18:40 Punchestown

Friday 28 April 2017

All15:4016:2016:5517:3018:0518:4019:1019:45

Star Best For Racing Coverage Champion Hunters Chase

Off time: 18:40 | Winning time: 6m 32.50s

Balnaslow²²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: G J McKeever| OR: 135

4/1

Useful horse under rules a couple of years ago but successful just once in point-to-point company this season but two most recent hunter chase efforts including when runner-up at Aintree last time out single him out as a leading contender in this contest.

Form: 125252

Dantes King^b1¹⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 120

66/1

Winner of a point-to-point at Horse & Jockey in March but blotted his copybook when unseating at the first at Ludlow earlier this month and well held in a hunter chase at Fairyhouse last week also. Wears blinkers for the first time today.

Form: 521U4P-

Dimple¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 107

33/1

Justified odds-on favouritism when taking a 2m5f hunter chase at Tramore (good) earlier this month. Also successful on all three point-to-point outings this season with his sole defeat coming on heavy ground in a Limerick hunter chase. More needed here but unexposed in this company.

Form: 111P1P-

Home Farm^t⁶⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr G O'Loughlin⁽⁷⁾| T: A Lynch| OR: 142

16/1

Defeated Balnaslow on good-to-firm ground at Tyrella in January. Made the frame in point-to-points the last twice but more likely needed to figure in this contest.

Form: P-03123

Mendip Express^t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr David Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128

10/1

Finished third when contesting this event under his regular jockey in 2016. The partnership were beaten 5L into fifth at Aintree last time out and while he's been running well in the main this season more is needed to take this.

Form: 83-3295

Minella For Value¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D L Queally⁽³⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 132

6/1

Winner of his last two point-to-point outings since finishing a close sixth at Cheltenham last month. Also successful in a further three point-to-point races this season and a repeat of that most recent hunter chase effort would see him play a leading role in this contest.

Form: 216113-

Monsieur Gibraltar²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs R Loxton| OR: 132

5/1

Useful youngster and unbeaten in point-to-point and hunter chase company this season. Justified odds-on favouritism over 2m5f at Ascot on good ground earlier this month and while he has won over 3m in the past he appears to be better over shorter.

Form: 411116-

On The Fringe^p1²²

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J J Codd| T: E Bolger| OR: 134

13/8

Winner of this race five times in the past including last year's renewal. Beaten on all three starts in 2017 including when bidding to follow up previous successes in the big hunter chase at Cheltenham last month, a race in which he finished fourth in this year. Pulled up when favourite at Aintree latest and wears cheekpieces for the first time today.

Form: 11-124P

Sir Des Champs^p⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr G A Spain⁽⁷⁾| T: P M J Doyle| OR: 152

12/1

Successful three times at the highest level in the past but beaten in all five point-to-points including three times under this rider in 2017. Has won at this meeting in the past and has cheekpieces re-applied today.

Form: P-42232

Maple Mons¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: D M Christie

10/1

Winner of a hunter chase at Down Royal over 2m4f on yielding-to-soft ground last month. Won two of her three subsequent efforts including a Fairyhouse hunter chase ten days ago but likely to find a few too good here.

Form: F21411

Forecasts

On The Fringe (13/8), Balnaslow (4/1), Monsieur Gibraltar (5/1), Minella For Value (6/1), Mendip Express (10/1), Maple Mons (10/1), Sir Des Champs (12/1), Home Farm (16/1), Dimple (33/1), Dantes King (66/1)

ON THE FRINGE disappointed when pulling up at Aintree last time out but he can get back to winning ways by registering a sixth success in this high class hunter chase. The selection took this event by 2L in 2016 and can get the better of Balnaslow who has finished in front of him the last twice including at Aintree last time out while Monsieur Gibraltar, twice a winner of hunter chases over shorter this season can finish third.