ITV Racing Thursday Preview - 12/11/20

ITV Racing host a bumper show on Thursday with six live races from Clonmel and Taunton and we start the day off with the Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle over three miles.

The horse that takes the eye for us is the Gordon Elliott trained Desire De Joie who won nicely last time out on seasonal debut and she can build on that in this tougher event.

The seven year old looks well suited by three miles when stepped up in trip last time out at Sligo and still on a workable mark with a handy 7lb claimer on makes him have big appeal.

The first race from Taunton on Thursday for ITV is the exciting Class 3 Handicap Hurdle where the Paul Nicholls trained Tomorrow Mystery looks a superstar in the making.

The six year old mare made her debut for the yard on Thursday at Newbury and she absolutely bolted up under a motionless ride by Lorcan Williams.

In an attempt to beat the handicapper she runs again very quickly here at Taunton and off the same mark should not be beat at a small price.

The mare in future races is supposed to go up 14lb, showing how generous this initial mark is for the JP McManus owned horse.

One of the best events of the day at Clonmel is the Listed Mares Chase over 2m4f and although there is a small field there is plenty of talent on show.

The Jessica Harrington trained Magic Light can get back to winning ways in this contest, switching back to fences over a trip she will have stamina in abundance for.

The nine year old is a very smart horse on her day, finishing a bold second to Tiger Roll in the 2019 Grand National and has since landed events in England over hurdles and fences.

Back in December the mare managed to win the Listed Mares Chase over three miles at Newbury and backed that up next time out at Ascot in the Grade Two Mares Hurdle.

She was poor when last seen in February over hurdles, but getting back to fences and having proven form when fresh makes her a nice bet.

Another nice race from Taunton is the Memorial Handicap Chase over 2 mile 7 furlongs and the Emma Lavelle trained Irish Prophecy.

The seven year old has been running through the summer, racing five times this season and going on to win on seasonal debut and since placing in two other events.

The gelding has showed he stays three miles well and looks the on to beat off the back of his last run when second to El Presente at Exeter, who has since gone on to frank the form at Wincanton when winning the Badger Beers Silver Trophy Handicap Chase last Saturday.

The feature race of the day on ITV is the Grade Two Clonmel Oil Chase that in the past has been won by the likes of Douvan, Kemboy and Alpha Des Obeaux.

This year we believe the smart Cilaos Emery will take the event, coming back over fences after having a good stint over hurdles last term.

The eight year old gelding has been a fine recruit for the yard, but has been fragile missing a lot of time off the track with injury.

When he has been seen, he has gone on to win races like the Grade One Champion Novice Hurdle, Grade Two Hilly Way Chase and Grade Three Poplar Square Chase.

Having finished fourth of 17 in the Champion Hurdle when last seen, his move back to fences looks promising and the trip should be more than getable going up half a mile.

The final event on the show is the 2 miles 4 furlongs Handicap Chase and the JP McManus owned Weihnachts looks to have a huge chance.

The six year old really impressed on his seasonal debut at Galway this season when finishing a fair second to a smart type for Patrick Hayes.

He looked to improve on that run at Ballinrobe but when going well the jockey was unseated when the horse was bumped and he should be given another chance with Mark Walsh now getting the mount.