16:20 Punchestown

Tuesday 24 April 2018

All15:4016:2016:5517:3018:0518:4019:15

Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 4m 3.7s

Beyond The Law^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Cooper| T: M F Morris| OR: 135

66/1

Didn't get home in the Albert Bartlett (3m, soft) at Cheltenham last month, sent off 50/1, and has plenty to find with Getabird on meeting here over 2m4f earlier in the season.

Form: 43114P

Cartwright³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 134| D

33/1

Progressing nicely this term in four starts over hurdles, landing 2m heavy-ground Listed event at Navan last month. Needs another good leap forward here however and trainer appears to hold clearer chance with Mengli Khan.

Form: 2141

Draconien²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: N D Fehily| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136

25/1

Unseated early on in 2m heavy-ground Listed event at Navan last month won by Cartwright. Since produced his best effort over timber when 12L second to Getabird at Fairyhouse (2m, heavy) with Sharjah and Hardline behind.

Form: 4-12U2

Getabird²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| CD

11/10

Beaten favourite in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham last month but put that behind him with decisive Grade 2 Fairyhouse (2m, heavy) success since. Now gets chance to reverse Cheltenham form with a few of these and should mount bold bid.

Form: 11-1101

Hardline^h²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| CD

25/1

Grade 2 winner at Naas (2m, soft) in February but has come up short a few times in this company. No match for Getabird last time out at Fairyhouse and seemingly playing for minor money again.

Form: 133113

Mengli Khan^t⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 150| D

11/2

Looked to be going places when winning Royal Bond at Fairyhouse in December before blotting copybook at Leopardstown. No match for Getabird in here in January, but excellent third in the Supreme at Cheltenham since makes this an interesting rematch.

Form: 111R23

Paloma Blue⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 149| D

11/2

Shown up well in good races in two most recent outings, finishing respectable third behind Samcro at Leopardstown then just 3L down in fourth in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. Respected on that effort.

Form: 2-32134

Sharjah^t1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| D

11/1

Seemed destined to win Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas until departing at the final flight. Come up short since, including behind a few of these at Cheltenham and no match for stablemate Getabird since at Fairyhouse. Tongue tie added.

Form: 11F784

Vision Des Flos^t¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 145| CD

11/1

Sole British raider has been improved since wind operation. Ran well in the Ballymore at Cheltenham and then chased home Lalor in soft-ground Aintree Grade 1, though that was just 11 days ago. Bit more called for here in any case.

Form: 342162

Whiskey Sour³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143| D

10/1

Fortunate winner of Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown in December, finished credible third last month in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham. Similar aspirations likely to be the ceiling in this.

Form: 1143

Forecasts

Getabird (11/10), Mengli Khan (11/2), Paloma Blue (11/2), Whiskey Sour (10/1), Vision Des Flos (11/1), Sharjah (11/1), Draconien (25/1), Hardline (25/1), Cartwright (33/1), Beyond The Law (66/1)

GETABIRD didn't fire for some reason at Cheltenham but he put that behind him with a decisive Fairyhouse success since and can atone for his Cotswolds disappointment with success here. He put Mengli Khan away with a decisive turn of foot on the home bend here in January in the Moscow Flyer and can confirm that form and strike an early blow for the Mullins camp over title-chasing Gordon Elliott. Paloma Blue ran a stormer in the Supreme at Cheltenham and has excellent place claims now ahead of Draconien and Cartwright.