15:15 Punchestown

Sunday 31 December 2017

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

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 4m 21.7s

Belle Helene²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: A W Short| T: T J Taaffe| OR: 95

16/1

Bumper winner who is yet to translate that level of form to three efforts over hurdles. Perhaps she can do better now switched to handicap company.

Form: 109-0

Oakfield Rose^t⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Katie O'Farrell| T: Eric Larkin| OR: 95| D

3/1

Ran fairly well at Limerick last time considering she'd gone up 8lb for winning on her previous start. May benefit from racing more prominently this time and can't be ruled out.

Form: 1/00014

Johnny Sue^t1⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr L P Gilligan| T: William P Murphy| OR: 90

3/1

Has shown some good form both over hurdles and in point-to-points recently but could also do with improving his jumping having fallen on two of his last four starts (including points). Tongue strap is added now.

Form: 50-1F1F

Mister Butler⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: S A Mulcahy⁽⁴⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 89

20/1

Finished behind some nice types in maiden hurdles but failed to improve on those efforts when switched to handicap company last time out.

Form: 0/5P-090

Fly Round The Bend⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: F J Hayes| T: J J Walsh| OR: 86

8/1

A winner on the Flat but tough to get too excited about her hurdles form, including when well beaten at Cork last time out.

Form: 0-20U07

Island Villa⁸⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: C M Leonard⁽²⁾| T: P McCreery| OR: 82| D

25/1

Only win over hurdles came in September 2014 and has been on a long losing run since. 43L defeat at Thurles last time out wasn't one of his more encouraging efforts since, either.

Form: 0-439P0

Billybuster³⁸¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-11| J: D J Hand| T: W Delahunty| OR: 80| D

33/1

Veteran performer who hasn't won since 2013 and though he would be very well-treated on his best form he needs an unlikely revival against some younger, much more progressive rivals.

Form: 969480-

Glen's Dd^h²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: D P Holden⁽²⁾| T: G J Power| OR: 80

20/1

Yet to score over hurdles and is also a maiden on the Flat. Needs a career best by some margin to get involved in this.

Form: 7P6060

Jimmyjames²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: R M Short⁽²⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 80

14/1

0/13 over hurdles and has never gotten within 20L of a winner. No surprise if that record remains intact here.

Form: 5P-0056

Kentucky Minstrel^t1⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Liam McKenna| T: J P Ryan| OR: 80

25/1

Pulled-up in October on first start since June 2014. May improve on that effort but surely not enough to have a genuine say. Tongue strap on.

Form: 806/P

Urbanist^p⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: E O'Connell| T: S Nolan| OR: 80

3/1

One of his better efforts at Down Royal on Boxing Day but needs to progress again in order to put it up to the best of these.

Form: 000606

Non-Runners

Soul Season²⁰⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 11

T: T James J: J P O'Sullivan

She's Made It²²

Weight: 10-13| Age: 4

T: C Roche J: K J Brouder

Forecasts

Soul Season (2/1), Urbanist (3/1), Oakfield Rose (3/1), Johnny Sue (3/1), She's Made It (5/1), Fly Round The Bend (8/1), Jimmyjames (14/1), Belle Helene (16/1), Glen's Dd (20/1), Mister Butler (20/1), Kentucky Minstrel (25/1), Island Villa (25/1), Billybuster (33/1)

A fair few of these don't exactly arrive here in good form but that can't be said for SOUL SEASON. Despite being 11 (almost 12) this gelding is fairly lightly-raced, and having run into a lovely bit of form since been sent handicapping recently he shouldn't mind the drop in trip here and has the potential to make it three wins in four starts here. Johnny Sue could be the main danger if improving his jumping while She's Made It may improve now handicapping.