Venitien de Mai can grind out maiden success

Venitien de Mai, a long way removed from being the fastest horse in training, is fancied to grind it out and land the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Maiden Hurdle at Thurles this afternoon.

The two miles and six furlongs plus will take a lot of getting and the one-paced selection seems well equipped to deliver. Successful four times in the point-to-point fields, Jim Dreaper’s charge made his racecourse debut at Clonmel in early December, finishing six lengths second behind Jimmy Two Times.

He then went off a warm order on this track 24 days ago, but was run over by Willie Mullins’ Roi Des Francs, going under by five and a half lengths.