Step up in trip should suit Place De La Nation at Thurles
EXCITING TYPE: Place De La Nation was no match for Karoline Banbou on her Irish debut in February before running a big race when fifth in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. Picture: Healy RacingÂ
Place De La Nation, who runs in the two-mile-six-and-a-half mares’ maiden hurdle, is the most interesting runner on Thursday afternoon’s card in Thurles.
Third on her only outing in France, she finished runner-up to stablemate Karoline Banbou on her first start for Willie Mullins, and then went straight for the Triumph Hurdle, where she posted a terrific effort to finish fifth, beaten just four lengths, behind stablemate Poniros.
Her jumping was a particularly pleasing aspect of that race. She tends to lean back quite low and spring sharply off her haunches, a method which may be more effective over fences than hurdles, but she was clean at all bar one of the obstacles.
She got too close to the final flight, which cost her valuable momentum, but showed the right attitude to battle on up the hill to hold fifth place. That in mind, she ought to appreciate the step up to Thursday’s trip and this half-sister to Quai De Bourbon is a particularly bright prospect for the season ahead.
The race-fit Divaboriva is certainly up to winning a maiden, but the penalty she carries for winning a bumper may be difficult to concede. Holly Brook is better than she showed on last month’s hurdling debut, and the point to point winner will be seen in a better light today.
The nap goes to Lambay Island, who can recoup the losses from his recent visit to this track by making a successful handicap debut in the second division of the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Hurdle.
Sent off the 6-4 favourite to make a winning return here last month, he led most of the way and, to his credit, stayed on again after being passed approaching the last hurdle.
An opening mark of 109 surely underestimates him, and he can continue the fine run of Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe. Plunkett Street is the danger.
The opening race, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners’ Chase, is an unusual contest insofar as it is deeply competitive, which so often is not the case for these maidens.
A case could be made for six or seven of the runners, and even though there are better hurdlers in the race, Kurasso Blue left the impression he could be a smart chaser and, thus, is the selection.
A hurdle winner in France, he posted a promising debut for Gordon Elliott before showing a good attitude to win in Limerick, beating the useful Its Bilbo.
A son of Masked Marvel, he has plenty of size and scope, and whereas the hurdles appeared to be a nuisance to him, he should really appreciate the larger obstacles.
Franciscan Rock topped out at 145 over hurdles and even holds a chasing mark of 138, though that is largely due to his chasing debut, on which he was challenging when falling three out. His three subsequent tries have not lived up to that, making him difficult to assess.
Fishery Lane has not quite gone on as expected over hurdles but has possibilities, while Rushmount was well beaten last time but has hurdling form which makes him interesting. It’s a great race to start the meeting, but Kurasso Blue can make the most of his four-year-olds’ allowance.
11:45 Kurasso BlueÂ
12:20 Chosen ShantÂ
12:50 Melbourne ShamrockÂ
1:25 Place De La NationÂ
2:00 Enge HazardÂ
2:35 Lambay Island (Nap)Â
3:10 Destievelle (NB)Â
3:45 Minella EmperorÂ
11:45 Fishery LaneÂ
12:20 Stoneyford LadyÂ
12:50 St Lawrence’s WellÂ
1:25 Holly BrookÂ
2:00 Dairy ForceÂ
2:35 Plunkett StreetÂ
3:10 AnsweringÂ
3:45 Le Labo
