Thurles preview: The exclusively National Hunt part of the Irish Racing Year runs from November through March and it is an indication of just how crucial the role played by Thurles is in the southern half of the country - in each National Hunt month the course lays on two programmes.
Even if the cards lack the glamour of some of their Munster rivals, continuity remains the key to the track's survival.
Without a change of ownership Rolling Home had the good fortune to move from one highly experienced trainer of juvenile hurdlers to another. Having run Noel Meade's Tyndall to a neck at Roscommon, Kevin Prendergast dispatched him to Tramore where he readily landed the odds in the Beaver Distribution three-year-old Maiden Hurdle mastering the long time pace maker Grangehill Dancer.
When he reappeared in a winner's race at Punchestown last month he was now an inmate of Noel Meade's yard. On this occasion the only other winner in the field Helensburgh was the odds on favourite having not only proved his jumping but also his ability to handle soft ground. Rolling Home threw down his challenge between the last two but was beaten four lengths.
For his second run for his new trainer-jockey team blinkers have been declared and if these work Rolling Home could well give the weight to Dukestreet who won on the flat at Leopardstown and was favourite for his first hurdle run at Navan. The very heavy ground found him out and he made a mistake at the last to finish back in sixth place.
There is no bumper on today's card which winds up with a maiden hurdle for which the youngest competitor is rising seven years of age. This restriction explains why there is a fair amount of handicap experience on show even if none of them has managed to win a jumping event.
Jack The Hough was actually set to give 9lb to Hard Shoulder at Punchestown when runner-up. If he can perform to that level again Jackie Cullen's mount could complete an end of day double as in the preceding contest he rides the Paul Nolan trained Deoraiocht.
Christy Roche is double handed in the opening Irish Stallion Farms Beginners' Chase with the riding arrangements pointing to The Kop End over Galtee View. As hurdlers The Kop End is rated 11lb superior and the one he has to fear is the double chase runner-up Aye Aye Popeye.
Jessica Harrington will be hoping that Well Presented treats his fences thus after two chase falls but even if he completes the course in the Glen Chase, a 12lb allowance from Marcus Du Berlais may not suffice.
