Gordon Elliott: The thoughts on my Thurles and Taunton runners

Gordon has a Plan for a winner at Thurles today

Cullentra House Stables have runners on both sides of the Irish Sea on Thursday including the last-time-out winner, Oscar Hill...

12.30 Thurles - Mae's Choice

On paper, her fourth place of six runners at Navan last time looks disappointing but in fairness, it was a grade two hurdle and we knew she would be up against it. This is her first chase but she's been schooling well and she likes the heavy ground so I'm expecting her to be thereabouts now that she's back down at a different class. As I said before, she's a tough enough mare and in the future, she's likely to appreciate the longer distances.

12.35 Taunton - Oscar Hill

This one ticks all the right boxes and if he runs a similar race as he did at Huntingdon, he should take all the beating. I mentioned previously that he likes going right-handed so the course will suit and Tom O'Brien, who rode him to victory last time out, is back on board once again. The headgear (hood) has worked well and I'll be disappointed to come home empty-handed.

13.00 Thurles - Plan A

He showed some promise when third to the useful Oscars Well in a beginners chase at Punchestown last month and that followed on from a nice race at Ballinrobe (2nd of 14 runners). He was very handy over hurdles in the past and with two good chases under the belt, we are satisfied that he has potential in that sphere. Mark Walsh knows the horse fairly well at this stage and I'm hoping he can run into a place at the least.