Asthuria bidding for Listed honours at Thurles Asthuria bids to enhance her growing reputation in the feature Horse & Jockey Hotel European Breeders Fund Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle at Thurles. The five-year-old who carries the George Creighton silks made famous by the legendary Hurricane Fly and was pitched in at the deep end on her Irish debut, finishing third in Grade One company at Fairyhouse over the Easter weekend. That defeat ensured her novice status remained intact for this season and she made an impressive start to the new campaign when scoring readily back at Fairyhouse last month. She faces four rivals in this Listed contest, with the Gordon Elliott-trained Shattered Love perhaps her biggest threat. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned mare has filled the runner-up spot behind Mullins-trained mares the last twice in Airlie Beach and Let's Dance and certainly appears capable of winning at this level. Joseph O'Brien's Kalopsia won over the course and distance winner last month, but must concede weight all round, while stablemate Along The Shore gives Flat jockey Connor King his second ride over hurdles in the two-mile contest. The Tom Mullins-trained Catcheragain completes the five-strong field. Elliott and Gigginstown's Bull Ride bids to completed a hat-trick of wins in the Gift Horse Gallery @ The Horse & Jockey Hotel Handicap Hurdle and has solid claims of doing so, having beaten off stablemate and subsequent winner Dawerann at Navan in November. Elliott, Gigginstown and 7lb claimer Cian Collins combine once more half an hour later with Dounikos in the Christmas Greetings Rated Novice Hurdle and he sets the standard on previous form. Royal Caviar has proved frustrating to follow, filling the runner-up spot on seven of his nine starts, but the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase looks a good opportunity for him to make a successful start to his career over fences. The concluding Curaheen bumper looks between Henry de Bromhead's Mind's Eye and Willie Mullins' Sharps Choice. Mind's Eye was narrowly beaten by Brelade on his Rules debut at Naas, while Sharps Choice, filled the runner-up spot on his introduction here a little over three weeks ago.
