Lucky 15 Tips: Jukebox can play the right tune at Thurles

We have three afternoon cards to look forward to across Britain and Ireland on Sunday and it should be a cracking day, with nine races live on ITV. Thurles’ seven-race card features a couple of Grade 2 chases and the supporting races look pretty intriguing too. 

Our expert has had a good look at the card and selected four tips to consider for our Lucky 15 tips. Chief amongst them is a Gordon Elliott runner who ran out an impressive winner of a maiden hurdle when last seen and he looks well set to progress.

13:10 Thurles – American Jukebox @ 13/2

Gordon Elliott has some very nice young horses this season, and has had lots of promising maiden hurdle winners. He runs two in this race and Danny Gilligan’s mount AMERICAN JUKEBOX could be one to side with, after winning well last time.

Disappointing on his first start over hurdles at Punchestown last month, the addition of cheekpieces made a big difference at Tramore. American Jukebox made virtually all the running and kicked clear in good style, scoring by 19 lengths.

The six-year-old finished second in a 2m4f bumper at Leopardstown last season and clearly has a big engine. A step up in trip will see him to best effect in the future but 2m6f will be fine for now and a big run is anticipated.

13:40 Thurles – Chichester Park @ 4/1

This looks like a pretty open affair and the very lightly raced CHICHESTER PARK is entitled to be well ahead of the handicapper. He had five starts in point-to-points and managed to come out on top at Toomebridge on his final start in that sphere.

Tony Martin’s gelding started off over hurdles at Listowel in September and was a more than respectable third that day. Champion Bumper runner-up Heads Up was the winner and has since placed in a Grade 2 over hurdles.

Getting off the mark over course and distance next time, Chichester Park saw the trip out well to score by a length. The handicapper has given him an opening mark of 118 and it would be a big surprise if he doesn’t end up being significantly better than that.

14:15 Thurles – Jade De Grugy @ 1/5

Sometimes the favourite is just so likely to win a race that they’re not worth taking on and that is the case with JADE DE GRUGY.

Willie Mullins’ mare is the best horse in this race by quite some way and she finished second behind a smart prospect in a Grade 2 at Limerick last time out.

Only Lossiemouth was better than her in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and she took full advantage of her absence to win the Grade 1 mares’ race at Punchestown. As it’s very difficult to make a compelling case for her rivals, she gets the nod.

14:50 Thurles – Brave Fortune @ 9/2

BRAVE FORTUNE won a maiden hurdle at Clonmel last season for previous connections and the well beaten fourth has won four times since. Brave Fortune won comfortably that day, despite the fact that he was plenty keen enough in the early stages.

The gelding went on to win a novice hurdle here a couple of starts later. Winning over fences at Roscommon in June, there’s scope for improvement in this sphere and he could be well treated off a mark of 129.

If all four selections won at the quoted prices, a 50p win Lucky 15 would return around £364.15 for a £7.50 total stake.

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