14:25 Thurles

Thursday 20 February 2020

All13:5514:2514:5515:2515:5516:2516:55

Go Racing At Thurles Racecourse Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 25.5s

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Selected odds by:

Kitten Rock^p¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: M P Walsh| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 135| D

7/1

Lightly raced in the last couple of years with the 10-year-year-old having his fair share of training problems. 12th of 24 on latest start at Leopardstown earlier this month.

Form: 2F2/0-60

Mitchouka¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D J McInerney| T: G O'Loughlin| OR: 135| CD

2/1

Solid enough winner when in the care of trainer Gordon Elliott. One from six over the larger obstacles getting off the mark over C&D earlier this month off a 5lb lower mark on good/yielding ground. Another bold show likely.

Form: 0-39071

Hardback⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 132| D

8/1

Pulled up on first start for 571 days on return t action at Limerick over Christmas. No surprise to witness an upturn in form but others more compelling.

Form: 910/21-P

Kildorrery⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D F O'Regan| T: T M Walsh| OR: 132| D

5/1

Sole win over the larger obstacles came in a Punchestown beginners contest over 2m in October 2018. Running well in defeat since and remains on the same mark as he was originally given 12 months ago.

Form: 4933F4

Powersbomb^t⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr E Mahon⁽⁷⁾| T: B McMahon| OR: 130| D

8/1

Not disgraced in two runs since winning for the second time over fences at Cork in November off a 5lb lower mark. Handicapper starting to relent but still plenty of work to be done.

Form: 831846

Tikkanen Express⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: P T Enright| T: J Dullea| OR: 128| D

10/1

Well held in a couple of starts this season at Cork and when last seen on St Stephens day at Leopardstown. Needs to show more sparkle off current mark before any faith is placed in him.

Form: F231-65

Spades Are Trumps²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: N P Madden| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 123| D

8/1

Not much to shout about in three desolate efforts over the larger obstacles since his debut over fences in November. Faces a tough ask in this company.

Form: 892007

Grand Partner¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-5| J: S F O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 116| D

14/1

Five time National hunt winner but a 14-race maiden over fences. Generally well held, never troubling the leaders in a number of starts since the turn of the year.

Form: 3-4P657

Balbir Du Mathan^p,t¹⁰⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: D E Mullins| T: S J Mahon| OR: 114| D

33/1

Won a heavy-ground Limerick beginners' chase in March 2018 but overall profile far from convincing. Tough ask currently racing 13lb lower than last winning mark.

Form: 68FPP-P

Lacken Bridge³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: G Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: G M Doyle| OR: 100| D

20/1

Winner of two of his 15 starts over fences but out of form in a couple of starts since returning to action in December. Not in the form required to play a part.

Form: 745-558

Forecasts

Mitchouka (2/1), Kildorrery (5/1), Kitten Rock (7/1), Powersbomb (8/1), Hardback (8/1), Spades Are Trumps (8/1), Tikkanen Express (10/1), Grand Partner (14/1), Lacken Bridge (20/1), Balbir Du Mathan (33/1)

MITCHOUKA won on stable debut for Geroid O'Loughlin earlier this month over C&D and can follow that success up in this contest. The former Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old can hold off potential challengers in the shape of Kildorrery for the Ted Wash yard and Powersbomb who has been running well in defeat around the turn of the year. The J P McManus-owned pair Spades Are Trumps and Kitten Rock should not be underestimated.