“She sets the standard” — Mullins and Bolger unleash rested contenders for Thurles assignments Thurles stages a competitive eight-race card on Saturday, the action getting underway at the County Tipperary venue at a bright and early 11.37, with the last race scheduled for 15.40 The card kicks off with a pair of handicap chases, followed by five hurdle races, including a feature Listed event, and concludes with an informative bumper. Our expert, Colm Doyle, has provided his best four bets for the meeting. Saturday’s Thurles tips 11.37 Thurles - Inthenickoftime 12.47 Thurles - Korinthia 13.57 Thurles - Chichester Park 14.32 Thurles - Boedic 11.37 Thurles - Inthenickoftime Enda Bolger’s Inthenickoftime has finished in the first three in all five starts this season and posted a significant career best when winning over fences at Galway in October. The five-year-old wasn’t at that level when runner-up back over hurdles at Tramore two days later, but he very likely found that race coming too soon and has since been freshened up by a 72-day break. He reverts to chasing on Saturday and will be tough to beat, albeit now rated 12lb higher than when successful at Galway. 12.47 Thurles - Korinthia It’s hard to say that the Willie Mullins-trained Korinthia represents good value, but she sets the standard on ratings and is the most likely winner of this mares’ Listed feature. The five-year-old started her career with a pair of bumper wins at Wexford and Limerick and ran respectably in a Listed race at Cheltenham on her third and final start last season (she pulled hard). She made a winning return to action on her hurdling debut at Ballinrobe in September, proving strong at the finish in her first-time hood and running to a Racing Post Rating of 115 in the process. She bettered that by 5lb when third in a Grade 3 at Down Royal subsequently, pulling clear of her 121-rated stablemate Cameletta Vega. 13.57 Thurles - Chichester Park Tony Martin’s Chichester Park failed to fire in a bumper at Down Royal last time, but he’d previously shown a good level of ability over hurdles and is preferred in a race where few can be seriously fancied. The five-year-old, who won a point on good ground in the spring, ran to a Racing Post Rating of 112 when third behind John McConnell’s Heads Up on his rules/hurdling debut at Listowel in September. That’s strong form, the winner since going on to finish a fine second behind the exciting No Drama This End in a Grade 2 Cheltenham last month, and a replication of that should suffice. 14.32 Thurles - Boedic The second division of the 2m maiden looks a good opportunity for the Willie Mullins-trained Boedic, who caught the eye when fourth in a 17-runner bumper on his debut at Fairyhouse in April. A €175,000 half-brother to French 2m1f/2m2f hurdle/chase winner Bayaline, he has a sizeable frame and probably won’t come into his own until tackling fences down the line, but he should have some races in him over hurdles in the interim. He travelled notably well on his debut, making smooth progress turning in, but he was trapped wide under John Gleeson and gave ground away as a result. Beaten less than five lengths, the form has been well advertised with the winner landing a Cork maiden hurdle and finishing second in a Grade 3, while the tenth-placed Intosomethinggood has won three times over hurdles in Britain and was runner-up in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last weekend.
