Off The Charts looks best at Thurles

Hughes charge aiming for back-to-back victories

Dessie Hughes
Dessie Hughes

Off The Charts will be aiming for back-to-back victories when he lines up in the Thurles Handicap Hurdle today, the most valuable race on the card at the Co Tipperary track. The Dessie Hughes-trained, JP McManus-owned five-year-old, has really hit his stride in recent weeks, following up a fine second at Punchestown with victory at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day. He is saddled with a 10lb rise for that victory and Letter Of Credit and Our Katie are sure to make this a proper test.

Another Rattler runs in the green and gold silks in the Fethard INH Flat Race as he tries to step up on his debut third. Willie Mullins is the king of the bumpers though, so his point-to-point winner Measureofmydreams merits plenty of respect.

Mullins' best chance appears to be in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle as his Don Poli tries to go one better than at Navan, with Sizing Coal and Globalized among the dangers.

The opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase sees Arthur Moore's Hop In bid to get back to winning ways, though Turica and Kandinski are worthy of note.