Thistle tackles handicap test

Donie Murphy is hopeful of a good run from Why Not Thistle in the Easter Handicap Hurdle at Cork on Sunday.

The Midleton-based handler's six-year-old mare was last seen winning her maiden hurdle at Limerick.

"It is her first handicap and it is a fairly competitive race. We would be delighted if she is in the first three as she is filly and it would be black type," said Murphy.

"She is in good form and she seems to be improving a little bit all the time and when she is that way we said we'd let her take her chance in a race like this.

"We have Pat Corbett claiming 5lb off her and that should help, he is a good claimer. The less weight on her back the better. The ground will probably be testing and she won't mind that."

The Eoghan O'Grady-trained Westerner Point has won his last two and is sure to prove popular with punters.

The trainer said: "He has got bottom weight and he likes soft ground. He came out of his run at Wexford OK and Phillip Enright takes the ride on him again.

"He was placed in a couple of point-to-points so hopefully the step up in trip here won't be a problem.

"We were going to go back to Wexford (next Friday) but the forecast is good for next week so we said we'd run him when the ground is soft."

Gordon Elliott is represented by recent course winner Thunder Zone, while Willie Mullins has Argentino.

Toushan and Misty Lady are consistent sorts and should give a good account of themselves, while Federici, Irish Bulletin, Rock On Fruity and Burning Issues are also in the mix.

The opening contest on the card is the Mallow Maiden Hurdle for four-year-olds and it looks an open affair.

The Mullins-trained Poker Gold makes his debut over hurdles and French import Prince Kup is another interesting contender.

A Hardy Nailer is the headline act in the Corkman Mares Maiden Hurdle, while Westerners Son, Getting Late and Curragh Na Gold are a few for the shortlist in the ultra-competitive Munster Waste Management Handicap Hurdle.

Positive Approach, Speed Demon and Star Counsel look the three to focus on in the Dermot Casey Tree Care Maiden Hurdle, and Tennis Cap should prove hard to beat in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.

Call It Magic was an impressive winner of a point-to-point at Oldtown in February and he looks the most interesting of the 11 declared for the concluding corkracecourse.ie Flat Race.