THURLES is a winter stronghold for the most committed Irish National Hunt followers and regulars will be treated to a competitive card of action there tomorrow. The real challenge seems to lie in the opening three handicaps, but if Tote customers can successfully negotiate those obstacles as well as the remaining three races on the card, the rewards could well be lucrative with the Pick 6, Placepot and Jackpot being guaranteed for €10,000, €20,000 and €5,000.

The Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase (12.20) is the least intimidating of the three handicaps on the card, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to solve by any stretch of the imagination. The Christy Roche-trained Golden Ticket and the Michael McDonagh-trained Black Zero look to be the two to concentrate on.