15:00 Punchestown

Wednesday 22 February 2017

All13:5514:2515:0015:3016:0016:3517:10

I.N.H. Stallion Owners E.B.F. Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 21.40s

Castello Sforza²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: W P Mullins

8/11

Twice beaten over hurdles as a short priced favourite, form of Leopardstown third at Christmas looks decent however and has his chance again.

Form: 1/4-3

Mossback²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott

5/1

Two fair runs at Naas so far over flights, every chance last time when unable to see it out over 2m3f, goes up again in trip for this.

Form: 1-531

A Rated³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: L Kenny

13/2

Two solid efforts over jumps to date, looks to be holding at least place claims in this if continuing along the right path.

Form: 34-4344

Aint Dunne Yet¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

12/1

Form of maiden hurdle third behind Death Duty at Roscommon in October looks fair enough now, off since, that run came at today's trip and should go well.

Form: 63613

Ajabindejaw⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Donagh Meyler⁽³⁾| T: T Gibney

100/1

Bit disappointing to be pulled up on Cork debut last month, trainer tends to do better in these races and there ought to be in the offing.

Form:

Glenabo Bridge⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: I J McCarthy| T: O McKiernan| OR: 1

80/1

Former point-to-point scorer has shown precious little in three outings over timber so far and it is very hard to be confident in him now.

Form:

Louie The Second^p,t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R Loughran| T: M S Sandra Hughes

25/1

Returned from a layoff to be seventh of 21 in similar event at Naas recently over 2m3f, entitled to come on for that effort.

Form: 6374/78-

Mighty Stowaway²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Brian Hayes| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 120

13/2

Step up in trip rather backfired last time at Fairyhouse, best to forgive that effort and concentrate on three prior runs at his sort of distance which were promising.

Form: 2-226

No Pressure Pat¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: C M Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy

100/1

Made low key jumping debut at Naas earlier this month and will require a sizeable chunk of improvement to be a threat in this contest.

Form: P097

Old Meadow⁹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: I Madden

100/1

Nine-years-old and has only recently made the racetrack, clearly had problems and form so far suggests limited ability is retained.

Form: P89P4-P

Psychedelic Rock¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: M J Bolger| T: M M Lynch

100/1

Breeding has suggested better can be expected than we've seen in two racecourse appearances so far, hard to be confident just now however.

Form: 700-

Rebelion Boy²⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

33/1

Respected on first start for this trainer but has failed to complete in any of three point-to-point outings thus far so would only be supported should the market make a big statement in his favour.

Form: FPP0-6

Run Don't Hide^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: J Motherway

100/1

Much to prove after two runs at Leopardstown and Naas and not one to be getting involved with at this stage.

Form: 8/9009-0

Fly Rory Fly¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: G N Fox| T: N Meade

33/1

First start over hurdles, will need a leap forward having shown only minor promise in pair of bumper runs so far.

Form: 5529-13

Fr Captain Murphy¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B T O'Connell| T: Michael John Murphy

100/1

Pulled up in both point-to-point outings and similarly unable to challenge in rules bow at Thurles earlier this month.

Form: P00

Half Moon Street⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: M A Enright| T: E P Harty

50/1

Pulled up at Leopardstown over Christmas when last seen, previous attempt at Thurles had some positives.

Form: 03

Time And Times¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: P F Mangan| T: D McNamara

66/1

Bumper runner-up at Kilbeggan in August, hasn't set the world on fire in two outings in this sphere and appears best watched at the moment.

Form: 32

Urban Star¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: M J McDonagh

100/1

Mare makes racecourse debut in this, well beaten in sole point-to-point outing at the beginning of this month.

Form: 7078

Non-Runners

Bulls Head²⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: E Stanners J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Castello Sforza (8/11), Mossback (5/1), Mighty Stowaway (13/2), A Rated (13/2), Aint Dunne Yet (12/1), Louie The Second (25/1), Fly Rory Fly (33/1), Rebelion Boy (33/1), Half Moon Street (50/1), Bulls Head (50/1), Time And Times (66/1), Glenabo Bridge (80/1), No Pressure Pat (100/1), Fr Captain Murphy (100/1), Psychedelic Rock (100/1), Run Don't Hide (100/1), Urban Star (100/1), Ajabindejaw (100/1), Old Meadow (100/1)

It might pay to focus on the top two in this and preference is for CASTELLO SFORZA despite his tendency to let punters down. He's twice been turned over at short prices but the form of his Leopardstown third at Christmas is relatively good and he has the scope to go and win this for the champion trainer. Limerick bumper winner Mossback also has a degree of promise but he had every chance to win last time and didn't go through with it. Mighty Stowaway is forgiven his most recent run and should be well suited back to this trip, at which he's finished second on all three starts. Aint Dunne Yet finished third behind Cheltenham-bound Death Duty on his previous run, that is form that reads well now, despite the break he can be given a chance. 1. Castello Sforza 2. Mossback 3. Aint Dunne Yet