1.00pm Thurles Tips & Betting Preview 18/12/2016

This should be run at a good clip despite the soft ground here and fifteen go to post for the 7,688 Euro prize money. Read on for our experts thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Mick The Jiver was a good winner here seventeen days ago and will no doubt go well again under similar conditions. Willow Grange is entitled to strip fitter for his last run and he is a danger as is Theatre Princess now she is back chasing. But THE GATECHECKER had some really solid form hurdles form and has a much lower mark over fences to contend with. He should make into a decent handicapper for his connections under a confident Donagh Meyler who is riding very well at the moment.

1 The Gatechecker – Easily won on NH debut and scored in maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe (Good) last Summer. Has struggled in chases this term after returning from a 10-month break and is 7lb lower over fences today. Very interesting judged on good hurdling form and dangerous here for connections enjoying a purple patch.

2 Sunsetstorise – Back-to-back winner of handicap chases up to 109 at the turn of the year but pulled up on final two starts in March. Has an eight-month lay-off to overturn and best watched for now with stamina to prove at this trip.

3 Garrai Phaidin – Won here on fifth start in February (Heavy) when an impressive sixteen length winner albeit in a lesser race than this. Wasn’t disgraced in third behind Mick The Jiver here seventeen days ago and still 1lb worse off with that one here. Needs to prove stamina for this trip and one to watch in the market.

4 Mick The Jiver – Beat the re-opposing Garrai Phaidin in third by nine lengths on last start here seventeen days ago with the smart-looking Smadynium a neck behind in second. That one has gone in since in a much better race at Clonmel and he should have a big say on today’s terms.

5 Theatre Princess – Won at Cork (Heavy) over 3m in May in facile style and again ran well there on last start when a good third behind a smart one from the Margaret Mullin’s yard. Looked in need of further that day and only 2lb higher here. Reverts to chasing and should be more to come now handicapping. Solid place claims.

6 Ancient Highway – Back-to-back winner over minor hurdles races including last Summer at Tramore (Good/Firm) and then returning from a seven month lay-off in March at Clonmel (Soft). Has struggled in three chases since and makes his handicap debut here. Looks up against it even on best form and needs to prove it at this trip.

7 Back Before Dawn – Only one win from fifteen runs, the last three coming in chases. Mid-division at best in those runs and his sole win came over 2m at Leopardstown (Good/Soft) against moderate opposition. Has it all to do over this trip today and hard to fancy.

8 Capture The Drama – Has looked very good this term with three wins on various ground and trips. Ran a career-best at Wexford last time out when blitzing a moderate field by eight lengths. Up in grade here but the slight drop in trip help and he should continue to give a good account but find a few too good today.

9 Bottle Rattler – Long losing streak goes back to 2013 and has had patchy enough form in those twelve runs since winning comfortably at Down Patrick (Good/Firm) over 2m5f. Has a couple of good runs on today’s ground including on last start at Listowel (Good/Soft). Has been off the track for fifteen months and interesting if the market speaks but best watched on return.

10 Spancill Hill – Still a maiden after fifteen starts but ran a career-best in a similar race over 2m4f at Naas (Good/Soft) on last start. Entitled to do better but has enough to prove upped to this trip and strike-rate is off putting.

11 Prosperity Square – Versatile sort whose last win came at Punchestown (Good/Firm) in two years ago and produced a fair sixth to follow home Smadynium at Fairyhouse last month. Well beaten that day he needs to bounce back and vulnerable to younger legs in this.

12 Betterthanalright – Won here over 3m two years ago (Soft) but has been disappointing for over a year now. Well beaten in ninth behind Mick The Jiver here seventeen days ago and looks up against it here with that one in opposition once again.

13 Kostar – Has been off the track for seven months and long losing streak stretches back to 2012 when winning a maiden hurdle at Sligo (Soft). Has finished tailed off or pulled-up up to 3m1f recently and winning here looks a forlorn hope.

14 Willow Grange – Only one career win landing a handicap chase at Sligo (Heavy) in a similar race over 3m in September with Gibbstown well beaten in second. Has been running well at this level all year without winning and decent second last time out over 2m5f at Limerick (Good/Soft) sixteen days ago, looking in need of further. Likely to run well again and won’t mind if the rain comes. Player.

15 Gibbstown – Winner at Hexham (Soft) in March but in-and-out of form since. Finished fifteen lengths in second behind Willow Grange art Sligo (Heavy) in September and disappointing since. Easy to overlook for win purposes.