13:30 Punchestown

Sunday 10 December 2017

All12:3013:0013:3014:0514:3515:0515:40

3 For 2 Festival Tickets At punchestown.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 5m 28.50s

Luckyinmilan³³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 114| BF| C| D

12/1

Has generally been very good over hurdles this year (worst effort came over fences last time out), but he's high enough in the handicap now to suggest he may struggle with his weight here.

Form: 1311/50-

Mary Frances¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: R M Power| T: M Hassett| OR: 112

8/1

Beaten only by the odds-on favourite at Thurles last time having won a maiden hurdle at Limerick in March. Should be on a workable mark having been raised just 2lb and another big run looks likely over what should be a more suitable trip.

Form: 061-F2

Peace N' Milan¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: F J Flood| OR: 111| D

25/1

Managed to win two consecutive races earlier in the year, but they were weaker affairs than this and her form since her summer break has hardly been encouraging.

Form: 6011-0P

Gracemount^h¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: S Doyle| OR: 109| C

7/2

Not out of the first three in her last six starts over hurdles, and seemed to improve for the application of a hood at Punchestown last time. Down slightly in trip here but holds claims if continuing to progress up another 5lb.

Form: 322331

Presenting Mahler⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Ryan| OR: 105| D

6/1

Just 1/29 over hurdles so far (is a better chaser), but that win came over this trip and only 5lb lower in the weights. Could have a say after a fair effort at Limerick last time out.

Form: 415693

Sir Ector²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: Nicole McKenna| OR: 105

14/1

Only win since 2013 has come over further than this and though he has managed another second placed finish over obstacles since he looks too high in the handicap to prove truly effective.

Form: 00-2128

Artic Pearl^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: R Loughran| T: M Brassil| OR: 101| BF| CD

10/3

Progressive handicapper who has been in particularly good form of late, winning then finishing second after unseating his rider when looking a possible winner three starts go. Up to another career-high mark but is still improving.

Form: 6/6-8U12

Aa Bee See²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: N Madden| OR: 103| D

5/1

A winner on the Flat two starts ago and went close on his return to hurdles at Navan last time. Up 2lb, should appreciate conditions and can go close again.

Form: 961-042

Sparky Stowaway⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: S G McDermott| T: T Mullins| OR: 99

12/1

Remains a maiden but best efforts have come over this trip in testing conditions. Hasn't been given all that much help by the handicapper but not ruled out for a place.

Form: 453036

Bective Cave^t¹⁰⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 92

20/1

Two career wins both came this summer, but they both came over shorter and he hasn't been at that level since; others preferred.

Form: 110408

Backinthesaddle^t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: J M Moore| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 91

20/1

Previous soft ground winner but yet to prove himself either over this distance and for this trainer having switched yards in September; too many questions to answer.

Form: 356-367

Forecasts

Artic Pearl (10/3), Gracemount (7/2), Aa Bee See (5/1), Presenting Mahler (6/1), Mary Frances (8/1), Luckyinmilan (12/1), Sparky Stowaway (12/1), Sir Ector (14/1), Backinthesaddle (20/1), Bective Cave (20/1), Peace N' Milan (25/1)

ARTIC PEAL has been in fine form over hurdles, and seems to still be improving for Martin Brassil after running a fine race in second at Fairyhouse last time out. He's gone up 3lb but that seems fair based on what he has achieved, and he is taken to record a second win in three starts here. Presenting Mahler is a better chaser than hurdler but ran well at Limerick last time and could hit the frame if repeating that level of form, while dual-purpose performer Aa Bee See also needs considering after a recent win on the Flat.