HO, HO, GO
Cheltenham hero looks ready for Thurles repeat
BY RYAN MCELLIGOTT ALLAHO can make it back to back wins in the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles this afternoon.
The Willie Mullins-trained star followed up his victory in this race twelve months ago with a brilliant display in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.
He then added to his Grade 1 haul when making a winning comeback in the Durkan Chase at Punchestown last month.
As a rule Allaho generally tends to progress well from his first run of the season which looks ominous for his three rivals today.
One of those is his old foe Fakir D’oudairies (right) who finished behind him in both the Durkan and last season’s Ryanair.
Fakir D’oudairies is a solid rival with lots of quality form to his name but there isn’t any reason why he should turn around the form with Allaho.
The biggest day of the year at Thurles also features another Grade 2 contest in the shape of the Coolmore NH Sires EBF Mares Novice Chase.
A competitive edition of this valuable contest might fall to the Gavin Cromwell-trained Jeremys Flame.
She took a little time to find her feet as a chaser but her efforts this season make for good reading.
Her second to Concertista at Cork last month is a strong piece of form and she followed that with a smooth win at Naas several weeks ago.
On that occasion she was much too strong for a couple of useful rivals and a similar effort could see her carry the day. However, she has plenty to fear from a number of her rivals and these include Minella Melody who was a Grade 1-placed hurdler. She is making her debut over fences. Ballyshannon Rose has good course form and is another to consider along with Darrens Diamond. Gordon Elliott should get amongst the winners courtesy of the exciting Gerri Colombe who is unbeaten in three runs. His debut success over hurdles at Down Royal last month has been franked by the subsequent victory of the runner-up. He looks a potentially high class recruit to jumping.
Elsewhere on the card John Cannon makes plenty of appeal in the opening maiden hurdle as he has some quality efforts to his name.
The handicap hurdle looks competitive but it could pay to side with the Charles Byrnes-trained Light Brigade.
He has a better chance than his recent form figures would suggest and he drops in class.
In the handicap chase the wide margin Down Royal scorer Fakir D’alene is sure to be popular but Donkey Years is an interesting rival.
He isn’t the most consistent but he has plenty of ability and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him mount a strong challenge.