14:40 Punchestown

Sunday 31 December 2017

All12:3513:0513:4014:1014:4015:1515:45

Buy Your Tickets Online At www.punchestown.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:42 | Winning time: 5m 20.70s

Fine Rightly¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: A E Lynch| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 131| D

7/1

Ran well on his return to hurdling from chasing last time out. Has only won novice races over the smaller obstacles so far but is much lower in the handicap in this sphere and could build on that previous good effort.

Form: 040-332

Synopsis^t⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 124| C

5/1

Made a winning return to hurdling for this top trainer at Punchestown last time out. Up 8lb and steps up in trip now. Is progressive and holds obvious claims if she stays this far.

Form: 905-1

Camelia De Cotte^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: N M Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 123

8/1

Lightly-raced contender who is yet to build on a maiden hurdle win last December at Tramore. Also a slight concern that she fell at the first when last seen at Navan earlier in the month.

Form: 3/15-7F

Miles To Memphis^t⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: M A Enright| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 122

14/1

Has put in some good performances on the Flat recently which bodes well on his return to hurdles, though it's a slight concern he has never won over this far. Has gone close off just 3lb less than this, however.

Form: 7/P128-4

The Mulcare Rover³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: J J Walsh| OR: 120| D

20/1

Disappointing in handicap company so far having looked promising at the beginning of his career. Beaten 13L at Limerick last time out with no obvious excuses, but the step back up in trip here may help.

Form: 36/18-84

Returntovendor^p³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: I J McCarthy| T: J P Fahey| OR: 119

25/1

Went on a good run towards the end of last season, but two only moderate efforts so far this campaign. Difficult to see this drop in trip bringing about too much improvement.

Form: 5131-00

Brave Out¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: D F O'Regan| T: J E Kiely| OR: 116| BF

8/1

Has just a maiden hurdle to his name so far having failed to impress in handicap company. Hasn't been given too much assistance from the handicapper (up 1lb having been beaten favourite last time), and probably best left alone for now.

Form: 5-P5593

Ben Brody¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: P D Kennedy⁽³⁾| T: S Byrne| OR: 115| CD

14/1

C&D winner who steps back down in trip having recorded mixed form in recent months. Not ruled out if on a going day off what should be a workable mark.

Form: 157725

Hareth¹⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 115

12/1

Genuine horse who always seems to run his race, and though he is 13lb above his last winning mark he was just 4lb lower when travelling well and coming down at Roscommon in June.

Form: 331-2F3

Steel Wave^h⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 114| BF| C| D

7/4

Ran perfectly well on return from a break last month. Makes only his second start for this yard now and shouldn't see too many issues with this drop in trip. Up 4lb but still holds strong claims.

Form: 25631/2

Wade Harper⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 112| BF| D

50/1

Form tailed off for previous trainer (last won in February 2016, when running at a higher level than this). Needs to recapture that level of ability now with a new yard.

Form: 23-2237

Ice Cool²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Donagh Meyler| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 111| C| D

40/1

Talented performer on his day and versatile as regards trip, but finished last of all on his return from a break at Fairyhouse earlier in the month.

Form: F413/3-0

Fruits Of Glory^h,t¹¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: E Cawley| OR: 104

20/1

Won a maiden hurdle in February 2015 but hasn't made his mark in handicap company and is difficult to envisage as a likely winner of this.

Form: 6570-7F

Forecasts

Steel Wave (7/4), Synopsis (5/1), Fine Rightly (7/1), Brave Out (8/1), Camelia De Cotte (8/1), Hareth (12/1), Miles To Memphis (14/1), Ben Brody (14/1), Fruits Of Glory (20/1), The Mulcare Rover (20/1), Returntovendor (25/1), Ice Cool (40/1), Wade Harper (50/1)

Top weight is never an easy burden to carry in these races but that said FINE RIGHTLY represents an interesting option. An excellent chaser he hasn't been quite so good over hurdles so far but ran a solid race over the smaller obstacles last time and on the best of his chasing form is very well treated here. He is taken to get the better of Steel Wave, who made a promising return from a break last month, and the lightly-raced raced Synopsis.