Harsh can avail of decent opportunity at Tipperary
BIG CHANCE: Big Island, left, came off second best to Birdsandthebees at Limerick last month but may be able to go one better at Tipperary on Thursday. Picture: Healy Racing
There are five chases and two bumpers on Thursday evening’s card in Tipperary, where the point-to-point community steps in to contest the last three races. The nap comes in the opener, in which Harsh can make it third time lucky over fences.
A smart but somewhat frustrating sort, he is a six-race maiden on the Flat but his record over timber is two wins from 13 starts. He made his chasing debut early last month and it was a shade more promising than his placing might suggest.
On the back of that, he went to Cork for another beginners’ chase, and he stepped up nicely on his initial effort. The winner that day, Mirazur West, won a shade comfortably, but it was still a fine effort by Harsh to push him to a length and three quarters.
Just a five-year-old, there is every reason to expect that, despite his experience, he can improve, and this presents a decent opportunity.
Maidenstreetprince has shown more than enough to suggest he can win one of these, but this trip may prove sharp enough on quickish ground, a comment which also applies to Talk In The Park. Gold Dancer has the ability to play a leading role but needs to see out his races better, while Le Coq Hardi is returning after a break and is worth noting in the betting. Nowwhatdoyouthink has the scope to make it in this sphere and will appreciate the going.
You Oughta Know can make a winning debut over fences in the Ryan’s Cleaning Beginners’ Chase. Willie Mullins’ horse showed real promise in his bumper days but didn’t build on that promise when sent over hurdles.
However, he ran a promising race at Fairyhouse’s Easter festival and backed it up with another fine run in defeat in a listed race at Perth. With those runs under his belt and now going over fences for the first time, the seven-year-old can prove too smart for these rivals.
It is quite an interesting race, with quite a number of these up to the task of winning a beginners’ chase, but the selection looks as though he is building towards something good and this can be his day.
5:05 Harsh (Nap)
5:35 Big Island
6:07 St Faz
6:42 You Oughta Know (NB)
7:15 Keep On Dreaming
7:45 Crohan Lady
8:15 Seeitoldya
5:05 Le Coq Hardi
5:35 Elusive Prince
6:07 Linden Arden
6:42 Rushmount
7:15 Cause For Comment
7:45 Kilworth
8:15 Stanners Glen
