Irish preview: Returning Beggars Rock can get punters off to flyer
Beggars Rock and Kevin Sexton win the D Pack Packaging Handicap Hurdle at Limerick last December. Picture: Healy Racing
Thurles hosts Thursday’s action and Beggars Rock, who contests the Leugh Beginners’ Chase, can get punters off to a flyer.
Declan Queally’s horse has a record of one win in 13 outings over hurdles and is a four-race maiden in point-to-points, but he made his chasing debut in mid-December and posted what looked like a career-best when third behind Banjaxed and El Champo.
Although he was conceding plenty of experience to his rivals, he managed to be involved in a thrilling finish, and it could be argued that he would have come out on top but for a mistake at the final fence. To his credit, he didn’t give up and by the time they crossed the line, he was beaten just a length in total.
Dropped back to hurdling for his next start, he ran away with a handicap off a mark of 95 but was well beaten off a 10lb higher mark on his most recent start.
Returning to chasing this time and with plenty of scope for improvement in this sphere, he can get straight back to winning ways for a stable which has enjoyed a tremendous year. It is quite a competitive race, with the likes of Gabriel Ranger, I Ballyadam Moon and Vaureal amongst those with claims, but Spinning Web may be the one to give the selection most to think about.
The remainder of the card is even trickier, but there was enough encouragement to be taken from Yoradreamer’s recent hurdling debut to expect that he will take beating in the ThurlesRaces.ie Maiden Hurdle.
Willie Mullins’ horse made one appearance in a bumper, all the way back in January 2024, and he was sent off the 11-10 second favourite in that five-horse race. Having led at a slow pace, he weakened out of contention to finish a disappointing last of five behind Romeo Coolio.
Off from that until making his jumping debut last month at Clonmel, he was no match for the race-fit and experienced Addragoole but finished nicely clear of Saint Le Fort and fourth-placed Mister Box, who re-opposes. He’s not a star but the quicker going should suit and, with a little improvement anticipated, he ought to get the job done.
Mister Box can also take a step forward and may be the one to chase him home, though it is worth noting Mon Coeur’s strength in the betting on his first run in more than 500 days. If Nowwhatdoyouthink learns to settle, he, too, will win races.
2:30 Beggars Rock (nap)
3:00 Welcome Back
3:30 Yoradreamer
4:00 Le Bugiste
4:30 Beckistine
5:00 Rockmount (nb)
5:35 Sunset Boulevard
2:30 Spinning Web
3:00 Magic Sadler
3:30 Mister Box
4:00 Tudor Manor
4:30 O’ Bon Pardon
5:00 Lady Of The Locke
5:35 Frankie John
