14:20 Punchestown

Saturday 18 November 2017

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:2515:55

Frontline Security Grabel Mares Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 4m 43.6s

Forge Meadow¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 135

12/1

Highly tried in the main since winning a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Naas (soft-to-heavy) in February. Likely to appreciate this drop in grade having finished well beaten at Down Royal (soft) a fortnight ago.

Form: 184-655

Let's Dance²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144| CD

4/9

Completed a five-timer when winning at the Cheltenham Festival (2m1f, good) in March. Good efforts in Grade 1 company since and likely to prove hard to beat as she bids to repeat last years victory in this contest.

Form: 111124-

Barra^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| BF| D

7/2

Winner of five of her 15 starts but only once over hurdles from nine attempts. Disappointing odds-on favourite at Wexford (2m4f, heavy) last month and needs to bounce back if she's to take this contest.

Form: 52366-2

Hello Sweetie^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: A E Lynch| T: P E Collins| OR: 116| D

50/1

Ran well to finish runner-up off a mark of 119 in a Listed handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (good) in September. Well beaten since however and more needed if she's to take this contest.

Form: 516425

Mega Mindy³⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Paul Townend| T: A Fleming

14/1

Made a winning debut when victorious in a Cagnes-Sur-Mer hurdle over an extended 2m on soft ground in December last year. Interesting to see how she fares stepping up in grade on her debut for this yard.

Form: 1-

Dawn Shadow¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Mrs D A Love

12/1

Broke her maiden over hurdles in a 2m4f maiden hurdle at Clonmel (soft) earlier this month. Had just two starts over hurdles but steps up markedly in grade today.

Form: 38-4451

Nellie Pledge⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr L P Gilligan| T: B Cawley| OR: 112

40/1

Successful twice over hurdles with the most recent victory coming off a mark of 104 at Ballinrobe (soft-to-heavy) over 2m4f in September. Unraced since and plenty to find with the principals on official ratings.

Form: 361331

The Kings Baby⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: D J McInerney| T: M McCabe| OR: 121

10/1

Winner off a mark of 112 in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Thurles (yielding) earlier this month. Stepping up in grade and others have a more obvious chance today.

Form: 3P5-211

Non-Runners

Elusive Ivy¹⁵

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: G P Cromwell J: G N Fox

Forecasts

Let's Dance (4/9), Barra (7/2), The Kings Baby (10/1), Forge Meadow (12/1), Dawn Shadow (12/1), Mega Mindy (14/1), Elusive Ivy (33/1), Nellie Pledge (40/1), Hello Sweetie (50/1)

Cheltenham Festival winner LET'S DANCE can make a winning seasonal debut having finished fourth against geldings in a Grade 1 event at Punchestown last time. The selection represents the powerful Willie Mullins stable and can follow up her success in this contest last year by getting the better of fellow penalised runner Forge Meadow who can put some disappointing efforts behind her by claiming second today. Barra chased the selection home at Cheltenham in March and she can claim third on this occasion.