Thurles card decimated by non-runners as Willie Mullins withdraws nine - before 2-13 favourite is beaten in dramatic opener

Thurles was hit by a spate of non-runners as Willie Mullins pulled nine of his ten runners out, but the small fields did not limit the drama as short-priced favourite Boldog was turned over in the opening contest.

The beginners' chase, which was reduced to three runners, had a surprising conclusion as 2-13 favourite Boldog was reeled in by That's About Right despite seemingly being home and hosed for much of the contest.

Willie Mullins was responsible for the first two in the initial market, Mistergif and Western Diego, who were both declared non-runners due to the going.

Their withdrawals led to the Joseph O'Brien-trained Boldog going off a short-priced favourite and he was well clear of his rivals throughout the 2m2½f contest, jumping the last fence five lengths in front, but he tied up on the run-in and was caught by 5-1 chance That's About Right, trained by Philip Rothwell.

How the race unfolded

Odds-on favourite Boldog is a fence clear of his rivals turning for home in the opening chase

Boldog maintains his significant lead into the home straight

That's About Right begins to cut into the lead as Boldog heads towards the final fence

Boldog jumps the last with a reduced advantage

Boldog begins to tie up in the closing stages

That's About Right passes his rival and records a two-and-a-half-length success

Thurles, the spiritual home of midweek jump racing in Ireland, has been hit hard by an unseasonably dry autumn, with three of its meetings cancelled due to quick ground.

Track manager Kate Molony said: "We had the verti-drain machine on the track again this week so it hasn't changed much from last week. Obviously we'd have loved more rain but it just didn't come. We had 30mm last week but it will take a lot more to change it from good ground. We're just lucky to be up and running, to be honest.

"The autumn has been so dry, I've never seen the likes of it with good ground in November with three meetings cancelled. When we race tomorrow, we'll be back on track. It's not easy for any course at the moment and we're not in a position to water as we've no watering system. Fingers crossed, things will improve from now as the rain will definitely come. We'll keep the machine on with the sprinkler as that really helps as well.

Although the track has had in excess of 30mm of rain since last Thursday, the ground has been described as good for the seven-race card.

Mullins pulled nine of his ten runners out of the meeting including Appreciate It, Embassy Gardens and Nick Rockett. That classy cohort had been due to contest the Racing TV Black Friday Offer 14 Euros Per Month Chase (12.40), a Listed prize over 2m6½f.

The absence of those three runners left a match race between the Gordon Elliott-trained Fil Dor and the James Fahey-trained Hazelhatch Lady. Fil Dor won cosily at 1-40.

Foreverwalking, the 1-10 favourite for the 2m4½f maiden hurdle (1.50), is the only remaining runner for Mullins on the card.

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