Power back at Thurles

Powerstation has been given an outstanding opportunity to collect a first victory for almost two years in tomorrow’s Vendee Hurdle at Thurles.

Michael Phillips’ gelding has blown one or two chances since then but has some high-class placed form with second places in the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle, Coral Cup and Punchestown Champion Stayers’ Hurdle to his name.

The latter race was his most recent one, where he chased home Refinement.

Powerstation is much the highest rated in the two and three-quarter mile conditions event and Phillips said: “He’s in very good form, although I haven’t been able to gallop him on the grass for some while because it has been so dry.

“He’s as straight as I can get him and he has to start somewhere. It’s a long way between now and next March but for a 153-rated hurdler, there is not much to run in.

“His main objectives are the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and then Punchestown again. He may have to do some travelling in between.”

Henry de Bromhead’s Omni Cosmo Touch and the Adrian Maguire-trained Kerryhead Windfarm appear the pick of the opposition.