BOOKMAKER OPINION ahead of the Breeders' Cup meeting at Santa Anita is that at least one of Aidan O'Brien's eight-strong team will win after kind draws for most of the Irish runners.
Both Duke Of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator have been drawn next to each other in stalls four and five respectively for the $5 million (€3.9 million) Classic and it has finally been confirmed Johnny Murtagh will be on board "The Duke".
That leaves the top American jockey John Velazquez to ride Henrythenavigator although both Irish stars trail the top local horse Curlin in ante-post betting for America's most valuable race.
O'Brien's Turf favourite Soldier Of Fortune has also been handed a four draw in the race won twice by the O'Brien-trained High Chaparral in 2002-03. Dermot Weld's Winchester will start from stall five alongside while the Ballydoyle hope in the Juvenile Turf, Westphalia, will start from box three.
Bookmaker reaction has been positive with Paddy Power making "exactly one winner" their 5 to 4 favourite in betting on the number of Aidan O'Brien-trained winners. It is 7 to 2 about two and only 12 to 1 about three or more.
However, there was less good news for O'Brien's fellow Co Tipperary trainer David Wachman whose Bushranger is a drifter in betting for the one-mile Juvenile race on the Pro-Ride synthetic surface. The Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes winner will have only one runner outside him as he has been drawn 12 of the 13 runners.
As a result he has drifted in the betting out to 7 to 1.
There was also bad news for the Wachman team in the Juvenile fillies on the main track as Pursuit Of Glory has been handed an 11 draw.
A midweek Thurles meeting is a sure sign of the approaching winter and there are some star jumping names on view this afternoon including the former top bumper horse Time Electric in the maiden hurdle.
Tom Mullins's horse was ante-post favourite at one stage for last year's Cheltenham bumper after an impressive debut at Leopardstown over Christmas.
A subsequent start in early March was disappointing but Mullins was hopeful of a good jumping debut yesterday.
"He is not fully wound up but he is well schooled," he said. "The ground in Thurles is the best in the country so it shouldn't be a problem."
Another smart hurdler on view will be the Grade Two winner Whatuthink whose targets this season could include the Irish and French Champion Hurdles.
He kicks off in today's conditions hurdle against well known names such as the Cheltenham winners Garde Champetre and Heads On the Ground as well One Cool Cookie.
The Rall doesn't have their profile but he has looked progressive on his last two starts and the Dessie Hughes team are in form.
Davy Russell will fancy his chances on Time Electric and also on the Hughes-trained Siegemaster who ran a decent fourth to Rinroe at Navan and who will relish the step up to two-and-three-quarter miles for the second Beginners Chase.
