Opportunity knocks for Stoneyford Lady at Thurles
IN-FORM PAIR: Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O'Keeffe look likely to visit the winner's enclousure at Thurles on Thursday. Pictue: Healy Racing
Thus far Stoneyford Lady has shown no semblance of the same ability as her Champion Chase-winning half-brother Captain Guinness — or, indeed, her Grade One runner-up half-brother Brookie — but Thursday afternoon’s opening race at Thurles, the Racing Again November 20 Beginners’ Chase affords Henry de Bromhead’s mare an ideal opportunity to get off the mark on her first attempt over fences.
This race is confined to horses rated 100 or lower over hurdles and while the six-year-old went up to a mark of 102, she recently slipped back to 97. Last time out, in a handicap hurdle at Tramore, she ran into the very much in-form Rock Ya Boy Ya, who had won a race just days earlier, and subsequently gave the form a nice boost by completing a hat-trick.
