Karalee heads strong Mullins trio at Thurles Karalee returns to action in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle at Thurles. Willie Mullins' French import hasn't stood much racing and after making a successful start to her Irish career at Killarney in May 2015, she wasn't seen in competitive action again until this March, when running away with a Limerick contest. That earned her a tilt at the Mares Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival and while no match for the top-class Apple's Jade there, she ran really well for third. Barra was back in sixth on that occasion but has an edge in race-fitness over Karalee having placed twice during the last month or so, although she was behind another of Thursday's rivals in Dawn Shadow at Punchestown most recently. Mullins tries Montalbano over fences in the Killinan Beginners Chase. The five-year-old claimed the scalp of classy stable companion Riven Light when last seen and is an exciting recruit to this sphere. Riven Light won the Cahir Maiden Hurdle 12 months ago and Real Steel is the champion trainer's representative this time around. Another to arrive at Closutton from France, the Loup Breton gelding currently trades at around 33-1 for the Supreme and Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival, and those odds are likely to shorten should he put in a bold performance on his Irish bow. The Shark Hanlon-trained Rare Legend made a successful raid on Huntingdon last weekend and is back on home soil under a penalty in the Thurles Handicap Hurdle. Shrewdoperator sprung a big surprise at Cork at the start of the month and attempts to defy a 6lb rise in the www.thurlesraces.ie Handicap Chase, with James O'Sullivan's claim negating all of that and more. Emily Square chased home a subsequent winner at Fairyhouse and attempts to go one better in the Templemore Handicap Hurdle.
