Haymount won’t need to improve to get off mark at Thurles
Killultagh Vic makes his chasing debut in the opening race, and we’re hopeful he can take high rank as a staying chaser.
With that in mind, today’s two-mile trip is obviously of some concern, and so I can’t imagine I’ll be hanging around.
That said, I won’t be going as fast this time as I did in this race last year, when I rode Un De Sceaux.
Killultagh Vic won over almost two-miles-five at Cheltenham and three miles at Punchestown, and so when he goes up in grade he’ll also go up in trip, but I’d be very hopeful his class can get him through this afternoon.
I’m on Vedettariat in the three-mile beginners’ chase but I think it’s pretty clear he’s our second string.
It was a bit of a surprise that he fell on his debut over fences, at Limerick in May, as he had been schooling very well.
He has been jumping well at home since, but Willie’s other runner, Roi Des Francs, is the one we all have to beat.
He ran very well when second behind Monksland on his chase debut at Gowran, and has come on for that run. He’s a horse I like, and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t go one place better here.
Allblak Des Places was meant to run last weekend, and what I said then still stands: he’s a very nice four-year-old who has schooled well, is always good in his work, and I think will take beating.
It’s the same with Au Quart De Tour, who was also supposed to run last week.
That would have been a two-mile race, which might have been on the sharp side for him, and so today’s two and a half miles maiden hurdle should suit better.
He’s a nice horse in the making, and I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t make a winning start over hurdles.
Gangster is still the one we have to beat in the rescheduled Grade 3 Novice Hurdle. His only disappointment in three runs since joining Willie was at Galway, where the ground was too lively for him. As said last week, he’s a bit of an odd-ball, but ups a level at the track, and should take beating.
Danny (Mullins) is going to Ascot to ride Renneti, and so I’ve picked up a spare ride on Last Encounter in this race.
He was well beaten last time, and has to improve to win.
Willie runs Avichi in the bumper. She has picked up a nice bit of experience, is working well at home, and the softer ground might bring about a bit of improvement.
She should run well.
As mentioned, Willie runs two in the Ladbroke. Renneti was reluctant to jump off in the Greatwood Hurdle last time out – there was nothing Danny could have done about it – and struggled to get involved in what was a steadily run race.
You’d imagine they’ll go quicker here, and that might help his cause.
Noble Inn is our other runner, and I thought he was very impressive at Clonmel.
He’s a better horse now than he was 18 months ago, gets in here off a nice weight, and David Mullins takes a handy 3lbs off which brings him down to 11 stone.
He’s only a five-year-old, should have improvement in him and, at around 20-1, I wouldn’t put anyone off having an each-way bet on him.
I have only two rides at Thurles tomorrow, starting with Conal in the two-six novice hurdle.
I rode him to win his maiden on his racecourse debut at Punchestown last month and, while it wasn’t the greatest race in the world, he did it well and is sure to improve.
He’s a nice prospect, and has a great chance of following up.
I’m on Haymount in the two-six maiden and he doesn’t have to improve to win.
Another of ours, Royal Caviar, did him on the line at Thurles last time on his return last month.
The step up in trip should suit, the softer ground won’t be an issue, and I don’t think he has to improve to win.
Earlier on the card Willie runs Monbeg Rose in the mares’ maiden hurdle. She is quite keen and so works on her own at home.
She seems to be coming on and has schooled well, but they’re hard to gauge when they work alone, so I apologise I can’t give more definite opinion.
Willie also has Merry Night in the bumper, and he looks to have improved since being beaten at Gowran on his debut.
He’s back in trip so I’d imagine Patrick won’t be hanging around, and whatever gets by him will have to be able to go a bit
It’s part-rant, part-praise for those who organise the racing calendar.
It’s great to see the HRI giving Clonmel’s meeting every chance of taking place, by rescheduling it for next Tuesday.
That’s a positive and commendable move, but tomorrow’s programme at Thurles leaves plenty to be desired.
Two years ago at this meeting I rode Un De Sceaux in a second-season novices’ hurdle and I remember there being a fine crowd there.
There were only three horses in the race - and I don’t know how many there would be if it a similar race was run tomorrow - but he was a classy horse and a bit of a draw for racing fans.
While people taking early Christmas holidays may also have been a factor in the size of the crowd, his presence was certainly a contributory factor.
For some reason, however, they took the race off the card last year, and didn’t replace it with another good race.
If you have no decent races, and no good horses running, you just won’t draw a crowd – it really is that simple.
There has to be an attraction for people, a reason to come racing, and, with respect to the horses running at Thurles tomorrow, there are no ‘talking horses’ or obvious potential stars.
The card is crying out for some, and I’m really surprised the race hasn’t been reinstated this year.
Au Quart De Tour 1.35 Fairyhouse
Haymount 3.10 Thurles, Sunday
Conal 2.40 Thurles, Sunday
