Today’s racing

Thurles’ card today features the Grade 3 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle (2m5f), a race which looks ideally placed for the Joseph O’Brien-trained and JP McManus-owned Front View.

The five-year-old son of Konig Turf was last seen at Cork in November, when he landed a two-mile maiden hurdle. Prior to that run, he didn’t disgrace himself when he finished second behind the unbeaten Envoi Allen at Down Royal.

His biggest dangers today are the last-time out winners French Dynamite, trained by Mouse Morris, and the Willie Mullins-trained Five O’Clock.

Huntingdon and Sedgefield also race over jumps today while there are all-weather meetings from Chelmsford and Southwell.

Native River’s season over

Former Gold Cup hero Native River will not run again this season after sustaining a suspensory tendon injury.

The ten-year-old, who had taken the Denman Chase at Newbury earlier this month, had been entered for both the Gold Cup and the Grand National but was scratched from both races on Wednesday morning.

Joe Tizzard, assistant trainer to his father Colin, told the Racing Post: “Unfortunately we have to had to scratch Native River from the Gold Cup this morning. It’s really disappointing but he’s just had a little tear in the suspensory tendon at the back of his knee which is going to put him out for the rest of the season.

“He was a bit sore yesterday and again this morning, so we went in and scanned it, and it’s just one of those injuries that happen. It’s very disappointing but that’s horses.

“He’ll be back next season for sure. It’s not something we’ve thought about yet as we haven’t known long, we told the owners and it’s all pretty fresh.

“We need to focus on getting him right. It’s not a major injury and on a normal basis he’ll be fine by Christmas next year.”