Ronan Groome

2:10 DEVIL’S BIT BEGINNERS CHASE 2M 6F

Turcagua didn’t get very far on his previous run, which came at this track, falling at the second, but he can make amends today. Willie Mullins’s eight-year-old was a useful hurdler, getting up to a rating of 139, with a second to Death Duty in the Grade 1 Lawlers of Naas Novice Hurdle the pick of his form. He showed on his chase debut at Navan, where he chased home stablemate Bonbon Au Miel, that he has the potential to go to at least to the same level over the larger obstacles and if he is to do that, he should win this.

Pat Doyle’s Kaiser Black wasn’t a bad hurdler himself, achieving a rating of 123 after just five runs. He began his chasing career in the same race Turcagua fell in, going on to finish fourth over what was likely an inadequate test for him, over two miles. He has scope to improve now, on his second run of the season and over fences, and for coming up in trip.

Selection: TURCAGUA

Next best: Kaiser Black

2:45 PIERCE MOLONY MEMORIAL NOVICE CHASE (Listed) 2M 2F

A truly intriguing listed chase in which it is very difficult to rule out all five runners. The top two, Tombstone and Jett, have already shown a fair standard this season and there is little to choose between them, especially on their meeting at Navan earlier in the season, where Gordon Elliott’s gelding came out on top by three lengths. In turn, they must concede weight to three unexposed, potentially classy chasers, who are each coming into this off a beginners chase win.

Jett has to concede less weight in comparison, and gets 3lbs off Tombstone. The combination of that factor with the fact that this race is being run over a course and distance Jessica Harrington’s horse has recorded his two wins over this season, earns him the vote.

The Willie Mullins pair, Cadmium and Montalbano, are obviously respected but Castlegrace Paddy may end up a little underrated, coming from Pat Fahy’s yard. He won nicely on his debut at Fairyhouse, staying-on really well after the last from another Willie Mullins-trained runner Bravissimo and Gordon Elliott’s useful Brelade.

Selection: JETT

Next best: Castlegrace Paddy

3:20 THURLES VINTNERS HANDICAP CHASE 2M 4½F

This looks like a decent opportunity for the progressive Artic Pearl to continue his good run of form. Martin Brassil’s seven-year-old has performed well over hurdles and more recently over fences this season. He has gone from a rating of 88 to 104 over hurdles and he won at Leopardstown last time, on only his second run over fences. He has been given a rating of 112 which looks fair enough given the calibre of horse he beat and he has the scope to progress further now on his handicap debut with Paul Townend booked to ride.

Angus Milan won at Ayr last time and he will likely represent himself well again. However Bilbo Bagins is a little less exposed, and although he disappointed at Naas last time, this race doesn’t look nearly as good and he may be able to get back on track.

Selection: ARTIC PEARL

Next best: Bilbo Bagins

3:55 ADARE MANOR OPPORTUNITY MAIDEN HURDLE 2M

A weak event and whatever way you cut it, it’s hard to get away from the likely decent standard of a Willie Mullins French import carrying the Susannah Ricci colours. Winter Soldier only ran once in France, finishing third on the flat at Nantes and if he can replicate that sort of standard on his first run over hurdles, he should win.

One First Cut has run okay on her two starts over fences but with the conditions today she actually has to give weight away to every runner in the field as opposed to receiving it as she did when fifth behind Epicuris last time. Scheu Time also ran well on his two starts over hurdles, and if he can improve again, he could give the Mullins-trained favourite something to do.

Selection: WINTER SOLDIER

Next best: Scheu Time

4:30 ENJOY WHITE GYPSY @ FINNS BORRISOLEIGH HURDLE 2M 7F

This looks a match between Call The Taxie and Diamond King. On paper, Diamond King should come out on top easily, considering he holds a rating of 150 and Ellmarie Holden’s seven-year-old lags 20lbs below that assessment yet will still have to concede 5lbs to Gordon Elliott’s horse.

That said, you could question whether Diamond King is a true 150 horse, given his lightly-raced profile and after the setbacks he has sustained. It is also worth pointing out that heavy ground over this distance will test his stamina. He probably wants good ground over two and a half miles to be at his best, the conditions he had when he won the 2016 Coral Cup.

In contrast, Call The Taxie looks an out-and-out stayer over three miles and has been in good form lately, finishing second on his last two starts over fences. If you look back at his novice hurdle form last season, he bumped into a few fair sorts, like Glenloe at Navan, Penhill at Limerick and Champagne Classic at this course. He then went on to shed his maiden tag over this course and distance on is final run over hurdles, beating a useful sort in Mon Lino (won three times since) with the pair of them 20 lengths clear.

Diamond King will very likely be favourite and on the terms that looks right. But it might be worth taking a chance on Call The Taxie, at something like 4/1 or above.

Selection: CALL THE TAXIE

Next best: Diamond King

5:05 BILL DOWLING MEMORIAL HANDICAP HURDLE 2M 7F

Not a race you can get overly excited about but Seamus Spillane’s Ballea Fox sticks out as the only horse that could potentially be on an upward curve. He hadn’t shown much prior to his nine-length win at Limerick earlier this week and though off an 11lb higher mark, he could easily go in again now that the penny has dropped. Donnie McInerney takes a handy 5lbs off his back and the heavy surface poses no problem.

Queen Khaleesi is a consistent mare who should run well again, with Davy Russell a welcome addition. Larkfield Lass has 16 lengths to find with the selection on their meeting at Limerick five days ago but that her fourth place finish there was the best effort she has produced in a while and she’d has a chance if she can build on that.

Selection: BALLEA FOX

Next best: Larkfield Lass

5:40 WWW.THURLES.IE (PRO/AM) INH FLAT RACE 2M

This may go to Noel Meade’s Young Ted. He was sent off a warm favourite for his debut at Gowran Park where he only found one too good, Gordon Elliott’s Edene D’Arc, to whom he had concede 10lbs, with the pair of them 12 lengths clear. With the benefit of that outing, he will prove a tough nut to crack.

There is not much between Eagle Roque and Dancingwith Storms on their Leopardstown meeting - 2nd and 4th to Sizing Pottsie. Preference would be for the latter mentioned, a Moyglare Stud-bred gelding who is trained by Ellmarie Holden, and should also show the benefit of his first outing on the racecourse to reverse form with Paul Nolan’s gelding.

Selection: YOUNG TED

Next best: Dancingwith Storms