Byrnes runners attract support at Thurles The markets are quite active on a number of races at Thurles this afternoon and significant support for the Charles Byrnes-trained pair Suain Na Draoicht and Gendarme are of particular interest. Suain Na Draoicht has been supported from 7/1 down to as low as 5/2 in places for the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle (at 1.35pm). The Mahler gelding was heavily backed when taking a Sligo maiden hurdle last month and trainer’s son Philip is again in the saddle. Gendarme won twice last summer but will have to overcome an absence of 16 months in his bid for a hat-trick. Confidence is obviously high as the seven-year-old has been backed from 13/2 to as low as 9/4 with Coral for the Holycross Handicap Hurdle (3.10). Others to attract interest include the Michael Hourigan-trained Touch of Oscar (10/1 to 5/1) in the 1.00 race, while Moonovercloon (6/1 to 7/2) and Asluckwouldhaveit (12/1 to 7/1) both are popular in the 2.40. The going at Thurles is currently described as yielding (chase course) and yielding to soft (hurdle) following 7mm of rain since declarations. A further 5mm of rain is forecast before mid-day with a dry afternoon. The first on a seven-race card gets underway at 12.30.
