18:05 Punchestown
Thursday 27 April 2017
All15:4016:1516:5017:3018:0518:4019:1519:45
Shamrock Enterprises Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)
- 4YO plus  |  3m  |  Good to Yielding  |  25 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 18:07Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 6m 2.1s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Progressive sort that was in winning form when last seen out in November, winning back-to-back handicaps at Huntingdon and Kempton. Not seen since, presumably waiting for better ground, and although he will have been well prepared, does need to show his effectiveness at this trip.
Loves it here, as a record of 31123 in handicaps here shows. Kept fresh for this and although handicapper has pushed him up another 3lb for a good effort here in February, looks solid and almost guaranteed to run his race under likely ideal conditions.
Handicapper gave him a kicking for his win over Hollow Tree at Thurles in February, and he seemed to find it a bit much to handle when a respectable fifth in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham. Another solid effort since but suspicion is others are better treated now.
Solid effort when upped to 3m at Aintree last time, finding only runaway winner Fountains Windfall too good, and turns up here on a mark a pound lower. Gives the impression there's plenty more to come and looks to hold a good chance again here, if over those exertions.
Looked to need all of Sandown's 2½ miles last time out when winning the EBF Novices Hurdle Final, and step up in trip may bring out more, but has ground to make up with No Comment on earlier form and looks poorly handicapped against him. Not discounted, but must improve again.
Progessive towards the back of the last calendar year, winning at both Thurles and Fairyhouse but has found life harder since, although recent pulled-up effort not his fault after being badly hampered. Should have more to come and not without chances here.
Looks to be going the right way and followed up Wetherby novice hurdle win with a more than respectable effort when finishing midfield in the Grade 1 Neptune Hurdle at Cheltenham, looking like further would suit. Not fully exposed yet and can't be discounted, although a little to prove at the trip.
Quite highly tried since coming back from a layoff and fourth to Presenting Percy in Fairyhouse a solid effort, however was well beaten when seen in the Coral Cup on latest start and although yard can never be ruled out of these races, plenty to prove now.
Ran well on return this season when third to Anibale Fly at Navan, but disappointing since and plenty to prove now, not least effectiveness at the trip. More likely winners in the field.
Never out of the places on all completed starts, and likely conditions here should be fine. Has gone well after a break before, so absence not a problem, but this is asking plenty on his handicap debut.
Showed he gets this trip fine when beaten under four lengths by Mall Dini in the 2016 running of the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham, and back to form with a win over a trip arguably too short at Naas in March. May find others better handicapped, but looks sure to run a solid race.
Winner of her last two starts, the latest being a Grade 3 contest at Limerick (heavy ground) but that not might be the strongest event ever for the grade. Handicapper has put her up another 7lb for that and although she represents strong connections, others still preferred.
Has form that ties her in with a few of these, but yet to really convince that 3m is what she wants and although she may have needed her most recent run after four months off (not disgraced), has a bit to do to get involved.
Lightly raced and looks to be going the right way if recent warm-up run for this, a fifth at Fairyhouse (actually finished lame) is to be believed. Needs to prove himself at the trip but a decent effort here wouldn't be a major shock.
Hadn't shown much in three starts this season but was in the process of running a better race at Fairyhouse last time out, coming down at the last when looking booked for a place at worst. Nudged up a pound for that but chances if building on it.
A winner and a second in two bumpers here back in 2015, so clearly acts well on the track, and showed she stays this trio when back to form with a staying-on second at Fairyhouse last time out. Up 3lb for that but relatively unexposed at the trip and may have more to offer.
Had looked to be regressing until stopping a poor run of form with a good second at Cork last time out, with the step back up to 3m looking to be in his favour. Best days behind him now, though, and having been put up 3lb for that effort, may find others quicker.
Ran well to the improving Three Ways at Doncaster in February, finishing second, but not so good when well beaten off at Chepstow next time out. Possible the soft ground there didn't help his cause, but still a bit to find here, regardless of that.
Was in good form when last seen, but that was way back in 2014, and handicapper still has him on a higher mark than when last seen. Will be some training feat if yard can get him to win after such an absence.
Winner at Naas in January but well held in two runs since, although quite highly tried, but no evidence he wants this trip as yet, and others readily preferred.
Not seen much in recent times, and this will only be his fourth start in 18 months, but did run well when a staying-on fourth at Leopardstown over 2m in December. Needs to show this trip suits as well as shorter, however, and another absence since asks plenty of questions.
Right back to form when a winner of a similar class handicap at Cork on his latest start, staying on well to lead on the run-in, but that was over a much shorter trip than today and raised another 7lb for that and no form at the trip, has new questions to answer here.
Had not shown much in four starts in maiden hurdles but found plenty of improvement to land a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse on handicap debut, looking like another step up in trip would suit. Handicapper has clobbered him with a 12lb rise for that, but hard to say how much more improvement he's got to come. Has to be of interest.
Highly tried at Naas two starts back and was duly outclassed, but a series of consistent, if unspectacular efforts around that. However, has no form at this trip, and not hard to look elsewhere for the winner.
May not be entirely straightforward and managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on his latest start at Ffos Las, jinking on the run-in and unseating his rider, but that form needs improving on and has plenty on here.
Non-Runners
4
Sadler's Risk33
Weight: 11-7|Â Â Age: 9
T: H De Bromhead  J: A E Lynch
NR
27
Ballyegan Hero18
Weight: 10-4|Â Â Age: 6
T: J J Walsh  J: Reserve 2
NR
28
Returntovendor9
Weight: 10-3|Â Â Age: 7
T: J P Fahey  J: Reserve 3
NR
Forecasts
Minella Awards (7/1), No Comment (7/1), Kate Appleby Shoes (8/1), Oscar Sam (8/1), Showem Silver (10/1), Billy's Hope (10/1), Gurteen (14/1), Ballyegan Hero (14/1), Returntovendor (14/1), Sutton Manor (16/1), Woods Well (16/1), Oathkeeper (16/1), Okotoks (16/1), Sadler's Risk (16/1), Younevercall (20/1), Skipthecuddles (20/1), Conduct Yourself (20/1), Rathpatrick (20/1), Screaming Rose (25/1), Ah Littleluck (25/1), Abbreviate (25/1), Sure Reef (33/1), Thebarrowman (33/1), Bob Mahler (33/1), Captainofthefleet (40/1), Hunters Call (50/1), Our Man Zebo (50/1), Art Of Security (50/1)
This looks very open, with a few of these capable of improving again and leaving their marks well behind. NO COMMENT just gets the vote on the basis of his solid second in a quality handicap at Aintree and still looks well treated. Showem Silver improved out of all recognition on his latest start and it's anyone's guess how much more is in the tank. Oscar's Sam and Billy's Hope are others that should go close if running their races, Woods Well and Okotoks both need a look in the market.
- No Comment
- Showem Silver
- Billy's Hope
Prize Money
1st: €35,400.002nd: €11,400.003rd: €5,400.004th: €2,400.005th: €1,200.006th: €600.00
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