Eleven declared for Thurles Hunters Chase

Eleven horses have been declared for the Thurles racecourse Hunters Chase on Thursday, run over 3m at Thurles’s Thursday fixture, with a prize fund of €10,500.

There are a host of interesting contenders amongst the declarations including 15-year-old Salsify holds an impressive record of 11 hunter chases to his name, including back-to-back Cheltenham Foxhunters. Rodger Sweeney's charge made his seasonal reappearance at Naas at the end of January where he finished up ninth.

Some Man went off at 6/4 favourite in the Clonmel Hunters Chase and the David Christie-trained gelding justified his place at the top of the market when returning home seven lengths clear of his rivals. The seven-year-old won comfortably in this contest, making it his third success since moving to the David Christie yard and is sure to be well fancied once again in this contest with Rob James onboard once again. 

Mighty Stowaway has enjoyed a successful season so far having only tasted defeat once in the open race at Kirkistown when beaten only four lengths by Dylrow. The nine-year-old has found success twice more since this defeat and could take all the beating here as he makes his hunter chase debut.

The Gerard Kelleher-trained Macs Legend has won two out of his three starts this season when taking the open contests at Ballindenisk and Dromahane in the autumn. The 12-year-old finished fourth at Aghabullogue in January just nine lengths behind the winner Lite Duties and could bounce back to form in this contest.

While Wounded Warrior hasn’t reached the number one spot in his last three runs between the flags, he has finished in the top four places in all three of these contests. Given he has performed at the top level under rules, he could put his experience to good use here.

Samurai Cracker fell at the last when beaten in the Naas Hunter Chase in January. However, he won at Limerick over the Christmas period when coming home four-and-a-half lengths in front of Winged Leader. The seven-year-old also found success when winning his point-to-point at Mainstown in January 2019 by two lengths and could  have a role to play here. 

The line-up for the three-mile contest is completed by Stand Up And Fight, Ucello Conti, Dubai Dandy, Top Question and Lady Violet.

See full list of declarations here.