Fil Dor justifies odds of 1-40 in a match to score for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy after Thurles card is hit by non-runners

The 2m6½f Listed chase was hit by three non-runners due to the going and Fil Dor completed a straightforward task in cruising to victory under Jack Kennedy for Gordon Elliott at prohibitive odds of 1-40.

The ground was officially good and the track saw a spate of non-runners throughout the day with 13 horses withdrawn due to the going. Willie Mullins pulled out nine of his ten runners, including four short-priced favourites.

After three runners were scratched, only Fil Dor and the James Fahey-trained Hazelhatch Lady were left standing in the feature chase.

Fahey's mare is rated 38lb inferior to Gordon Elliott's six-year-old, so it was always going to be an enormous task and Kennedy cruised around on the winner, just doing the bare minimum to fend off the runner-up by two and a half lengths.

Owned by Robcour, Fil Dor made an encouraging return when second in the Clonmel Oil this month and this represented the sixth win of his career, his first since scoring at Grade 3 level over hurdles in February 2023.

"It was very straightforward and fairly routine," said Kennedy. "It would have been a surprise if he had been beaten as he was rated a lot higher than the other horse. He really showed some glimmers of his old form the last day in Clonmel, so hopefully it is onwards and upwards."

Willie Mullins: pulled out nine of his ten runners, including four short-priced favourites.Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Thurles 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 and 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 spiker as that really helps as well."

Drama in the opener

The opening beginners' chase was reduced to three runners but did not lack action as 2-13 favourite Boldog was reeled in late by That's About Right, despite seemingly being home and hosed for much of the race.

The Mullins-trained Mistergif and Western Diego were among those withdrawn, which led to the Joseph O'Brien-trained Boldog starting a short-priced favourite. 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.

How the race unfolded

Odds-on favourite Boldog is a fence clear of his rivals turning for home in the opening chaseCredit: Racing TV

Boldog maintains his significant lead into the home straightCredit: Racing TV

That's About Right begins to cut into the lead as Boldog heads towards the final fenceCredit: Racing TV

Boldog jumps the last with a reduced advantageCredit: Racing TV

Boldog begins to tie up in the closing stagesCredit: Racing TV

That's About Right passes his rival to win by two and a half lengthsCredit: Racing TV

O'Keeffe at the double again

Darragh O'Keeffe continued his tremendous run of form to steer home another double as Malinas Glory justified 5-2 favouritism in the 2m6½f handicap chase before Therellbguddaysyet came fast and late to land the 2m4½f maiden hurdle at 40-1, causing a shock reversal with 1-2 favourite Foreverwalking, who was Mullins' sole runner on the card.

Therellbguddaysyet was ridden by trainer Michael O'Connor when sixth in a maiden hurdle at the track a week ago, but the step up in trip worked well under a stealthy ride from O'Keeffe.

O'Connor said: "I rode him myself last week when I felt the ground was a bit solid and he wants further. He's a kind horse who was only broken when he was six and Jack de Bromhead actually rode him when he was a breaker. Jack used to come up to us during the summer and was a wonderful kid. He might be looking down on us today."

Beauforts kicks up a storm

The 2m mares' maiden hurdle was hit hard by withdrawals after the first four in the morning market were taken out, and the Tim Doyle-trained Beauforts Storm took full advantage.

Doyle said: "She's a nice mare and will come back here for a Listed novice before Christmas. She's a good-ground filly, is getting better with every run, and that will boost her confidence."

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