19:15 Punchestown

Thursday 27 April 2017

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

Alanna Homes Mares Novice Hurdle

Off time: 19:16 | Winning time: 4m 5.3s

Asthuria^h⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 133

13/8

Respectable fifth when finishing behind stable-mate Let's Dance at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen but fell on her previous two starts and still showed signs of jumping frailties when completing last time. Highly regarded but needs to have learnt plenty in the interim and hood from last time retained.

Form: 3/1FF51-

Barra^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

7/2

Excellent runner-up at Cheltenham behind Let's Dance at the Festival and clearly one of the more consistent types here after respectable efforts throughout the season. Travelled very well for a long way at Fairyhouse last time, perhaps struggling to truly see out the 2m4f but drop back in trip likely to suit and should go well for a trainer that won this last year.

Form: 215236

Good Thyne Tara¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

9/2

Easy winner of an 18-runner maiden hurdle at Clonmel in February but didn't jump particularly well and jumping errors got the better of her last time at Fairyhouse. Likely to appreciate the drop back in trip but Walsh seemingly prefers the claims of Asthuria.

Form: 3/12143-

Miss Mardan³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: M J Bolger| T: S Byrne| OR: 116

40/1

Maiden hurdle winner at Navan three starts back but well beaten twice since in heavy ground. Likely to enjoy the return to better ground (provided there's no more rain) and she's effective over 2m but trainer has just a 2.92% strike-rate with hurdlers in the last 12 months and this mare is in at the deep end here.

Form: 3/3-2153

Nicat's Benefit³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R Loughran| T: Miss E Lalor| OR: 116

50/1

Point-to-point winner who has slowly got the hang of things over hurdles. Recorded first win under rules at Clonmel last time, winning easily in the process but needs to step up upon that level of form here.

Form: 783118-

Pravalaguna^h⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

6/1

Going as well as anything in a Grade 2 contest last time out before taking a fall close to home but at least showed no signs of the greenness she displayed at Fairyhouse on her penultimate run. Impressive debut effort in December still fresh in the memory and less exposed than most in this field so likely to be more to come. Walsh prefers the claims of Asthuria but this trainer and jockey won this two years ago with Whiteout.

Form: 14F2-

The Green Lady⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D E Mullins| T: P A Fahy| OR: 124

10/1

Running well without setting the world alight in four starts this calendar year but has a bit to find on form and very best efforts have come in heavy ground; there would have to be plenty of rain before she enters calculations..

Form: 841226

Awayinthewest⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C M Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 128

12/1

On the improve in recent times, culminating in a career best 100/1 sixth of 16 at Cheltenham last time. Needs to find another chunk of improvement to get involved here and jockey not ridden many winners (1-65) from a limited amount of opportunities; looks vulnerable for win purposes but she my be able to run a place.

Form: 713426

Ringside Humour^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: M P Fogarty| T: J S Bolger

25/1

Eight-time winner on the Flat and latest win over 1m4f suggests she has a chance of staying this trip. Deep contest to make your hurdles debut in but not entirely ruled out if she transfers all her ability from that sphere to this and gets weight off the majority of the field.

Form:

Non-Runners

Petuna²³⁰

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: M Phelan J: D F O'Regan

Strike Is Back²⁸

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Forecasts

Asthuria (13/8), Barra (7/2), Good Thyne Tara (9/2), Pravalaguna (6/1), The Green Lady (10/1), Awayinthewest (12/1), Strike Is Back (20/1), Petuna (20/1), Ringside Humour (25/1), Miss Mardan (40/1), Nicat's Benefit (50/1)

BARRA's runner-up effort behind Let's Dance at Cheltenham would appear to set the standard on form and she may have just been found wanting at the longer trip last time after travelling smoothly throughout. Pravalaguna has been deserted by Ruby Walsh in favour of Asthuria but the former is still likely to have plenty improvement in her and she was travelling well last time out. Ringside Humour may provide some each-way value and she shouldn't be ruled out if she can transfer all her ability on the Flat to this sphere.