Thurles betting tips for November 22 from Horsebetting.com experts for Thurles Chase day. Forge Meadow appeals as the type to improve from her debut over fences last time, so rates the NAP of this seven-race card for Jessica Harrington in the 2m 2f beginners chase that kicks things off. In the Listed feature, the 2m 6f Thurles Chase, Valseur Lido is the pick of owners Gigginstown House Stud’s pair and is the next best bet. Lleyton, meanwhile, looks each-way value in the 2m handicap hurdle despite carrying top weight. For further details of a decent card on Thurles Chase day, read our detailed Thurles betting tips for November 22. Meadow can Forge chasing career for Harrington with Thurles winForge Meadow was a 148 rated hurdler at her peak and shaped really well on her bow over fences last time out, so looks the one to be on in the 2m 2f beginners chase that gets proceedings underway on a seven-race card during Thurles Chase day on Thursday (12:35). Trained by Jessica Harrington, the six-year-old mare has black type to her name following victories at Listed and Grade 3 level last season.
This daughter of Beneficial had earlier won a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Naas in February 2017 when beating subsequent Grade 3 winner Joey Sasa by eight lengths. Prior to that, Forge Meadow chased home 2018 JLT Novices’ Chase heroine Shattered Love in the Soldier Of Fortune Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
That form is very strong, and it’s also worth remembering she was far from disgraced when pitched right in at the deep end and fifth in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle in December 2016. The winner Airlie Beach has since won twice on the Flat, while the runner-up Saturnas ran a mighty race and was just held a neck by the game Snow Falcon in the ultra-competitive Kerry National during the Listowel Harvest Festival.
It’s the fact that Forge Meadow was only beaten 5 1/2 lengths by the fourth horse home, dual Cheltenham Festival winner Penhill, that is the most impressive thing about that Grade 1 outing. Although she was then a below par eighth to Let’s Dance in the 2017 running of the Dawn Run at Cheltenham, she did win the Listed Grabel Mares Hurdle over this trip at Punchestown 12 months ago.
Regular jockey Robbie Power had the luxury of easing Forge Meadow close home in that contest, so she was clearly value for more than the winning margin of 7 1/2 lengths. Although the runner-up Dawn Shadow exacted belated revenge when the two re-opposed over fences at Galway last month, she had the benefit of a run under her belt.
Forge Meadow then confirmed previous Cheltenham Festival form with Let’s Dance, chasing her home in a Grade 3 at Leopardstown before being just held a neck by Sandsend giving away 4lb in the similar grade Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas. She then arguably had her finest hour in open company when rallying after being headed two out to re-assert on the run-in and best ill-fated dual Grade 1 winning hurdler Identity Thief at Gowran Park.
While she was then pulled up on both her final starts of last season, Forge Meadow was only headed in the last 100 yards of her chasing debut on reappearance. That suggested she would come on for the run and experience over the larger obstacles as a 5 1/2 lengths third to the aforementioned Dawn Shadow.
Her last run also suggests Forge Meadow has nothing to fear from the re-opposing Mrs Lovett, who was a further eight lengths behind in fourth, as the pair meet again off exactly the same terms. With Power once again aboard, she looks the one to beat and so heads our Thurles betting tips for November 22.Valseur Lido well-treated for Thurles ChasePowerful Irish owners Gigginstown House Stud launch a formidable two-pronged attack on the feature contest, the Listed 2m 6f Thurles Chase (13:05) which is sponsored by Boomerang. Preference of their pair is for Valseur Lido, who has had the beating of Alpha Des Obeaux off level weights before and now receives 10lb from that one.
It makes the Henry De Bromhead trained nine-year-old look extremely well-treated in this on the pick of his form, as he’s 6lb well-in on his fellow Gigginstown runner according to official ratings. Although without a win in two years, that does not tell the whole story as Valseur Lido has a decent record on good ground and looks to have been laid out for this.
Alpha Des Obeaux last raced only seven days ago; so, while the Gordon Elliott trained eight-year-old has that fitness on his side, he is being turned out again very quickly off the back of failing to defend his Clonmel Oil Chase crown. That one has been unable in previous attempts to beat Valseur Lido, so that leaves him with more to do now worse off at the weights than the odds suggest.
While it’s disappointing only three go to post in this, Valseur Lido was a far from disgraced eighth to Tiger Roll in the Grand National at Aintree on his final start of last season, finishing in front of Raz De Maree – who had landed the Welsh equivalent at Chepstow earlier in the season.
If turning up in anything like the same shape as his easy 11 lengths success over Silviniaco Conti in the 2016 Champion Chase at Down Royal, then off these terms Valseur Lido is well worth a bet to turn over Alpha Des Obeaux in the Thurles Chase. A reverse forecast makes for a solid alternative punting choice as sole rival Eight Till Late has a mountain to climb on official figures.Lleyton looks each-way valueLater on Thurles Chase day is a 2m handicap hurdle (15:10) and top weight Lleyton is not without claims of making the frame despite being raised 6lb by the assessor in the space of a month. The six-year-old son of Kalanisi is trained by dual purpose handler J R Finn and ran a solid race in defeat off a mark of 94 over course and distance when last in action 10 days ago.
Although headed before jumping the last and unable to make any impression on the easy winner, Lleyton stuck to the task well and chased Fintown Boy home as a 4 1/2 lengths runner-up. This was a great effort, giving weight away to all but one of his rivals.
This is no less competitive, but Lleyton previously found plenty for pressure when winning a handicap at Tramore by 1 1/4 lengths off 89. He also had a similar contest at Downpatrick awarded to him in the stewards room, and back form that includes being beaten just 14 lengths in a Galway maiden hurdle by the mighty Presenting Percy – Ireland’s leading Cheltenham Gold Cup this season.
Taking all that into account, Lleyton cannot be dismissed lightly in this 15-runner handicap. Paul Townend again takes the ride and he’s partnered the gelding to a win, second and fourth in three hurdles start. This each-way punt completes our Thurles betting tips for November 22.Your Next Bet
