Former top jockey and RTE television pundit Andrew McNamara will fancy his chances of registering his first ever winner as a trainer at Thurles today as he sends stable star Val De Ferbet into battle in the Thurles Racecourse Hurdle (4.40) over three miles.
Val De Ferbet found Tennis Cap too good on his first start for McNamara at Cork last Monday week but that was his firstouting for some time and he looks to have a huge chance of giving McNamara his first winner.
The talented mare Jennies Jewel rates as a big danger, given that she got closer to Vroum Vroum Mag than anything else at Ascot in January, while Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud are doubly-represented with Cogryhill and Victory Mill, the later of whom will be ridden by Gold Cup-winning jockey Bryan Cooper.
So Young is a late arrival to chasing at the age of ten but he was a star over hurdles and he is sure to attract plenty of support in the Jimmy Neville Memorial Beginners Chase (2.55) for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
It is the last fixture of the jumps season at Thurles and the seven-race card kicks off at 2.20. The going is yielding.
