Mullins and Townend likely to feature at Thurles Willie Mullins and Paul Townend again took the leading trainer and jockey awards at the Cheltenham Festival this week and both return to domestic action at Thurles this afternoon where a seven-race card gets underway at 1.55. The Grade 3 Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase is the feature race of the afternoon with the champion trainer doubly represented by High Class Hero and Fun Fun Fun. Townend takes the mount on 1/2 favourite High Class Hero who won four times over hurdles including a Listed event at Limerick and opened his chasing account at Punchestown last month. Fun Fun Fun is the obvious threat having won at Grade 3 level over hurdles but needs to bounce back after disappointing over fences at Exeter where she made a bad mistake and reportedly lost a shoe. Mullins and Townend also team up with Miss Manzor in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase, while Asterion Forlonge represents the powerful combination in the Jimmy Neville Memorial Hurdle where Hewick is among his five rivals. Paddy Twomey has a rare bumper runner in the shape of Eagle Of Destiny, a half-sister to Irish St Leger winner Sonnyboyliston. The going is good to yielding following 2mm of rain yesterday.
