15:45 Punchestown

Sunday 31 December 2017

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

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares (Pro/Am) Flat Race

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 4m 45.9s

Best Of Dubai¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Ms N Carberry| T: G Elliott| BF

9/2

Has placed in four of his five bumpers so far despite not winning any of them yet, and though she was beaten at odds-on last time it would be a surprise if she wasn't thereabouts once again.

Form: 32342

Holycross Lito¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr N McParlan⁽³⁾| T: S McParlan

8/1

Two time point-to-point winner who has run fairly well in a pair of bumpers so far. Will probably be seen to best effect over further over obstacles in the future, though.

Form: 1211-33

Krujers Girl⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss L A Hourigan⁽⁵⁾| T: T J Gray

50/1

Failed to progress again at Punchestown last time having run slightly better on her penultimate start, but even that level of form would see her come up well short here.

Form: 768

Moyhenna²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Cawley⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan

13/2

Has run well in defeat in two bumpers and two maiden hurdles so far. Returns to this sphere now and could find herself filling a place once again.

Form: 4-334

Ardlea Rose^p1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: E Cawley

66/1

Very well-beaten on debut in a maiden hurdle at Navan last time out when last of the finishers. Difficult to see her showing the improvement to have a say here with cheek pieces added.

Form: 0

Darrens Diamond⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr M J Sweeney⁽⁷⁾| T: R Murphy

50/1

Finished sixth on debut at Galway in October (was disqualified but only because her rider failed to weigh-in). Needs to improve on that performance but it still wasn't devoid of ability.

Form: D

Esthers Marvel²⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: D Budds

50/1

Finished fifth in her only start in a point-to-point. Makes her first start for this yard/under rules, but others have more encouraging form to go on.

Form: 5-

Fulysse

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Nolan

25/1

Della Francesca filly and a half-sister to Willie Mullins' exciting and undefeated hurdler Lucky Pass. Interesting here if sharing in any of that ability.

Form:

Girley Talk

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Ms L O'Neill⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott

16/1

Whitmore's Conn filly who is a half-sister to a few winners. In the care of a top trainer and no surprise to see her run well on this racecourse debut.

Form:

Ifyoucatchmenow²³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr D H Dunsdon| T: W P Mullins

9/2

Westener filly and point-to-point winner who has joined Willie Mullins for £100,000 since. Has to have a good chance on debut under rules here.

Form: 4-1

Kilbarry Calling¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Ms K Walsh| T: C O'Keeffe

8/1

Finished fourth on debut at Fairyhouse earlier in the month. Ran fairly well there despite showing signs of her inexperience and can't be ruled out if coming on for that run.

Form: 4

Lady Loretto²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins

5/2

Unseated the rider when sent off a short-priced favourite for her only point-to-point. Nice pedigree and has now joined a yard which tends to do well in these sorts of contests.

Form:

Last One³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell

50/1

Finished fifth on debut at Limerick earlier in the month. Wasn't particularly fancied at 33/1 on that occasion and more needed now.

Form: 5

Shantou Bay

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: R Deegan⁽⁷⁾| T: A Mullins

20/1

Shantou filly who is has some bumper form in her pedigree. The market can prove informative as to her chances for this debut run.

Form:

Non-Runners

Maple Lawn⁸⁵

Weight: 11-6| Age: 4

T: Mrs J Harrington J: Miss K Harrington

Forecasts

Lady Loretto (5/2), Best Of Dubai (9/2), Ifyoucatchmenow (9/2), Moyhenna (13/2), Holycross Lito (8/1), Kilbarry Calling (8/1), Girley Talk (16/1), Maple Lawn (16/1), Shantou Bay (20/1), Fulysse (25/1), Darrens Diamond (50/1), Esthers Marvel (50/1), Last One (50/1), Krujers Girl (50/1), Ardlea Rose (66/1)

Ifyoucatchmenow is obviously respected as a point-to-point winner who has been recruited by Willie Mullins, but preference is for BEST OF DUBAI. Gordon Elliott's representative has had a few chances by now but has shown that he can perform at this level and is perhaps a little unlucky not to have gotten off the mark. He could be the one to be with here in a race where Lady Loretto is another interesting point-to-point recruit.