Irish racing on Thursday comes from Thurles, with the Co Tipperary venue setting out on a new season of jumps action.

There are seven races from Thurles, where they are underway at 13:40 through until 17:10, and we’ve picked out a trio to follow on the card.

13:40 – Law Ella @ 11/8

The card at Thurles opens with the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase over 2m4½f and it’s a contest in which LAW ELLA is taken for a winning start in this code for Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue.

The Yeats mare was a bumper winner in the spring of 2022, scoring on St Patrick’s Day at Down Royal on first start before chasing home Ashroe Diamond in a Grade 2 Mares’ Bumper at Aintree soon after.

She was second in a Galway maiden hurdle on soft ground over 2m on her seasonal return last October and was relatively consistent thereafter before breaking through at Downpatrick (2m5½f, soft) in maiden company in April.

Her final start at Kilbeggan in May is best forgotten but she has the size and scope for a chaser and, having shown the ability to go well fresh before, finds a good starting point now.

16:00 – Beacon Edge @ 13/8

The feature contest at Thurles is the He’llberemembered Hurdle over 2m7f where a field of six are set to do battle.

They include the long-absent Aspire Tower for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore, though it’s a concern that he’s been off since the Punchestown Festival in 2021.

He’d shown good form before that, winning a Grade 2 at Down Royal and chasing home Sharjah in the Grade 1 Matheson at Leopardstown and, if all remains in working order, winning this race on these terms should be within reach.

He’s yet to race over anything close to this far, however, and so preference is for BEACON EDGE on first start for Gordon Elliott after moving from Noel Meade’s yard.

At his best he was fourth in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2021 and he showed at various stages of last season he’s still a very capable performer. Jack Kennedy may well seek to exploit any stamina/fitness frailties in Aspire Tower here and, on this occasion, Beacon Edge looks best equipped.

16:35 – Walk Out @ 10/3

After a near miss at Killarney recently over this trip John Kiely’s mare WALK OUT can net a first hurdles success now.

She had finished second at Listowel (2m4f, yielding) in September and tackled this trip for the first time back in the county of Kerry 18 days ago.

She was making good progress into a challenging position as a bunch of contenders approached the last flight and a poor jump there didn’t help the cause.

From the same mark now and with Rachael Blackmore booked to ride, the Walk In The Park mare may well have more to come at this trip and is expected to go well in this Betfred Extra Place Race (four places).