STUNNING DEBUT FROM CUDDLES AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

Thurles hosted a later than scheduled race meeting on Monday night and there were a couple of really telling debuts as both Tell Me Cuddles and Bogger Cabela battled it out in what proved a top-class affair.

In the end, it was Tell Me Cuddles who came out on top in the ON2 525 and the May whelp done it the hard way after a poor break saw him occupy the rear of the field early on from trap three. In contrast, it was Bogger Cabela who bolted from trap two and he displayed big acceleration to head the field on the approach to the opening corner. Tell Me Cuddles, meanwhile, was improving in behind but he still sat three lengths adrift of Bogger Cabela midway down the back straight. However, showing huge speed rounding the bottom two bends, the Darren Byrnes-owned Tell Me Cuddles was on the shoulder of Bogger Cabela within a blink of an eye and he finished at a serious rate to land the spoils. Three lengths clear crossing the line, the son of Ballymac Eske and Hovex Grace stopped the clock in a brilliant 28.86 on a track which was rated .30 slow on the night. This was a mighty impressive effort from Tell Me Cuddles and Bogger Cabela is another who has a big future, clocking an estimate of 28.77 in defeat.

ONE-WAY TRAFFIC FOR HUG

Elsewhere on the card, Fishing Hug produced a likeable performance in race three as Noel Desmond’s bitch ran to a convincing victory.

Trained by Dermot Leahy, Fishing Hug was searching for a maiden victory but a decent break from trap six saw her nestle in behind Kilvil Arnold early on. The latter set a strong gallop down the back, however, he couldn’t contain Fishing Hug as he took charge on the approach to the penultimate bend. Drawing clear thereafter, the daughter of Droopys Jet and Love Honey romped clear to win by eleven lengths, in a time of 29.26 .30s.

HAT-TRICK FOR STEPH

Kylenoe Steph has been in fine form at Thurles of late and she recorded three wins on the spin last night for joint owners, Christy and Louise Meaney.

It was Bogger Maria and Magical Benji who showed first, however, sandwiched in between was Kylenoe Steph and the daughter of Ballymac Best took charge entering the back straight. Setting a smart gallop thereafter, the 6/4 favourite stayed on stoutly in the closing stages and she was three lengths better off than Bogger Maria crossing the line. The time was 29.23 .30s.