Thurles card high on quality There is quality in abundance on Thursday's Thurles card with Joncol and Cooldine due to contest the Listed John Meagher Memorial Chase. That pair are joined in the line-up by Psycho, Roberto Goldback and Clan Tara in the five horse two and three quarter mile affair. Roberto Goldback was last seen in action when contesting the Guinness Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival. There he still held the call when parting company with Robbie Power at the last. He has since left the Jessica Harrington yard and tomorrow he'll have his initial outing for Dessie Hughes. Paul Nolan is hoping Joncol can get back on track when he has his first race since February in the John Meagher Memorial Chase at Thurles on Thursday. The County Wexford trainer believes the 2010 Leopardstown Hennessy winner's problems have been resolved, and is looking forward to a decent performance in the Listed contest over two and three-quarter miles. "We're very pleased at the moment with Joncol. We are hoping we can get him back to running up to scratch again," said Nolan. "He was disappointing last season and we've sorted out some problems. "We're hoping he'll give a good account of himself. He will come on for the run. "He's a big horse and we haven't had as much work on grass with him as we'd have liked because of the ground until up to a couple of weeks ago. "He will come on for the run, but he's in good health and seems well in himself." Nolan has his fingers crossed that his other runner, Clan Tara, will show signs of a revival after losing his way. He said: "He's been very disappointing in his last two runs. He had an awful fall in Thurles last year and we're trying to rekindle some of his spark." Roberto Goldback is having his first run since joining the Dessie Hughes' team from Jessica Harrington's stable. The nine-year-old looked desperately unlucky on his last start when he unseated his rider when holding a narrow lead at the final fence in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup in May. "He was a bit unlucky last year, but he's a decent horse," said Hughes. "We're looking for a good run. It's a nice race to start him off. The conditions of the race suit him reasonably well, but also suit Cooldine very well. We have to give him 10lb so we'll see." Cooldine, trained by Willie Mullins, and the Tony Martin-trained Psycho complete the five-horse line-up. Elsewhere the very promising mare Rising Time makes her hurdling bow in the opener. Cass Bligh, Fernhurst Lad, Grey Soldier, Headford Flyer, Oscar Dan Dan and Twinlight are just some of the eye-catching names in the beginners chase. Mount Benbulben, seen by many as one of the best novice hurdling prospects for this term, bids to atone for a Galway misfortune when running in the two and a quarter mile maiden hurdle, the fifth race on the programme. He came down on the level at Ballybrit and Dont Tell The Boys, Golanbrook and Serein are amongst his interesting rivals tomorrow. The bumper is packed with promising types with Morning Royalty and Wolf Hall the first two names to jump off the page.
