15:40 Punchestown

Thursday 27 April 2017

All15:4016:1516:5017:3018:0518:4019:1519:45

JLT Handicap Hurdle (88-123)

Off time: 15:44 | Winning time: 4m 1.20s

Giantofaman^b¹¹¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore⁽³⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 123

33/1

Not seen out since finishing well beaten at Aintree in a good quality handicap back in 2014. Handicapper has given him a chance but asking an awful lot to take this under top weight after such an absence.

Form: 221310/

Bull Ride⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott| OR: 122

16/1

Looked progressive in the later half of last year, winning back-to-back races at Wexford and Navan, but gone off the boil this year. This drop back in trip may help but has a little to prove now.

Form: 112870-

Lilshane¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Foley⁽⁷⁾| T: T P O'Connor| OR: 121

33/1

Disappointing on latest start, being pulled up after a series of mid-race mistakes cost him any chance, but previous second at Cork would put him in the mix. May want softer ground than he will encounter here, though, and others preferred.

Form: 2282P0-

Pinkie Brown^h⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 120

16/1

Outclassed in a Grade 3 handicap at the Cheltenham Festival on his latest start, but was fifth in this last year and appears here on the same mark. Bound to have been well prepared for a repeat try and not discounted.

Form: 71F12P

Valgor Du Ronceray^h¹³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Slevin⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 120

25/1

Lightly raced individual who has performed well enough in a big field before to think the hurly burly of this won't be an issue, but not seen out since disappointing in December at Fairyhouse and although fairly handicapped, has a bit to prove.

Form: 1/P2398-

Le Vagabond¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul Townend| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 119

6/1

Only the six hurdles starts, but a winner of two of them, and has been in good form on the Flat in recent starts. Looks very fairly handicapped and with likely conditions to suit, looks one for the shortlist.

Form: 1364/10-

Stamp Your Feet^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: T R George| OR: 119

7/1

Improving with his racing after showing some inexperience earlier in the season, and a 4lb rise for his latest win at Haydock looks fair. Strongly run race here should suit his come-from-behind style and with further improvement possible, looks a player.

Form: 231431

Highland Fling^t¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 117

20/1

Found a couple of small races at Sedgefield and Fakenham but this competitive handicap a far cry from those, and he's not been in such good form since. Not totally disgraced at Fairyhouse on latest start (stayed on late) but plenty to do here.

Form: 001160

Coolfighter^p¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: D E Splaine| T: N Dooly| OR: 116

40/1

In good form in the autumn, winning a Flat race at Gowran Park and running well at Leopardstown the time after. Would have needed recent comeback effort after almost six months away and although mark looks high enough, may still give you a good run for your money.

Form: 111180

Orchard Road^t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 116

20/1

Easy winner at Limerick in December and handicapper reacted with a 9lb rise, and a series of mishaps have seen two non-completions since. Travels well in his races though and although getting on in years, still seems to have something to offer.

Form: 641FSF-

The King Of Brega²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 116

20/1

Looked out of love with the game when finishing well beaten in three chase starts this season, but much better when reverting to hurdles last time out, not beaten that far at Wexford. Likely conditions fine and a big run would not surprise.

Form: 039895

Buyer Beware¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Loughran| T: P Holmes| OR: 115

50/1

Consistent over hurdles, if hard to win with during his time with Gordon Elliott but hasn't pulled up any trees on two starts on the Flat for new yard over in England. Plenty to prove now and others hold stronger claims.

Form: 224423

Next Bend¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J M Moore| T: T Gibney| OR: 112

25/1

Inconsistent but capable enough when the opportunity arises, and was a good winner on heavy ground at Navan in early April, but seemed to find life hard from new mark when well beaten at Cork next time out. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 249410

Runyon Rattler⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 110

25/1

Not really progressing at present but can turn in the odd good run in a big field handicap, as when trying to make all and finishing close up in midfield at Leopardstown in December. Handicapper starting to relent and not totally discounted, but others still preferred.

Form: 869572-

Soir De Chantenay^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: J S McGarvey| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 120

12/1

Had shown little in four handicap starts until a much improved effort at Limerick last time out, where the drop back to the minimum trip seemed to spark some improvement. Nudged back up 4lb for that but unexposed and if building on that, could well get involved in the finish.

Form: 695042

Fruits Of Glory^h,t⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: C D Timmons⁽⁵⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 108

28/1

Not seen out since January, but has won after a break before, so that's not necessarily a negative. Hadn't been in any great form when last seen but a strong-run race here might suit, and a place isn't out of the question.

Form: 836570-

The Last Marju^h¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Brian Hayes| T: D Cullen| OR: 108

20/1

Hard to weigh up, as he was a winner at Killarney last August but looked a weak finisher on two subsequent starts. Back from a break with a good effort on the Flat at Cork earlier in the month and if back to form, isn't out of this.

Form: 531P00-

Weightfordave^t⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 108

20/1

Yet to win in 13 starts, and handicapper isn't cutting him much slack due to his consistency in finishing midfield without looking like a winner. Small break may have helped and in good hands, so may yet have more to offer.

Form: 458F57-

Bobabout⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 116

8/1

Can be a bit free in his races, so this big field should suit him. Had been a little disappointing but a better effort back on the Flat at Navan last week (noted travelling well) and with yard still in great form, high on the shortlist for this.

Form: 1U2537

Here For The Craic²¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: D J Mullins| T: D Budds| OR: 106

16/1

You have to go back to 2014 to find the last time he won over hurdles and as a veteran that's not been seen since finishing well beaten in September, others are readily preferred.

Form: 505U/0F-

Bakers Street^t¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Miss J M Cook⁽⁷⁾| T: Paul Power| OR: 105

20/1

Very lightly raced for one of his age, and did little wrong when finishing third to Fridaynightlights at Fairyhouse on his latest start (chance of reversing the form at the weights). Likely conditions fine and may well be on the premises again.

Form: 7/27173

Ceide Fields¹¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: L P Dempsey| T: S J Mahon| OR: 104

25/1

Second to Presenting Percy at Galway last October a standout piece of form, but not reproduced that in three runs since and having not been seen out for almost four months, has plenty on here.

Form: 535076-

Old Castletown^h¹⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Ruby Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 104

14/1

Seems happier over fences than hurdles these days, and that's reflected by his lower mark in this discipline. However, may have gone close over this C&D in October but for a bad mistake, and if fit after a break, can't be totally discounted.

Form: 112547

Sweet Company¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: D F O'Regan| T: A J Martin| OR: 102

6/1

Not shown much in four hurdles starts as yet, but nicely treated on Flat form and yard know how to ready one for these handicaps. Lined up for this with a good fourth at Cork a fortnight ago and with likely conditions fine, is one to keep an eye on in the market.

Form: 73603-0

Lleyton^t¹³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: T J Taaffe| OR: 95

66/1

Not seen out since December and wasn't pulling up any trees when last seen. Hard to fancy on evidence seen so far.

Form: 006000-

Non-Runners

Fridaynightlights¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: G Elliott J: A Ring

British Art⁶

Weight: 9-13| Age: 5

T: R K Watson J: Reserve 1

Marienstar³³

Weight: 9-11| Age: 6

T: G J O'Keeffe J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Fridaynightlights (11/2), Sweet Company (6/1), Le Vagabond (6/1), Stamp Your Feet (7/1), Bobabout (8/1), British Art (10/1), Marienstar (10/1), Soir De Chantenay (12/1), Old Castletown (14/1), Pinkie Brown (16/1), Bull Ride (16/1), Here For The Craic (16/1), Highland Fling (20/1), Weightfordave (20/1), The King Of Brega (20/1), Bakers Street (20/1), The Last Marju (20/1), Orchard Road (20/1), Runyon Rattler (25/1), Ceide Fields (25/1), Valgor Du Ronceray (25/1), Next Bend (25/1), Fruits Of Glory (28/1), Lilshane (33/1), Giantofaman (33/1), Coolfighter (40/1), Buyer Beware (50/1), Lleyton (66/1)

For a big-field handicap, there's not too much in the way of pace here and luck in running may play an even part than it usually does. If a strong pace could be guaranteed, Bobabout would be high on the shortlist for this, but he's likely to be buried away so he can settle. FRIDAYNIGHTLIGHTS is in tremendous form and this race was nominated as a target last week after his Kilbeggan win. He can go close again. Bakers Street wasn't far behind the selection last time and despite being 10, may actually have a bit more to offer.Stamp Your Feet, The King Of Brega and Pinkie Brown are others to consider in an open race.