‘All systems go’ for electrifying Thurles card set to feature key Cheltenham Festival hopes including Allaho

11 months ago 63

FORGET the freezing cold weather – Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner and Thurles’ Sunday card looks like it will provide plenty of punting clues.

Ryanair favourite Allaho is set to headline the seven-race fixture.

Allaho could be back in action on Sunday after his King George third when last seen[/caption]

Track officials say it is ‘all systems go’ for a cracking day of action… which punters might just need if Ascot and Haydock are scrapped on Saturday.

Should the Clarence House Chase be cancelled at Ascot then it will, in all likelihood, be run at Cheltenham’s Trials Day on January 27.

But for Festival hopes look no further than Thurles this weekend.

The Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase could see King George third Allaho test himself against key Ryanair rivals Envoi Allen and Appreciate It.

Dual Ryanair hero Allaho is the best-price 3-1 favourite for the 2m4f chase on festival week.

But Joseph O’Brien’s Silviniaco Conti hero Banbridge (5-1) looks a huge threat, as does Paul Nicholls’ Stage Star (7-1).

Envoi Allen (9-1) – who, like the recently retired A Plus Tard, is owned by Cheveley Park Stud – was beaten a neck by Gerri Colombe in November’s Ladbrokes Champion Chase.

That horse then got thrashed by Galopin Des Champs in last month’s Savills Chase, where Envoi Allen was a non-runner due to unsuitable ground.

Appreciate It (14-1 for the Ryanair) could stretch his legs in the race, while Fil Dor, Monkfish, Stattler, Fakir D’oudairies, Capodanno, French Dynamite and El Barra are also entered.

All eyes will be on Willie Mullins’ huge Albert Bartlett hope High Class Hero if he lines up in the 2m7f novice hurdle.

Unbeaten under rules, he was last seen disposing of The Big Doyen in a Listed contest at Limerick last October.

High Class Hero is current 12-1 second fav for the festival novice hurdle, with Lawlor’s of Naas winner Readin Tommy Wrong the 8-1 fav.