Irish racing ploughs ahead on Saturday afternoon with action from Thurles. The 14:10 is a 2m 6f hurdle which looks like it is shaping up to be a good contest.
There are 9 entered for the trip and at the head of the market, there are a strong two.
Both outright favourite Mary Frances and Jetz were taking plenty of backing on Friday ahead of the action.
Thurles Saturday 14:10 Race Odds*
Mary Frances 15/8
Jetz 10/3
Karl De Grosse 7/2
Moyhenna 7/1
Brace Yourself 7/1
Cartwright 8/1
Ferocious 12/1
Jaime Sommer 33/1
Foreign Secretary 33/1
* (betting odds taken from Boylesports at 16:23 GMT on Friday 20th March 2020)
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Table of Contents
The Favourite: Mary Frances
Mary Frances brings course and distance winner claims to proceedings. She is also carrying some decent current form as well, indulging a win at Punchestown on her last trip which was at 3m.
Mary Frances easily has the trip in her and there will be no questions there. She is competitive and it has, all in all, been a good season for her and there’s every chance she can continue.
She lines up as the 15/8 favourite* (betting odds taken from Boylesports at 16:23 GMT on Friday 20th March 2020).
Jetz
Jessica Harrington’s Jetz should be in contention for this fixture. He landed a second-place finish on his last run, which was a 2m 2f shorter trip at Leopardstown in January.
That was a switch back to hurdles after some chase action. Has been held back from the action there and he won’t mind the extra trip.
While he is a useful chaser, he perhaps hasn’t lived up to potential this season has the eight-year-old, but has been respected by the bookies in this company at 10/3* (betting odds taken from Boylesports at 16:23 GMT on Friday 20th March 2020).
Karl Der Grosse
Secured a win on his hurdle debut at Tramore did Karl Der Grosse, who is trained by Willie Mullins.
He took on a 2m 4f trip at Thurles in his last outing which was in early February last year. That was his seasonal renewal not having run since October 2018.
Karl De Grosse comes from a top stable, but is lightly raced and may struggle to keep on. But he’s another the bookies are respecting at 7/2* (betting odds taken from Boylesports at 16:23 GMT on Friday 20th March 2020).
Moyhenna
Moyhenna is an exciting and bold front runner. She was really coming good with back to back chase wins twelve months ago.
Hasn’t delivered on her switch to hurdles however for the new season. She goes back with cheekpieces now and needs a big return to form having failed to complete her last two hurdle runs.
The potential is there, she needs to put it all together. She lines up as a 7/1 option* (betting odds taken from Boylesports at 16:23 GMT on Friday 20th March 2020).
Brace Yourself
Noel Meade has Brace Yourself in the mix. He won his hurdle debut at Down Royal in 2018, but on his second effort, which was at Grade 2 at Navan in mid-February 2020, he was sixth.
This is a lighter company for him to go up against, so that tough run could pay dividends in this one.
There will be questions over his stamina, but could push for a place finish and won’t be unappealing at 7/1* (betting odds taken from Boylesports at 16:23 GMT on Friday 20th March 2020).
Rest of the Runners
FOREIGN SECRETARY is really struggling for form and has little or next to no claims at this distance. He is making a return to blinkers, but the form over the hurdles, or lack thereof, is very unappealing.
There was some decent form from FEROCIOUS after switching to hurdles, winning his debut and following up with a second place. He pulled up in December on his last trip, but the distance looks manageable for him and a clear run could give him outside appeal.
CARTWRIGHT has not looked in good shape at all this season and the results just push him well out of the picture. He made a return to hurdles at Punchestown in February and finished at the back of the field, where he has been in every race this season.
There has been steady form from JAIME SOMMERS and is a four-time winner. Her latest hurdles efforts though make her opposed for the weekend’s fixture. She looks like she needs the shorter trips.
Predictions & Tips
Trainer Willie Mullins won this race last year with the even-money favourite Scarpeta. He has KARL DE GROSSE coming back into action with a run here and can’t totally be dismissed. But there are better options.
MARY FRANCES likes to be out in front and she is a very useful mare. She has a course and distance when behind her as well and her recent success at Punchestown was in a very competitive handicap.
JETZ will have no trouble with the distance and should easily be in the places, but perhaps lacks the edge against Mary Frances.
Boylesports Free Bet if 2nd to SP FAV
Get a free bet if your selection finishes 2nd to the SP favourite at Thurles on Saturday, March 21st 2020.
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Key Terms & Conditions
Stake refunded as a free bet if your selection finishes 2nd to the starting price favourite at Thurles, Saturday 21st March 2020. Online Customers must opt-in to receive this offer. Max refund £/€20 per customer as a free bet. Applies to Outright Betting only. Applies to win singles & win part of e/w singles only. Does not apply to ante-post bets. Does not apply to Combined Odds.
Only first bet on each race qualifies for the promotion. If there are Joint/Co SP Favourites in the Race, both shall be deemed as an SP Favourite. 2nd place refund applies only to races with 5 or more runners. Free bets and void bets do not qualify for this promotion. Free bets will be applied within 24 hours and will expire after seven days. Applies to UK and Ireland customers through all channels.
