RAZ De Maree warms up for a potential tilt at the Grand National with a spin over the smaller obstacles in the Thurles Handicap Hurdle this afternoon. Gavin Cromwell's dual Cork National hero was last seen getting closest to Gold Cup favourite Native River in the Welsh National over Christmas and swerved a recent engagement in the Eider.
The 12-year-old boasts a mark here over hurdles that is 29lb lower than his chase figure, and Cromwell is also responsible for the top-weight Plain Talking, who was in fine form last summer and returns from his winter break.
The primary threat to the Cromwell pair could come from Hollow Tree, second here when beaten four lengths by Sutton Manor last month, who is gradually finding his feet for Michael Hourigan, although Rue Hill, Swift and Captain Von Trappe are players as well in this two-mile-seven-furlong contest.
The action gets under way with the mares’ beginners' chase, in which Knockraha Pylon, with Paul Townend on board, tries fences again after a decent spell over hurdles. Zipporah has also been in good heart over flights and is a newcomer to this discipline but her new hurdling mark of 105 still leaves her at a major disadvantage with the likes of Knockraha Pylon and Head Turner, who is partnered by Davy Russell. The latter had a good run last time over hurdles at Leopardstown when fourth behind Who’s That and might go very close now.
Knockraha Pylon's stable companion Knockraha Boss is a long-standing maiden but a repeat of the performance that carried him into third behind Pause And Ponder at Limerick over Christmas would give him a decent shout in the Urlingford Rated Chase. Eleven-year-old Zekarya can boast just two career racecourse wins but makes his debut for Joseph O’Brien here. Rock On Fruity and Shamiran are probably the more potent threats to Knockraha Boss.
Freeway Space is another who should have a win on the board by now, and she tries again in the two-mile-seven-furlong maiden hurdle where Soul Kaliber, one of just two mounts that Bryan Cooper takes this afternoon, makes plenty of appeal over that mare, which has finished second on six of her 10 starts, and Une Lavandiere.
Hickey's Rock couldn't justify market support at Cork when last seen, but Mouse Morris has freshened him up and there will be plenty who keep the faith in the earlier two-mile maiden hurdle. I thought De Bromhead’s filly White Lilac might be able to capitalise here, getting all the allowances. She showed ability when finishing second to a Mullins odds-on chance Good Thyne Tara at Clonmel a month ago. Noel Meade’s Aint Dunne Yet, sixth behind Mossback in a better race than this at Punchestown two weeks ago, has to be respected too.
The two-mile Killinan Handicap Hurdle is a weak 80-95 affair and could be at the mercy of Rock On Barney whose consistency has seen him upped 7lb over his last three outings. This might now be his turn over The Church Gate and Fiesole.
Winning pointer Judgement Day has finished second twice since joining Henry de Bromhead and his turn may come now in the bumper. Isodon carries the same Gigginstown colours and newcomers As You Were and Stir The Pot could also be interesting.
SELECTIONS
Neville Ring
1.55 Head Turner
2.25 Knockraha Boss
3.00 White Lilac (Dbl)
3.35 Rock On Barney
4.10 Soul Kaliber (Nap)
4.45 Plain Talking
5.15 Judgement Day
Next Best
1.55 Knockraha Pylon
2.25 Rock On Fruity
3.00 Aint Done Yet
3.35 Fiesole
4.10 Freeway Space
4.45 Hollow Tree
5.15 Isodon
