13:40 Punchestown

Sunday 11 February 2018

All13:4014:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:50

P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 7m 25.70s

Auvergnat⁸⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 130| BF| CD

7/2

Winner over C&D of this contest last year and went on to finish 11½L behind Cause Of Causes in the Cheltenham cross country chase. Beaten favourite when last seen falling at the same track in November. One for the shortlist.

Form: 4-12B3F

Hurricane Darwin⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: A Fleming| OR: 132| D

4/1

Failed to win a hat-trick of handicap chases when finishing 13th of 21 at Navan in November. Could be an interesting recruit to this discipline.

Form: F-40110

Mtada Supreme⁵⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: P Maher| OR: 134| CD

8/1

Tailed off when pulled-up in a cross country chase at Cheltenham in December. Finished 11th of 14 beaten 90L behind Auvergnat in this contest last year and hard to fancy.

Form: R-3831P

Venitien De Mai^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M J O'Hare⁽⁵⁾| T: J T R Dreaper| OR: 135| D

11/4

Winner of five of his six point-to-point starts but last chase win under rules came in March 2016. Looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: 6F-3124

Enniskillen^p,t⁴⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 11-11| J: Robbie Colgan| T: P Maher| OR: 83| CD

33/1

All four point-to-point and rules wins have come at Punchestown including in a banks contest back in April. Well beaten at Down Royal on St Stephens day and more needed here.

Form: 315-P56

Fergiethelegend^b¹¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-11| J: I J McCarthy| T: J G Carr| OR: 84| CD

100/1

Pulled-up in a banks chase here in April when tailed off after the 24th obstacle. Looks up against it here.

Form: 5PP-035

Josies Orders^b³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Bolger| OR: 135| CD

3/1

Successful over this C&D in May 2015 and a winner three times over the cross-country course at Cheltenham since. Third of nine over the circuit in December. Worth a market check.

Form: 1/0-6230

Baily Fox⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr W J Gleeson⁽⁷⁾| T: J F Gleeson

100/1

Poor form in a series of dismal performances for trainer Mouse Morris but slight sign of promise last time out in a Ballinaboola point-to-point earlier this month. Looks opposable.

Form: PP-PPP2

Blue Templar⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 92

33/1

Third of 10 over C&D in April last term before slipping up when coming in to a similar contest later in the month. Market likely to reveal expectations.

Form: 3P3S-36

My Hometown⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Slevin| T: E Bolger| OR: 114| D

20/1

Not disgraced in a number of efforts over the banks here and the cross country course at Cheltenham. Capable of running a big race.

Form: 5P5746

Sammy Black^t1³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: R Loughran| T: A Fleming| OR: 131

20/1

Could be another interesting recruit from the Hurricane Darwin stable to this discipline but today may not be the day.

Form: 10F8/P-4

Non-Runners

Cantlow⁵⁸

Weight: 12-0| Age: 13

T: E Bolger J: Ms N Carberry

Forecasts

Venitien De Mai (11/4), Cantlow (11/4), Josies Orders (3/1), Auvergnat (7/2), Hurricane Darwin (4/1), Mtada Supreme (8/1), Sammy Black (20/1), My Hometown (20/1), Blue Templar (33/1), Enniskillen (33/1), Fergiethelegend (100/1), Baily Fox (100/1)

Enda Bolger's My Hometown could well be the one to set the fractions here in this Cross Country chase opener. As the runners turn for home it could be all green and gold up front as the three main protagonists battle it out to the finish with last years victor AUVERGNAT landing the spoils again from Joisie's Orders and the gallant Cantlow.