13:00 Punchestown

Sunday 10 December 2017

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

Corinthian Restaurant On Sale Now Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 5m 19.5s

Beyond The Law^t1²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: M F Morris

7/1

Yet to get off the mark over hurdles but has run creditably in his three starts in this sphere so far, with a first time tongue-strap possibly helping with some further improvement here.

Form: 120-204

Cappacon²⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan

50/1

Point-to-point winner who also ran well in bumpers without managing to get his head in front. Never a factor in three maiden hurdles since and others are preferred.

Form: 522/0P0-

Getabird³¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

11/10

Classy bumper performer last season who was favourite for the Champion Bumper before being forced to miss the race through injury. Makes his hurdling debut here and holds outstanding claims if he has overcome that setback.

Form: R1/11-

Gun Digger¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott

9/2

Bumper winner in November who makes his debut over hurdles here. Has shown he handles deep ground and holds a fitness advantage compared to many of the other obvious candidates here.

Form: P2/41

Impact Factor²⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

10/1

Ran well in two bumpers for previous yard (all three horses who finished in front of him have since won maiden hurdles), and is of interest on stable debut for this top trainer.

Form: 32-

Niebieski^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Smith

66/1

French Flat import who fell on hurdles debut before finishing last but one at Naas last time. Needs to leave that form a long way behind in order to have a say here.

Form: F0

Bennaway³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington

33/1

Beaten 85L on his sole start so far, and needs to improve markedly on that effort in order to have a say here; Robbie Power gets off in favour of stablemate Impact Factor.

Form: 7

Dontdooddson²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner

16/1

Well-beaten in two maiden hurdles so far. Ran slightly better than expected when 100/1 last time but still has plenty to find in order to hit the frame.

Form: 5-9

He's No Molly²²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade

12/1

Placed in a point-to-point in April and off since. Cost £75,000 in the meantime and could be better over further in time, but this is still a good starting point for him.

Form: 2-

Meldrum Way²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: S G McDermott| T: G J Power

100/1

Well-beaten in two starts over hurdles so far after being pulled-up in a point-to-point, and others readily preferred in what may be a tougher race.

Form: P-90

Steer Clear

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: C Roche

12/1

None of his dam's progeny have won yet, but there is bumper winning form in the pedigree, as well as the dam having won over hurdles over 2m. The market may guide on debut.

Form:

Goaheadmakemyday^p,t²⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: R Loughran| T: T Foley

14/1

Bumper winner who has run fairly well in two starts over hurdles so far, but may struggle to put it up to some of the leading contenders in this tough looking affair.

Form: 9145/34-

All Is Well

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: J S McGarvey| T: C Roche

25/1

Flemensfirth filly, whose half-brother won seven times over jumps, including over this trip. Not ruled out on debut for a top owner.

Form:

Forecasts

Getabird (11/10), Gun Digger (9/2), Beyond The Law (7/1), Impact Factor (10/1), He's No Molly (12/1), Steer Clear (12/1), Goaheadmakemyday (14/1), Dontdooddson (16/1), All Is Well (25/1), Bennaway (33/1), Cappacon (50/1), Niebieski (66/1), Meldrum Way (100/1)

The obvious answer here is GETABIRD. Willie Mullins' five-year-old make his debut over obstacles here having been one of the top bumper horses in Britain and Ireland last season and having been the favourite for the Champion Bumper until missing the race through injury. It goes without saying that connections will see the son of Getaway's future at a much higher level than this (he is already prominent in the betting for all three Grade 1 novice hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival), and he should be able to defend his unbeaten record under rules here. If the selection fails to fire then Gun Digger and Impact Factor are the most obvious dangers.