Smoking holds the Aces on testing ground

TOM TAAFFE’S Smoking Aces is the nap choice to land the Clonoulty Hurdle at Thurles this afternoon.

He would almost certainly prefer a longer trip than two miles, but the ground is going to be testing and that will be a help.

The selection lost his way a little towards the backend of last season, running no sort of race at the Punchestown Festival and finishing a disappointing second to Oscar Looby at Gowran Park.