Jumps Racing Action from Newbury and Thurles for Thursday, November 25

We’re back on the prowl for more jumps racing scores today as the focus turns to Newbury and Thurles for striking opportunities.

All eyes are firmly-fixed on the high-class weekend meetings but Thursday’s card looks impressive enough with some solid races unfolding across the UK and Ireland.

12:35 at Thurles

Mouse Morris has ELYSIAN ROCK set to take full advantage of nine pounds on top-weighted Florida Express. This 3m chase should separate the men from the boys and coming in off a win at Cork is a solid reference, as is the victory he notched up over the course back in January. He was going two furlongs shorter that time and it was over hurdles but he looks to be a real decent shout and looks to have plenty of room to progress.

1:00 at Newbury

A seven-strong field is set to contest this one and we’ve got four contenders coming into the race off the back of a victory. This is a class 3 mares novice hurdle set to go 2m5f over going listed as good to soft. Top-weighted Sparky May comes into the race looking for his third score on the bounce while ALVERSTONE could be poised to capitalize based on a jockey switch over to Tony McCoy. The seven year-old gets six pounds on Sparky May and could be set to keep that hot streak going.

1:05 at Thurles

We’re back over hurdles for this enticing 2m6f110y contest at Thurles. RICK was pulled up last time out when he’d stepped up to Grade 2 level but it was probably a wise choice from the jockey. He’s got a great record around this level and the drop down in class could see him muster up the confidence he needs for the score.

2:10 at Newbury

This is a good-quality handicap chase going 2m6f110y and the eleven runners here make this one a tricky race to decipher. ZARRAFAKT and Sam Thomas team up to make it happen here and they’re coming in off a score at Folkestone from last week. It was their first race together and they swept the field away and, considering that this isn’t really much of a step up in terms of quality, you’d expect them to pull off a victory if things line up for them. His late kick could be the decider here.

2:45 at Newbury

The Queen’s horse HARVEST SONG will be attempting to rebound from a disappointing outing last time at Huntingdon to pull off a 2m5f score at Newbury. This is probably the toughest field of the day but the quality this four year-old demonstrated when breaking his maiden last year was exemplary- even with the odd mistake he was well clear. The last one out was a seasonal debut and you reckon that he likely needed the race.

3:15 at Newbury

The quality in this field more than makes up for the lack of runners as five contenders are set to tackle this Grade 2 Novices’ Chase over a lengthy 3m. AITEEN THIRTYTHREE comes into this one having never finished off the board and he scored on his seasonal debut over the tricky surface at Cheltenham.

This isn’t his first step up to Grade 2 level, as he finished third to the talented Reve De Sivola at Chepstow last year in the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle. That’s a tough race and a third place finish that early in his career deserves to be respected.