A total of 123 horses line up for an eight-race card at Thurles today, with the connections of 76 others who have been balloted out looking on enviously. The winter game is well and truly on us domestically, and appropriately the champion jumps trainer, Noel Meade, can supply punters with the bet of day in the shape of Boley Lad in the first division of the maiden hurdle.
The Navan bumper winner started an 11 to 10 favourite to win a maiden at Gowran recently but ruined his chance by running freely in the early stages and eventually came home well behind Native Glen.
Since then, however, the Meade string have hit a purple patch, with winners piling up. In that light Boley Lad should be a better proposition today and he should also have come on from that first race of the season at Gowran. A repeat of his Gowran SP today could be good news for punters.
Another attractive proposition at those kind of odds looks to be Sinndiya in the 12-furlong Glen Maiden. John Oxx's filly has been frustrating to follow since her promising debut, so trading at odds-on may not be advisable. Nevertheless, she has two lengths in hand of Perugino Lady on her second to McCracken at Navan and logically looks the one to be on.
In the opening race, the opportunity hurdle, there will probably be support for Barrigan's Hill who ran a promising fourth to Country Flavour in a 0-116 at Cork but preference is still for Wire Man, a length better than the second reserve, Disposen, at Ballinrobe and a soft ground winner on the same track on the flat last April.
In the handicap chase, Zaffaran Run must be respected but marginal preference is for one of the bottom-weights Leaders View. Paul Moloney's mount was a running-on third to Audity at Navan and should relish the extra distance here after two previous runs this season to sharpen him up.
Moloney is selected to double up with the easy Galway novice winner, Bronica, in the conditions chase; and John Magical, winner of bumpers at Leopardstown and here last season, is the pick in the welter race.
