Law chasing hat trick at Thurles

Much attention at Thurles will surround the Kinloch Brae Chase and the Grade Two mares' novice chase but the supporting card also features some interesting races, chief among those being the WT O´Grady Memorial EBF Novice Hurdle.

The extended two-mile-six-furlong contest has attracted no fewer than six last-time-out winners from eight runners.

Mouse Morris' Beyond The Law shoulders top weight and is chasing a hat-trick having been an impressive winner at Limerick and Clonmel on his most recent starts.

Alan Fleming's Dom Dolo is another chasing a treble after winning his latest race here in December, while Willie Mullins is represented by two Rich Ricci-owned runners in Sympa Des Flos and Burrows Saint.

Sympa Des Flos was a wide-margin winner when stepping up to this staying trip for the first time at Limerick over Christmas, but Paul Townend sides with Burrows Saint, whose winning form at Punchestown in November was strongly boosted with runner-up Flawless Escape winning at Leopardstown.

Add to the mix Articulum, a 35-length winner at Cork in November and the Gordon Elliott trained Dortmund Park, a winner at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day, and racegoers have a treat in store, with future festival clues very likely.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Cubomania chases a hat-trick in the Matty Ryan Memorial Handicap Hurdle, but enters unknown territory from his revised 111 rating and the race also features other recent winners Getoutwhenyoucan, for owner JP McManus, and Shower Cross, who landed a gamble at Limerick over Christmas.

Shower Cross, trained by John Joe Walsh, may prove best in a tight contest, as he competes in his first handicap from a mark of 114.

The concluding Arctic Tack Stud Hunters Chase features golden 'oldies' Foxrock, winner of the 2015 Leopardstown Chase, taking on former Grade One winner Gilgamboa and there may well be little between the pair.

Foxrock was a winner of new fewer than four hunter chases last term and while pulled up in last April's Irish Grand National, won this race last year and is likely to be primed for his reappearance run. Gilgamboa, in contrast, was a winner at Down Royal on St Stephen's Day and now receives 3lb from Foxrock.

Also in the line-up is 2016 Thyestes Chase winner My Murphy, who won his most recent point to point start on New Year's Eve but turned 12 years of age the following day and may struggle to beat Foxrock or Gilgamboa