19:15 Punchestown

Wednesday 26 April 2017

All15:4016:2016:5517:3018:0518:4019:15

Weatherbys General Stud Book E.B.F. Mares Flat Race (Grade 3)

Off time: 19:15 | Winning time: 3m 55.5s

Bluegrass Princess⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: E O'Connell

9/2

Beat Mystic Theatre by 11L at Naas last month on second start back after a 538 day layoff . That form puts him right in the mix for this contest assuming he can reproduce it here.

Form: 971/813-

Dawn Shadow²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr A Murphy| T: Mrs D A Love

14/1

Mare has run in four of these and achieved her only success at Downpatrick last month over 2m1f, winning by a wide margin. That was the only occasion she encountered good ground, so she should be suited by the forecast conditions here and is forgiven a flop at Navan on heavy since.

Form: 6313

Frazel Express^t²⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: Peter Fahey

20/1

One win from six starts in this sphere came at Tramore in August but she has always run with credit. Not seen since finishing sixth of 20 at Gowran Park in a Listed Mares' contest in October.

Form: 443215

Half The Odds⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr D J Benson| T: N Meade

14/1

No match for Minutestomidnight on debut Wexford early in the month (beaten 12L) but has since come out and won at Fairyhouse over 2m, showing decent progress in doing so. By no means certain to be finished yet and trainer is respected.

Form: 3121

Jelan⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Ms K Walsh| T: Mrs J Harrington

8/1

Won an average Galway bumper in the autumn before well held in Listed Mares' affair at Navan in November. She has since tried her hand in a couple of maiden hurdles and has not been disgraced. Yard is in super form so cannot be discounted returning to this sphere.

Form: 261468

Joy's Gift²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr F Maguire| T: P Maher

40/1

No joy on hurdles bow at Navan earlier this month on seasonal reappearance. Did pick up one win from six attempts in bumpers previously but overall had her limitations seemingly exposed. Bit to find on form for this.

Form: 421080-

Minutestomidnight^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr J J Codd| T: Jonathan Sweeney

11/4

Point-to-point winner couldn't have been more impressive when making winning debut at Wexford earlier this month. The runner-up Half The Odds has come out and won since and also runs here. With Codd booked, the claims are clear.

Form: 1-1

Mystic Theatre⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins

4/1

Dual point-to-point winner and got the job done nicely in first outing in a bumper at Fairyhouse in January. Since been turned over at odds-on by the reopposing Bluegrass Princess at Navan. Could prove to be better than that showing and remains respected for leading connections.

Form: 411-12

Shimmer's Rock²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: R Deegan| T: P A Fahy

10/1

Winner on rules bow at Gowran Park in February by narrow margin, runner-up well and truly reversed that form at Navan earlier this month however as they exchanged places to the tune of 20L. Despite that setback, still possesses plenty ability.

Form: 2212

Simone¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr S Clements| T: S Nolan

25/1

Yet to get off the mark in four attempts in this sphere and beaten some 28L behind Minutestomidnight at Wexford earlier in the month. Hard to see that form reversed.

Form: 53564-

Vanellope⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr H D Dunne| T: P Croke

25/1

Much-improved effort to get off the mark at Wexford on St Patrick's Day, having plenty to spare in the end. Probably going to have to improve again on that showing but is open to doing just that.

Form: 7451

The Princetonian

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr D Roche| T: Mrs J Harrington

10/1

A filly out of Oscar, she's a sister to former Champion Hurdler Rock On Ruby and represents a yard in blistering form. Trainer has three in the line-up and the market should speak loudest on their ranking.

Form: 6-

Non-Runners

Nicandra

Weight: 10-13| Age: 4

T: Mrs J Harrington J: Ms L O'Neill

Forecasts

Minutestomidnight (11/4), Mystic Theatre (4/1), Bluegrass Princess (9/2), Jelan (8/1), The Princetonian (10/1), Shimmer's Rock (10/1), Half The Odds (14/1), Dawn Shadow (14/1), Nicandra (16/1), Frazel Express (20/1), Simone (25/1), Vanellope (25/1), Joy's Gift (40/1)

Mystic Theatre's trainer won this 12 months ago with Augusta Kate and she is respected despite suffering an 11L loss to Bluegrass Princess at Naas last month. She'd previously looked very promising and isn't to be harshly judged on the run. The winner there is also entitled to come into this contest in good heart while Half The Odds also brings winning form from Wexford recently. That success was a telling nod in the direction of MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT, who had earlier given her a sound beating at the same track and with title-chasing amateur rider Codd in excellent form they are tipped to maintain winning ways in this contest.