feature is the Listed Billy Harney Memorial Irish EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle at 12:47 and there are a few in the field that have form on better ground and may not want it to get any slower. Korinthia has obvious claims after finishing third at Down Royal while Salsinha shaped better than her fourth in a steadily run Navan maiden hurdle last time.
The form of the Henry De Bromhead yard is a concern however, the trainer 1/42 in December, and the two that look a little overpriced are Queenofthelodge and Samba Train. Queenofthelodge has been progressive over hurdles, and her trainer has mentioned a desire to get black type for breeding purposes, her last run looking a prep for this on ground more testing that she ideally wants.
Samba Train is coming from bumpers, but she did win a couple of those races and has hurdles experience earlier in her career while Enda Bolger has been bullish about sending her back jumping.
The handicaps on the card look difficult though Rushmount could be better than a mark of 130 in the opening Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase at 11:37. He has plenty of good form at the track and shaped well here last time getting a wide trip though it is a slight concern connections might prefer to aim at a more valuable race where he would creep in at the bottom of the weights.
The maiden hurdle has been split into two divisions with Gigginstown well-represented in both. Boedic should be hard to beat in the second division at 14:32 though his biggest danger could be Premier Rogue. He looked to press on too soon in the middle part of the race last time at Galway and may do better ridden with more restraint. He can reverse form with Zeus Power from that run at least.
Perhaps the most interesting betting race on the card is the Horse & Jockey Hotel Rated Novice Hurdle at 15:05. William Tell deserves to be favourite and has done things right over hurdles so far, travelling well to win with more in hand than the bare margin over this course and distance last time.
His price looks about right, however, unlike LONG BRANCH who offers some value. He ran quite well in three autumn maiden hurdles before putting in his best effort upped in trip on handicap debut at Cork last time.
That race was dominated by two that raced up with the pace throughout, but Long Branch did well to come from rear to finish fourth, keeping on well without being knocked about before getting badly hampered at the second last and forced to swerve then finishing off his race well.
He has been dropped a pound for that run despite shaped with promise, and a good 7lb claimer now takes overs while this may not all that competitive outside of the favourite who has good claims.
Published at 0830GMT on 20/12/25
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