Sempo (Derek O'Connor) easily winning the bumper on this corresponding Thurles card last year© Photo Healy Racing
Joseph O’Brien enjoyed Grade 1 glory at Leopardstown last weekend and his powerful Piltown yard has a couple of decent chances at Thurles this afternoon.
A Wave Of The Sea collared stable-companion Cerberus close home to land the Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle on Sunday and Sempo now looks a solid wager in the Holycross Maiden Hurdle.
The six-year-old son of Oscar won a bumper in impressive fashion on this card 12 months ago before a creditable sixth behind Envoi Allen at the Cheltenham Festival.
He’s been placed on both hurdle outings this term and looked to be crying out for this two and three quarter miles trip when a strong-finishing second to Cobbler’s Way at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting. That form has been well-advertised since.
O’Brien also saddles the very lightly-raced Alighted while the Willie Mullins-trained Minella Encore may prove the main threat in a maximum line-up of 18.
Just five go to post for the featured Horse And Jockey Rated Novice Hurdle and JJ Slevin again teams up with his cousin O’Brien aboard Anything Will Do
The Westerner gelding completed a hat-trick earlier this season and was taking on some smart rivals when third to Andy Dufresne and Captain Guinness in the Grade 2 Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown last month.
This represents a drop in class and the extra half-mile should suit, although The Bosses Oscar a Leopardstown maiden winner over this distance, may prove a tough nut to crack.
Philip Byrnes recorded his first winner under rules on Vinnie Is Busy at Limerick last week and the 16-year-old, who enjoyed plenty of success on the pony racing circuit including the Dingle Derby in 2018, could double his tally in the Munster Flat Race.
Byrnes again rides for his father Charles aboard Run For Oscar who made a bright debut when keeping in into fourth behind Eric Bloodaxe in a hot winners’ event at Leopardstown.
