12:30 Punchestown

Sunday 19 November 2017

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:2515:55

Irish Daily Mirror Handicap Hurdle (0-140)

Off time: 12:32 | Winning time: 4m 8.80s

Yaha Fizz²⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: E D Delany| OR: 132| D

10/1

In great form earlier this year and completing a hat-trick when winning a novice hurdle by 17L at Naas (2m, soft) in February. Worth a check in the market on his seasonal debut off a mark 32lb higher than for his latest handicap success.

Form: 546111-

Top Othe Ra¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 130| D

4/1

Winning for the third time this year when successful off a 4lb lower mark at Down Royal (soft) earlier this month. Trip and forecast ground should suit and is an interesting runner today. Also engaged 15:00 Cheltenham..

Form: 211261

Light That¹⁰⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 126| D

9/1

Struggled in three hurdles outings since finishing runner-up over C&D on good-to-yielding ground in April. Races off the same mark today and has won on the Flat since.

Form: 002-P80

She's A Star¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 126| D

13/2

Disappointing since completing a hat-trick in a novice hurdle at Galway 13 months ago. Pulled up in April's handicap debut and interesting to see how she fares today.

Form: 112PP-4

Sanibel Island³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 125| D

7/1

Successful on heavy ground at Navan in March, some fair efforts since but disappointing on his seasonal debut over 2m4f here a month ago. Drop in trip looks likely to suit.

Form: 4165-70

Oscars Den^t⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Katie Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 121| D

5/2

Winning for the first time since joining this yard when taking a 2m handicap hurdle at Navan (soft-to-heavy) earlier this month. Races off a 7lb higher mark today and is one to note in this contest.

Form: 2/40-471

Apache Jack⁹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Paul Townend| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 118| BF| C

25/1

Victorious three times to date but a beaten favourite in two starts over fences since joining this yard in the spring. Returns to hurdles having pulled up at Perth (soft) last time.

Form: 8P50-3P

Lilshane¹⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: M A Enright| T: T P O'Connor| OR: 118| D

33/1

Placed three times last winter and a fair effort when finishing fifth at Roscommon (yielding-to-soft) when last in action back in June. Returning from a break today.

Form: 82P0-P5

Icario^h,t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 120

8/1

Sole victory so far came in a Flat race on soft ground in France. Finished in the frame on six of his ten starts over hurdles since joining this yard and is one to note on his handicap debut.

Form: 22F32-4

He's Our Man^t²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 9-10| J: Robbie Colgan| T: A McCann| OR: 104| CD

12/1

Placed twice since returning to hurdling this autumn and races off the same mark as when finishing 6L third at Galway (soft-to-heavy) three weeks ago. Receiving weight from all of his rivals today.

Form: 7-60523

Forecasts

Oscars Den (5/2), Top Othe Ra (4/1), She's A Star (13/2), Sanibel Island (7/1), Icario (8/1), Light That (9/1), Yaha Fizz (10/1), He's Our Man (12/1), Apache Jack (25/1), Lilshane (33/1)

TOP OTHE RA can complete a double if taking up this engagement given that he is also entered at Cheltenham today. The selection has the ground and trip to suit and can defy a 4lb rise for his latest success by getting the better of Oscars Den, another to have tasted success already this month while Yaha Fizz, a winner three times last winter can claim third on his seasonal debut.