Here are my selections for tomorrow night.
Race 3 which sees Gingko and his enthusiastic band of followers take on the English again. This time last year Gingko beat Liketheclappers and the roar was as big as anything heard at a Tipperary Cup Final. There is something special about a top notch sprinter.
Recommendation: Gingko
Race 5 sees one of my favourites in action. Shelbourne Holly was an amazing bitch in her first year, but hasnt sparkled since moving to the UK. She may benefit from a return to the track that she was schooled on. But this is a very tight race over 840yds. Favourite is likely to be the wide running Ferdia Bound, but I have a sneaking suspicion for another favourite of mine, Shelbourne Jazz (pictured). Brian King tells me this race might be a bit soon for him. Jazz has suffered minor injury after minor injury in the last 8 months. If he returns to the form that saw him win over the marathon trip here last year and at the St Leger meeting in the summer, he will go close.
Recommendation: Shelbourne Jazz
Race 6 has trouble written all over it, with 6 railers in competition. To me it boils down to what dog leads between Rapid Express in trap 4 and Attykitt Admiral in trap 5. My good friends Shaun Gresham and Alf Ashe own the Admiral and I reckon these boys, in company with trainer Graham Holland, will not be here simply for Daniel Monk's Chas'n'Dave singalong after racing in the downstairs bar.
Recommendation: Attykitt Admiral
But the best wine is always saved til last and the 10th race, an Open 600 sponsored by my good friends at Shelbourne Stud, is a mouth watering race, sure to get the layers scratching their niknaks. In red is the likely hotpot, the Graham Holland trained Full Bloom. But those of you who know Thurles will know that is not a great trap. In white is that super dog Last Bid. This Perry Alward trained son of Top Savings has won the prestigious Macroom Motors Stake at Cork and the Shelbourne Becky Champion Stakes at Youghal. A pretty decent CV. Out in stripes, we have the fabulously talented Cashen Legend(pictured below courtesy of Gavin Tucker). Legend won the Irish Laurels Classic at Cork at the end of last year and will start as favourite. It's a great boon for the track to have such a great dog running there in January. But my money will be on the trap 5 runner Seventh Jet. Out of retirement, I saw this game dog win very well at Thurles a few weeks ago and I fancy him to spring a surprise at decent odds.
Recommendation: Seventh Jet
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