'We're ready to rock' - Thurles Thursdays are back as track stages first meeting since being saved by HRI

Thursdays at Thurles are back! Just over two months after we thought it was the end of the road for the famous venue, the track will host its sole Flat fixture on Thursday after being saved by Horse Racing Ireland.

Acting manager Peter Roe reported the ground to be in terrific condition ahead of the seven-race card.

It could be a big day in the title race, too, as table-topper Dylan Browne McMonagle has four rides and six-time champion Colin Keane has three as he tries to cut back the deficit in what promises to be a thrilling climax to the Irish Flat jockeys' championship.

Former Fairyhouse manager Roe has taken over the reins at Thurles on a temporary basis and said: "We're all looking forward to racing returning here. We hope all the locals and fans of Thurles will get behind the meeting, and we're expecting a decent crowd.

• Horse Racing Ireland encouraged to find 'respectful and fair' long-term solution for troubled Thurles 

"I'd like to send sincere thanks to the Molony family for allowing us to keep the show on the road, and we have a terrific operations manager in place in Jessica Cahalan, who is doing a brilliant job. She's a Tipperary woman and we're lucky to have her conducting everything. We're ready to rock.

"I'm very happy with the ground. We've had a nice and wet September, which has been a big help. This time of the year, drying is slow as well, which is always a bonus.

"We're calling it yielding ground and it really is lovely. There's a great covering of grass."

Peter Roe: the new acting manager at ThurlesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Roe added: "We've started watering for our first jumps meeting next week, so we're in a good spot with everything and looking forward to it all getting going."

Riona Molony shocked the racing world in August when announcing that Thurles, Ireland's only privately owned racecourse, was to close with immediate effect, citing a challenging financial landscape and increasing industry demands.

A few weeks later, however, the Molony family and HRI agreed on a temporary reprieve, which will allow the track to host its 11 fixtures between now and March.

On Thursday there is €25,000 up for grabs in the mile maiden (2.20), which is part of the 18-race Smullen series.

Joseph O'Brien, who won the same maiden in 2021 with Adelisa, is represented by Duke Of Cumberland, who was just denied on his latest outing at Naas and is the mount of Browne McMonagle.

Read more:

The Shunter cleared to run in Cesarewitch after BHA technical error is rectified 

Minnie Hauk sweeps to the head of the Cartier Horse of the Year standings after Arc second

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning