Thurles previewThere may be an eight-race card at Thurles today but no one will be leaving early with the latest potential bumper star from the Willie Mullins yard about to make his debut in the last.
Ballytrim is already as low as 10 to 1 in some ante-post lists to become the sixth Mullins trained winner of the Festival Bumper next month.
Considering Mullins appears to have a vintage team of young horses, including the current favourite Equus Maximmus, the recent market support for Ballytrim looks significant.
Like Florida Pearl and Missed That, he carries the Violet O'Leary colours and certainly also carries a big reputation into today's contest. That partly comes on the back of two point to point races last year when winning at Oldcastle and running second to Mr Nosie at Punchestown.
But if the rumour mill is correct the best is very much yet to come and it will be a major surprise if Ballytrim doesn't score today.
Charlie Swan rode a Cheltenham bumper winner for Mullins on Joe Cullen and can add another success to an already good season with Over The First in the handicap chase.
David Casey takes the ride and the horse looks in fine fettle on the evidence of a good win over hurdles at Cork last month. Last year's winner Dantes Reef look the dangers.
Augherskea should find the company and the trip far more suitable in the first division of the three-mile Beginners Chase.
Hardtotake, a rare JP McManus runner for Michael Hourigan, could be the best option in the opener.
