THURLES may have only attracted 40 odd runners for this afternoon's meeting switched from Naas because of snow but the racecourse executive must be more than pleased with the quality of the Grade Three Slaney European Breeders Fund Novice Hurdle (2.45), which has attracted some of our top novice hurdlers.
Four go to post, including Radanpour (trained by Willie Mullins) and Liss De Paor (Aidan O'Brien), both of whom will be seeking to complete clear rounds after two falls in their last couple of outings.
Radanpour is slightly preferred on his five and a half length second to Tarthooth in a similar event at Navan in November, with another of this afternoon's rivals, Mullover, 15 lengths back in fourth place. Liss De Paor was in second place when falling two out.
Before that effort Radanpour stayed on well to beat Caitriona's Choice by two and a half lengths at the same venue, with Liss De Paor again coming a cropper at the second last flight.
However, Radanpour has known his fair share of misfortune and has since fallen behind Large Action at Fairyhouse and more recently in the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle won by What A Question.
However, the Kahyasi gelding is fancied to get his act together here and should take care of old rival Liss De Paor and the Christy Roche trained Ask The Butler, who looked all over the winner until outbattled by Noble Thyne in the O'Dwyers Stillorgan Orchard Novice Hurdle at the same Leopardstown meeting.
Lady Daisy, beaten half a length by Collon Leader at Leopardstown, should give Tony Mullins a welcome winner in the Slate Handicap Hurdle (3.15), while Promalee, who made a promising racecourse debut when second behind the Cheltenham Festival bound Florida Pearl on the first day of the Leopardstown Christmas meeting, can land the bumper (3.45) from Christy Roche's newcomer, Thats Fine By Me (Brush Aside - Mary O'Malley).
. Allied Betting Shops Association (ABSA), which represents 60 to 70 per cent of the SP turnover in this country, will be returning starting prices for all races at Leopardstown on Saturday due to the threat of the on course bookmakers' strike.
These will be available five minutes before the off on Aertel, page 295, and indications of the prices will appear on the same page from early morning. The experiment was employed with great success during the last on course book makers' strike.
The following off course book makers will be participating Paddy Power, Corals, Stanleys, Hacketts, Celtic and many others throughout the country.
Meanwhile, the British Tote will break new ground by operating a placepot on the first six races at Leopardstown. The full range of Tote bets will also be available on the £60,000 Ladbroke Hurdle.
