On song duo appear again at Thurles This afternoon's meeting at Thurles presents two horses with ideal prospects of following up on handicap wins at Clonmel last week. The Shark Hanlon-trained Diamond Dame and Robert Tyner's Embracing Change run in their respective heats under fixed penalties and are both 3lb officially well treated in the handicap. Diamond Dame bids to defy second-top weight (11st 9lb) in the Holycross Handicap Hurdle, having won over hurdles at Clonmel. The daughter of King's Best previously won on her Flat debut for Sir Michael Stoute before joining Hanlon and comes here under a 6lb penalty, but due to be raised 9lb in future races. Tyner's Embracing Change, a six-times point-to-point winner, himself off the mark in 'park' races last Thursday, when emerging a well-backed winner under substitute rider David Casey. Casey again fills in for Tyner's injured stable jockey Phillip Enright and the pair appear to have leading claims under a mandatory 4lb penalty, having been raised 7lb in future races. The in-form Noel Meade can win the Thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle with Couleur France, who ran well recently behind subsequent winner Sheamus. Champion Jockey Ruby Walsh's only ride is in the opening Thurles Beginners Chase, in which he teams up again with his father, Ted, on board Old Castletown, a winner for the same combination over hurdles last month.
