14:35 Punchestown

Thursday 19 October 2017

All13:2014:0514:3515:1015:4016:1016:4517:20

Go Racing In Kildare Handicap Hurdle (80-116)

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 4m 5.2s

Oscar Knight¹⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: T Mullins| OR: 116| C

14/1

One win from eight over hurdles, last sighted in the Irish National at Fairyhouse and may find top weight a burden too far on return.

Form: 71363U-

Ronava⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Cotter| OR: 115| D

16/1

Fair hurdler who most recent came at Ballinrobe over 2m4f in May off a mark of 102, ran fair race at Galway last week over this sort of trip and is respected as such.

Form: 515874

The Irregular^p,t1³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 115| D

10/1

Won off top-weight at Kilbeggan at August before being beaten out of sight in a valuable contest at Listowel from well out of the handicap. Travels well in his races and not out of this back at a realistic level with tongue tie added.

Form: F3-3210

Russian Roulette¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D J McInerney⁽⁷⁾| T: C O'Brien| OR: 114| D

13/2

Scored at Fairyhouse this month over the trip, deflating suggestions 2m is too sharp, up 6lb for that success and has to pull out more now.

Form: 02-3841

Pumbaa⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr R P Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 113| D

20/1

Successful on penultimate outing over fences at Sligo (2m1f, heavy), that was a rare upturn in fortunes and since been beating comprehensively at Galway. Will need his best back over timber on these terms.

Form: PPP-517

Geneva Barracks^t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Ruby Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: M Brassil| OR: 112

9/2

Was handed victory on a plate at Down Royal in March (2m½f, yielding to soft) on final outing last term. Respectable effort on Flat recently should leave him ripe for this handicap hurdle bow but opening mark is not an easy one.

Form: 2/55531-

Bog War²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Mullins| T: L P Cusack| OR: 111| CD

14/1

Scored three quick wins over timber in the spring of 2015 and hasn't threatened to do so again since during interrupted campaigns. Hard to build a case for on last month's return to hurdling over 2m at Navan.

Form: 114/09-0

Mr Antolini⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: G J Power| OR: 111| D

12/1

Handicap steadily falling since maiden win last September. Unplaced since and well beaten dropped to this sort of trip earlier in the month at Galway. Not one to rely on.

Form: 649406

Benemeade^b⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 109

25/1

Hard to fancy until he shows signs of some ability again, well beaten over fences at Cork on Sunday.

Form: 70-4076

Big Ben^t³³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 110

5/1

Has shown some promise in maiden hurdles already, though has proved expensive to follow in that sphere, market check needed now switched to handicaps.

Form: 2-223

Champagne Pat^t²³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: A E Lynch| T: Jonathan Sweeney| OR: 109| D

25/1

Maiden hurdle winner at Gowran Park in November (2m, yielding) though has rather had limitation exposed since going handicap in three outings. Back from a break with questions to answer.

Form: 351668-

My Painter^p,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: S A Mulcahy⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 104| D

33/1

Gained sole career win in a maiden hurdle at Musselburgh over 2m in January 2016. Positives since have been few and far between and beaten more than 30L at Galway in August on previous hurdles start.

Form: 03-6406

Brontide²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 107

28/1

Unplaced in seven starts over hurdles so far, best effort being a 7L third of fifth over 2m4f at Down Royal in June. Hard to summon any confidence for this contest.

Form: 0-05377

Here For The Craic^p¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Kennedy| T: D Budds| OR: 103| D

10/1

Not at his best so far this season and possible his age is catching up with him; would be on an attractive mark if able to replicate his better form here though, while jockey booking is a positive.

Form: 05U/0F-7

Ard Na Carraig^t1⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: I J McCarthy| T: O McKiernan| OR: 101

16/1

Beaten but not disgraced in two maiden hurdles at Roscommon and Ballinrobe in July, effort at Bellewstown in August (2m½f, good) in August much less appealing. Tongue tie tried now.

Form: 732-350

Youngnedofthehill^h,t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: R Loughran| T: S Nolan| OR: 100

7/1

Impressive Ballinrobe winner who needs to be ridden patiently, twice filled runner-up berth lately over 2m, including behind Russian Roulette last time out, goes on shortlist here.

Form: 001282

Lex Talionis^t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 99

12/1

Now a 20-race maiden rated around the 70 mark on the Flat. Made little impression in three runs in maiden hurdles but gave a better account on handicap bow recently at Fairyhouse in fourth of 15 when not far behind a couple of these.

Form: 74F4

Rolling Rocket²¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Phillip Enright| T: S Ryan| OR: 92| CD

33/1

Now 11-year-old and without a win in almost two years, was out of form over fence when last stopped in March and best watched on return to action.

Form: 5/29756-

Lusis Naturea¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: C D Maxwell| T: Eoin Barry| OR: 90

33/1

Fair AW Flat performer who was well held in two starts for this trainer in maiden hurdles at Navan and Tipperary. Much more needed.

Form: P55/F-09

Urbanist^h²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: John J Fitzpatrick⁽⁷⁾| T: S Nolan| OR: 85

33/1

No discernible form in three maiden hurdles that makes him appeal, though could find improvement now switched to handicaps.

Form: 0-800

Forecasts

Geneva Barracks (9/2), Big Ben (5/1), Russian Roulette (13/2), Youngnedofthehill (7/1), Here For The Craic (10/1), The Irregular (10/1), Lex Talionis (12/1), Mr Antolini (12/1), Oscar Knight (14/1), Bog War (14/1), Ronava (16/1), Ard Na Carraig (16/1), Pumbaa (20/1), Champagne Pat (25/1), Benemeade (25/1), Brontide (28/1), My Painter (33/1), Lusis Naturea (33/1), Rolling Rocket (33/1), Urbanist (33/1)

Geneva Barracks was a fortuitous maiden winner at Gowran Park when last spotted but may be capable of showing more now going handicapping, something that Lex Talionis did recently at Fairyhouse, with further improvement liable to thrust him into the frame. That race was won by Russian Roulette, who will likely have a say again, but runner-up YOUNGNEDOFTHEHILL has been consistent lately and is capable of delivering a late challenge to good effect that might be enough to see him collecting the spoils. Ronava and The Irregular are also of some interest.