Thurles Saturday Racing Tips by Dave Stevos
Thurles Saturday Racing Tips For ITV4 Live Races
With the sporting calendar decimated by Coronavirus, thankfully Irish racing continues. Racing seems insignificant with everything that is going on but at least it provides us with a welcome distraction. Thurles hosts a decent card on Saturday and you can watch the first five races live on ITV4. Dave Stevos had a terrible Cheltenham and he is desperate to get back on track this weekend. You can check out his Thurles Saturday racing tips for all live ITV4 races below…
Thurles Saturday Racing Tips: 1.40 – Maiden Hurdle (5yo+)
It is a sign of the times that an Irish maiden hurdle from Thurles opens the show on ITV4 on Saturday. The Gordon Elliott trained Fakiera is just about edging favouritism from Politesse, trained by another County Meath handler, Lorna Fowler. Fakiera has finished 2nd in decent maidens at Naas and Leopardstown the last twice. The form looks decent and his previous hurdling experience could count for a lot.
Politesse is making her hurdling debut but her bumper form is rock solid. Her 2nd in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown was a cracking effort and she broke her duck last time when dotting up in a bumper at this track. A Beat Hollow half-sister to the top class chaser Don Poli, she is bred to jump and she looks a very promising sort. Arthurian Fame has ability. However, he looks like he is desperate for drying conditions and a bit of better ground.
The one that could sneak a place at decent odds is Nero Rock for Mouse Morris and Simon Torrens. This son of Shirocco has a couple of places over hurdles and plenty of experience. He is rated 116 and while that may not be good enough to win, his jockey’s 4lb claim should help him be competitive. He handles soft ground and while the top two should be hard to beat, at odds of 40/1 Nero Rock could sneak a place for each way backers.
THURLES SATURDAY TIPS: NERO ROCK E/W @ 40/1
Thurles Saturday Racing Tips: 2.10 – BetVictor Hurdle (5yo)
Carrying just 10st 2lbs thanks to her jockey’s claim, Mary Frances is the one to beat here. This mare has rock solid form in the book and is a former C&D winner. She hosed up over 3 miles at Punchestown last time off 126. An 8lb rise for that win was fully justified. If this was a handicap she would be conceding plenty of weight to most of these. Instead, thanks to her jockey’s claim she is getting weight from all of them.
I actually really fancied this mare to run a big race in the Pertemps but she didn’t travel. This looks to be a shrewd bit of placement by her trainer. Mary Frances has finished 1st and 2nd on her last two runs over course and distance and she goes on soft and heavy ground. If Eoin Walsh gets his fractions right and poaches an early lead this mare will be tough to peg back. At odds of 15/8 she looks the one to be on. Jetz is a decent performer too on his day but conceding a stone to Mary Frances could be too big an ask and she is the pick at 15/8.
THURLES SATURDAY RACING TIPS: MARY FRANCES WIN @ 15/8 NAP
Thurles Saturday Preview: 2.40 – BetVictor Handicap Hurdle (80-95)
This 22.5f handicap hurdle looks a competitive race for the grade. A few of them come into it on the back of decent runs and six of them are priced up at single figure odds. At a much bigger price I think Cousin Pascal could sneak into the frame for each way backers. This horse finished a well beaten fourth last time at Limerick (24f sft/hvy) off 92. He is now off a career low mark of 90 and this slight drop back in trip could suit.
His best ever run came at Listowel in September 2018 (20f sft) when he stayed on strongly for 4th off 95 (beat 5L). His trainer doesn’t have many winners. However, he has had 2 at Thurles (and 6 Top 4s) from just 30 runners. This son of Great Pretender has been 9/1 or shorter on 4 of his 5 starts this season. It would be no surprise if the money comes again. If he can reproduce his Listowel form he is more than capable of figuring here at odds of 28/1.
THURLES SATURDAY TIPS: COUSIN PASCAL E/W @ 28/1 5 PLACES
Thurles Tips: 3.10 – Pierce Molony Novice Chase (Grade 3)
The best race of the day at Thurles is this 18f Grade Novice Chase and 9 will go to post. The one that looks a shade overpriced here is Ministerforsport. Trained by Noel O’Neill, this 9yo son of Dubai Destination rattled the crossbar in this grade when beat a short head by Royal Rendezvous at Naas last time (20f sft). He had been struggling on heavy ground prior to that effort but the slightly better ground at Naas seemed to be more to his liking.
Although a 9yo, this horse is relatively lightly raced and he has had just 13 starts under rules. His three career wins came in a bumper and over hurdles and he has yet to win a chase. His only previous run over course and distance was ruined by a bad mistake at the 4th last that cost him all chance. Some of his chase form is very strong, including a 3L defeat to A Plus Tard (19f yld) and a 1L defeat to Treacysenniscorthy. It is only a matter of time before he gets off the mark over fences and hopefully it is today. At odds of 40/1 Ministerforsport is the each way pick.
THURLES SATURDAY TIPS: MINISTERFORSPORT E/W @ 40/1 NB
Saturday Thurles Racing Preview: 3.40 – Handicap Chase (5YO+)
16 will line up at the start for the final live ITV4 race of the day, a 20.5f handicap chase. This is another tricky looking heat and a real case could be made for quite a few. One that appeals from an each way perspective is the Dot Love trained Bridge Native. This consistent daughter of Stowaway got her head in front at Tramore back in January and she has remained in solid form ever since.
She gets on well with Conor Orr who is worth every ounce of his 5lb claim. Her winning form has come at 16f but her run at Leopardstown over 21.5f (sft) when 2nd off 109 suggested that today’s slightly shorter trip looks well worth a shot. She has 7.5L to find with Trumps Ace on their meeting at Clonmel in January, but with an 8lb swing in the weights she is handicapped to finish a lot closer to that rival. At odds of 16/1 with 5 places available, Bridge Native is worth chancing each way.
