Thurles Betting: Short priced War Of Attrition can win with ease

005 Irish Racing / Darren Skelton / 06 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

The Mouse Morris trained Gold Cup winner makes his second appearance of the season in the Thurles Chase today. Darren Skelton has marked your card...

I hope there's such a thing as a Downpatrick bypass because after yesterday I don't think I ever want to visit the place, never mind have a bet up there! If you're reading this and you're from Downpatrick, surely you agree with me. Anyway, down to Tipperary and more specifically, Thurles for what will hopefully be a profitable afternoon's betting.

I really will have no complaints if I have to pick all favourites at today's Thurles jumps meeting, I just want winners and lots of them. Zarinava ran in what could turn out to be a very decent maiden hurdle race at Naas last time where she finished second to a very useful horse called Donna's Palm. I have a feeling that the form of that race could be very good at least the top eight horses should go on to collect prizes in the near future. Zarinava had won some good bumpers at Leopardstown and Tipperary before finishing second here and she's now entitled to come on quite a bit with that initial jumping experience under her belt.

The 1:45 race is a curious conundrum that may just be settled pre-race by the market. The potential key to the race could be in Tony Martin's two runners, The Mighty Miller and Sporteen. The former has some fine form in the book that there for all to see and gives him a fighting chance of running well in this contest. The second horse is the dark one...Sporteen, who hasn't run for 1117 days. This horse was contesting better races than this before his forced absence and your guess is as good as mine as to how fit and ready he is to race again. If Mr. Martin had put up a claimer on board then we probably wouldn't take any notice of the probable stable second string, but he has put up Paul Carberry - probably the best horseman riding today. That may be by design and the trainer may just want Paul to ease the horse back into the game....or it could be a major plot...watch the market closely!

War of Attrition is the star turn today and should take the 2:15 race with minimum fuss. Mouse Morris's stable star put in a pleasing return to racing a few weeks ago and that was after a fairly lengthy absence. Connections were understandably thrilled with that run and must be relishing the prospect of the horse coming on further for that experience. I had a wager with someone last year that Central House would never win another race because he seems to have so obviously fallen out of love with the racing game. I have a lot of respect for Dessie Hughes but if Central House puts in another lacklustre display here I really think he should be left to enjoy his remaining years in a nice field with a lovely view. Rathgar Beau won't trouble War of Attrition here and the jury is out as to whether he can recapture even a fraction of his previous form, we won't give up on him yet though and hopefully he'll pick up some little races in the future. Barring accidents though, War of Attrition should win this comfortably.

The Irish Stallion Farms beginner's chase at 2:45 provides us with another favourite that just jumps off the page. Footy Facts was well supported to win for the first time over fences last time and although touched off by the decent Baltiman he should improve again over a trip that should be much more to his liking. Footy Facts was a very useful hurdler last year and should hopefully mature into a just as proficient chaser. There are dangers in the race, Western Gale and Equus Maximus notably, but I think these horses with potential will have to wait for another day. Wheels Up too will hopefully show us what he's made of in due course.

Without the benefit of a market check it's going to be difficult to call this race, more so because of Willie Mullins' horse Financial Reward. This horse didn't do a whole lot of racing last season after a fairly consistent campaign in 2007 so it's very difficult to know what kind of form he's in. We'll definitely need clues from the market, especially since the races he did run in last season where fairly uninspiring. The safest option right now is Noel Meade's Narquois who ran on quite well behind potential star Forpaddytheplaster last week. He was a very useful hurdler last season and should come on a great deal from that promising first run over the larger obstacles. If Financial Reward has not come back to his best days then Narquois should benefit today.

The Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase at 3:45 leads us unimaginatively to another favourite. Island Life looked a very well handicapped horse before heading out at Naas last time and was cantering when he fell at the 3rd last. The handicapper has had to leave him on that same mark here again today and barring accidents he should finally exploit his useful handicap mark. It's good to see Lissbonney Project over the large obstacles again and it would be very pleasing to see him put a good round in today. December Sun as well should get off the mark in a chase soon but it's impossible to get away from Noel Meade's Island Life for this one.

Good luck with your Thurles bets!