Ciel De Neige (Mark Walsh) winning at Thurles earlier this season© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins continued to rewrite the record books at Cheltenham this week and, fresh from a 1,518/1 five-timer yesterday and ten winners in total at Prestbury Park, the Closutton steamroller moves back to the domestic scene with three short-priced favourites at Thurles this afternoon.
The JP McManus-owned Elimay benefitted from a determined drive by Mark Walsh to complete the quintet of Mullins winners at Cheltenham yesterday, and the same combination will be expected to land the featured Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase at 2.52pm. Ciel De Neige is currently around a 1/3 shot for this 2m2f Grade 3 event, and the Authorized gelding appears to face his only serious threat from French Dynamite as he bids to maintain an unbeaten record over fences.
The champion trainer is doubly represented in the opening Horse & Jockey Beginners Chase (2.20pm) with Fighter Allen the more fancied at around 6/5 over stablemate Bacardys
BoyleSports Irish Grand National entry Max Flamingo has attracted support in this 2m6f event with the Francis Casey-trained gelding supported into 6/4 (from 9/4). Micro Manage hasn’t translated his smart Flat form to hurdles but will be expected to open his account at the fifth attempt in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle (4.02pm).
The six-year-old gelding earned a three-figure rating on the Flat but has come up short in four maiden hurdle outings including behind Highland Charge at Naas last month.
Jack Foley takes the mount on the long odds-on favourite, generally around 1/6, against a maximum 17 rivals.
The going is drying out all the time and is now good on the chase course and good, good to yielding in places, on the hurdle course.
The weather forecast is for a dry, sunny and breezy day.
