The mid-week racing action takes place at the ever-dependable Thurles circuit this Thursday with proceedings scheduled to get under way at 1.05 pm. The featured event is the Rock Of Cashel Handicap Chase over two miles six furlongs and it should pay to row in behind Hurricane Carter.
This Thomas O’Leary-trained nine-year-old ran his best race for quite some time when finishing second to favourite Raven’s Run in a beginners chase over this same distance at Limerick on December 27th, the pair finishing eight lengths clear of the third-placed Green Black. Put quite simply, Hurricane Carter should triumph and he’s likely to have most to fear from Island Life.
Edward O’Grady’s Forest Leaves stands out in the Devil’s Bit Beginners Chase. Now a nine-year-old, Forest Leaves has finished second on his two most recent outings and last time, he was only beaten a short head by Equus Maximus in a three mile beginners chase at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve. It’s worth recalling that the third-placed horse in that event, Sir Johnny finished a further 25 lengths adrift in third spot and the 115-rated Forest Leaves is recommended to show a clean pair of heels here to Indifference Curve.
Financialregulator should put his experience to good use by obliging in the closing thurlesraces.ie Ladies INH Flat Race.
The Mag Mullins-trained Financialregulator has finished in the frame on all three starts to date and it can be argued that he lost caste in defeat at Down Royal’s Christmas meeting last time by returning third behind the French-bred Don’t Panic. Financialregulator was ultimately beaten four lengths altogether and a reproduction of that effort by the City Honours-sired gelding should see him accounting for Polar Speed.
Fairwood Bob, who has been placed second on no less than three out of his four most recent starts, should continue the excellent run of trainer Philip Rothwell by disposing with Layde Back in the Ballynonty Maiden Hurdle whilst Master’n Commander is put forward to score from Shake The Bottle in the Littleton Handicap Hurdle.
On Your Way, trained by Sunday’s Pierse Hurdle winning trainer Liz Doyle, could spring a mild surprise by dispensing with Oscar Dubh in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase.
Eric McNamara’s mare Estuary Princess meanwhile should have most to fear from the lightly-weighted Retrievethelegend in the Tipperary (Ladies) Handicap Hurdle.