SEAN - Thurles 1.14 Handicap Chase - 3 miles - 18run (3 reserves) - Going - forget the normal descriptions - it's probably going to be dead and tacky Going

 

This is one of the best draining Courses in Ireland and it rarely gets deep but after the frost and a thaw I can't see it being anything but pretty tough Going and that should place an emphasis on stamina and experience.

 

I'm not sure about Goodnightgodbless and King Ferdinand at the top of the market in these conditions, Arverne may need this run and wouldn't be ideally suited by a slog, I have trip concerns too; about Thedancingfarrier, Dreamsrmadeofthis, Touch Of Oscar and Costalita.  Glen Alva has some decent UK form but on better ground and over Hurdles, Presenting Bonnie would be one I see as a bigger danger than all named so far and just missed out on a selection. If third reserve FOUR COUNTRY ROADS somehow got a run, I'd definitely recommend a shrapnel bet as it pops up from time to time off this sort of mark and it's one we'll keep an eye out for over the coming days if it gets balloted out here.

 

I was left with four about whom I have genuinely quiet confidence and expectations.

 

SEAN SAYS won this race last year (tipped) off a mark a pound higher than today, I like Course specialists here as it's a long old climb up the back and you have to keep something in the tank for the downhill in to the home straight as the final finish is deceptively tiring. I suspect he's been primed and aimed at a nice pre-Christmas bonus for connections once again. Esthers Marvel was a good runner up for us last time, my niggle is that her form is better over Hurdles but she's run herself in to some form and I don't want to jump ship at this stage.

 

A pair who have all of the proven form and experience and stamina required who are both due good runs are OWL CREEK BRIDGE, especially as they now seem more focussed on Chasing and THREE LOUD KNOCKS who seems to handle all types of ground, has an abundance of proven stamina and who has dropped now below his last winning mark.