Strong Mullins battalion heading to Thurles on Thursday

WILLIE Mullins battalion descends on Thurles for seven-race card which includes two french recruits and a high-class Listed Chase

Racing is back at Thurles over the obstacles at the Tipperary track, with a seven-race card on offer for punters heading to the course and all are being shown live on Racing TV.

Up first is a beginners chase over the 2m2f distance at 12.10, before rounding off with a handicap hurdle for horses with an official rating of between 80 and 95 at 3.35pm.

The Willie Mullins’-trained Il Etait Temps makes his seasonal return in the opener at Thurles (12.10) on Thursday and makes his debut over fences here. A creditable second to the impressive Facile Vega when last seen at Punchestown seven months ago, the five-year-old will have top jockey Paul Townend on board and is a warm order to get off the mark over fences.

Race two is a very high-class listed chase at 12.40, where a field of nine is set to tackle the 2m 2f distance. Very smart Mullins chaser Janidil is turned out quickly after a nine-length second to Allaho in the Clonmel Oil Chase 21 days ago, while Mouse Morris sends the very useful French Dynamite, a previous course winner, to compete.

Janidil is one of a battalion sent to Thurles by Mullins for this race, which includes Capodanno, Haut En Couleurs, James Du Berlais and Classic Getaway with a prize of more than 15,00 euro going to the winner. Gordon Elliott is represented as well with Farouk D’Alene, a faller in his seasonal return in the Troytown at Navan 11 days ago.

Things calm down a bit for race three on the card at 1.15 but it should go the way of Dorans River, winner of three of his last five races and a creditable sixth at Listowel last time out, he drops back in trip at Thurles and should be a major player.

The midway point of the card is reached at 1.50 with a 19-runner maiden hurdle. French recruit Lombron has been picked up by the Mullins yard and looks an interesting prospect on debut in Ireland following a creditable third in a juvenile hurdle in his first career start at Compiegne seven months ago.

Race five of the afternoon (2.25) is another strong filed maiden hurdle, with 15 runners all set to head to post. Patrick and Wille mullins team up here with Fun Fun Fun, who was a slight disappointment in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham earlier this year and again in a bumper at Punchestown in April but is taken to make big strides at Thurles.

The penultimate race of the afternoon is another maiden hurdle and another French recruit for the powerhouse mullins yard is of interest here. Daddy Long Legs, second in a Saint-Cloud maiden way back in May 2022, makes just his second career start and the first for Mullins. Cleatus Poolaw for trainer Elliott should have a big say in things however, arriving off the back of a good second in a Down Royal bumper earlier this month and tackles obstacles for the first time.

The excellent card is rounded off at 3.35 with a handicap hurdle for horses rated between 80 and 95. Herculaneum looks the one to beat here, heading to Thurles having won at this course on November 11 and hasn’t been hit whatsoever in the handicap.

Thurles selections by Grosvenor Sport – Thursday

12.10 – Il Etait Temps

12.40 – Janidil