1.20 2m. 5f. 114yds. 12 Declared. www.thurlesraces.ie H'cap S'chase of €16,000.00 5-y-o plus
1st - €9,600.00 2nd - €3,200.00 3rd - €1,600.00 4th - €800.00 5th - €480.00 6th - €320.00
FormscanBy Alan Magee - KEY COMMANDER won the Molony Cup here just before Christmas and is taken to follow up despite the step back in trip. The selection won a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Punchestown around this time last year and returned to winning form in decisive fashion last time suggesting he can defy a 12lb hike. Jack Dillinger goes up in distance after also scoring on that same Thurles card, while Enjoy D’Allen is another to consider having gained a deserved win recently at Fairyhouse to get Ciaran Murphy off to a great start in the training ranks. Nick Lost is a very keen running sort who showed plenty of promise as a novice but now reappears after nearly two years on the sidelines. Kitten Rock is sliding down to an attractive mark and only weakened after two out at Navan last month, while R’Evelyn Pleasure and Tikkanen Express both have a chance reverting to fences.
An extended handicap steeplechase for five years old and upwards (130 = 11st 10lbs)Weights - Top weight in the original handicap and after the time of declaration shall not be less than 11st 10lbs and the minimum weight shall not be less than 9st 12lbsPenalties - Winner of a steeplechase after calculation of the handicap shall carry 5lb extra for each steeplechase won.