Woman bids for Perfect four-timer

The Michael Winters-trained Perfect Woman bids to complete a quick-fire four-timer in the Ballagh Mares Handicap Hurdle at Thurles this afternoon.

The seven-year-old daughter of Blueprint began her winning spree when landing her maiden hurdle at Clonmel in September and followed up with a beginners chase win at Sligo before winning a Cork handicap hurdle hurdle last Sunday.

Perfect Woman is burdened by a 6lb penalty for her latest assignment but is still, officially, one pound ahead of the handicapper.

Opposing Perfect Woman is another progressive mare Urban Dusk who is herself chasing a hat-trick having won two recent handicaps at Downpatrick. Boherna Lady and May Dullea runner-up last time out and again ridden by promising conditional Jack Kennedy, are also in the line-up.

The opening Thurles Beginners Chase sees one-time high class point-to-pointer Venitien De Mai make his eagerly awaited chase debut.

Carrying the Sizing Europe colours of Ann and Alan Potts, Venitien De Mai was unbeaten in four point-to-points and while it did subsequently take him five starts to win his maiden hurdle, he is likely to prove a much better horse over fences.

Ted Walsh 's Salsa Sensation who finished third on chase debut at Galway recently in the colours of JP McManus, could prove the biggest threat to Jim Dreaper's charge.

The formidable combination of trainer Gordon Elliott, jockey Nina Carberry and owners Gigginstown House Stud are represented by Ball D'Arc in the concluding bumper.

The four-year-old won his point-to-point for Pat Doyle before finishing down the field in two bumpers.

However, the latest of those efforts saw the son of Network finish a creditable 12th in the Land Rover Bumper at the Punchestown Festival and it would be no surprise to see him raise his game on his first start for his new trainer.