THE RIGHT COL Grade 3 prize in hands of Willie and ‘Reevy
WILLIE MULLINS once again looks the man to follow as he appears to hold all the aces in the two feature events on the biggest card of the year at Thurles.
In terms of prizemoney the day’s big race is the Coolmore National Hunt Sires EBF Mares Novice Chase.
This Grade 3 event has attracted a useful field with pride of place going to the Mullins-trained Colreevy.
This race represents something of a drop in class for the Mullins first string as last time out she took on the geldings in a Grade 1 at Limerick over Christmas and won.
She does have to carry a penalty for that success but even so it is impossible to look past her given what she achieved last time.
Colreevy could have most to fear from Gordon Elliott’s Mount Ida who landed a Grade 3 at Cork last month and looks sure to do better over this trip.
For many the main event of the day is the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel-sponsored Kinloch Brae Chase.
This race is usually a quality affair and this year looks no different with five of the seven runners rated 150 or higher.
The two highest rated runners in the field are Battleoverdoyen and Allaho who both line up with something to prove.
Battleoverdoyen ran quite poorly in the Durkan Chase last time having previously started his season with a fine victory at Down Royal.
On his day he is a quality chaser but he just has something to prove after Punchestown and he also has a Grade 1 penalty to carry.
Allaho actually finished behind Battleoverdoyen in the Durkan before going on to Leopardstown where he posted an improved effort to take fourth in the Savills Chase.
This son of No Risk At All has the ability to win at Grade 1 level but is starting to become a little frustrating to follow.
Even so he is getting seven pounds from Battleoverdoyen which will make him hard to beat.
Elsewhere, Gentlemansgame makes most appeal in the novice hurdle which was won by Monkfish last year.
This former point-to-point winner created a huge impression on his debut at Cork at the start of this month when running out a wide margin winner of a maiden hurdle.
The performance he produced that day suggested that he could be absolutely anything and it will take a fair effort to lower his colours today.
No Grey Area’s is progressing nicely this season and he should take plenty of beating in the handicap hurdle.
The very capable Vintage Prosseco makes most appeal in the maiden hurdle while Noble Yeats showed enough on his debut at Limerick to suggest that he can win the bumper.