Grooveykindoflove can land Thurles spoils

The danger may come from Millforce, who won a Bellewstown Maiden before being touched off in a novice hurdle in Cork. Although fourth of five on his most recent outing, it was a competitive novice hurdle at Cheltenham, and he didn’t run all that badly. He remains a decent prospect and can chase the selection home.

Jeaniemacaroney is due a second win over hurdles and can get it in the Wishing Everyone A Safe & Happy Christmas Handicap Hurdle. Despite just being a four-year-old, Joseph O’Brien’s filly has picked up plenty of experience over hurdles, and yet she was still a little green when touched off in a mares’ handicap hurdle on her most recent outing.

While beaten, the run suggested she remains potentially well treated off her current handicap mark, and she can prove so by taking this race. Answering could represent some each-way value in a competitive race.

The listed Billy Harney Memorial Irish EBF Mares’ Novice Hurdle is the feature on the card and Royal Hollow can return to winning ways for Andy Slattery and Cian Quirke. While the mare’s two wins to date have come on summer ground at Bellewstown and Ballinrobe, conditions are likely to be in favour.

She has something to find with Sansrisk based on Down Royal form, but she is 7lbs better off with that rival and this track is likely to be more suitable. She needs to be a little more fluent in her hurdling but has a touch of class and can make it count this time.

Sansrisk was below her best in a mares’ listed novice hurdle at Newbury, but this is less competitive, and she can play a leading role. Dream On Baby is the least exposed runner in the field and, having shown improved form on her first run for Emmet Mullins, is not one to dismiss lightly.

In the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase, it will be interesting to see if the market speaks in favour of Prince Zaltar on his return from more than a year on the sidelines.

Philip Rothwell’s runner hasn’t run over fences in two years but posted a good effort on that occasion, which was just his second outing in a chase, and has since improved as a hurdler. If he can translate that improvement to fences, and the market speaks favorably, he will take beating off his mark of 103.