Thurles win the spring-board to Cheltenham for Jury Duty

Winner of the Grand National Hurdle at Far Hills in the USA in 2018 Jury Duty (4/1 out to 11/2) today struck in the Thurles Racecourse Hunters Chase.

A great servant to his owners, the Sideways Syndicate, and trainer Gordon Elliott, on this occasion the Well Chosen gelding was battling it out with favourite Winged Leader when that fellow fell at the last.

The Jamie Codd-ridden winner then went on to hold off second market choice Stand Up And Fight by three parts of a length.

Foxhunter hero from Cheltenham in March, It Came To Pass (5/1 — 13/2 — 6/1) was never involved from the back of the field and eventually made a bad mistake, unseating Maxine O’Sullivan three out.

"I think he qualifies for the Champion Hunters at Cheltenham now as he was second in his point to point; I'd imagine he'll either go for the Hunters or the Cross-Country Chase (at Cheltenham),” said Codd.

"He schooled over banks yesterday and loved it and it's nice to have him back.

"He'll improve again from that as he hadn't run for a couple of months.

"It was going to be tight (at the last) but I hadn't really gone for my lad and was minding him away going down to the last - I think I had a bit in hand.

"We fell at the second last at Cheltenham (in the 2018 National Hunt Chase) and it's great when you get back on those old horses and to have a good day like today was brilliant."

(TW & EM)