16:55 Punchestown

Wednesday 25 April 2018

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

Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 16:56 | Winning time: 6m 16.00s

Ballyward⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143

8/1

Naas maiden hurdle winner (2m3f soft to heavy), who ran well in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival (3m), when finishing 6L fourth to the more experienced Kilbricken Storm.

Form: 2/1-414

Blow By Blow^b,t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 151| C

12/1

Successful in the 2m4f Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month; staying on strongly to beat Discorama by 5L. Held by Pallasator in a better race at Fairyhouse latest and now tackles Grade 1 company.

Form: 216114

Brahma Bull⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| D

16/1

Unbeaten in bumpers and has made a relatively smooth transition to hurdling, winning on debut at Thurles in November (2m7f+ maiden). Lacked the pace to go with Samcro (ninth) in the Ballymore at Cheltenham (2m5f), so this longer trip should suit.

Form: 11119

General Consensus²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr J Drinkwater| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 125

100/1

Back from a six-month absence to score on his second hurdles start at Warwick late last month (2m5f maiden soft), but will almost certainly find himself well out of his depth in this contest.

Form: 36P3-71

Jetz^h²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 142

10/1

Won just the once in eight starts over hurdles (2m4f at Fairyhouse in November 2017), but has run some solid enough races against useful rivals since, including when beaten 2¼L by Pallasator at Fairyhouse over Easter. First try at 3m.

Form: 123422

Kilbricken Storm^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 149| D

5/1

Successful in both starts over this trip over hurdles, springing a 33/1 surprise in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival last month. Possible that track helps to show him at his very best, but obviously merits plenty of respect elsewhere.

Form: 131131

Next Destination⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| D

5/4

Lost his unbeaten hurdles record to Samcro in the Ballymore (2m5f) at Cheltenham last month, but hard to be disappointed with that effort, as he looked every inch a strong stayer. Should relish his first try at this 3m trip.

Form: 42-1113

The Conditional³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: A E Lynch| T: M Hassett| OR: 124| D

100/1

Beat Caltex by a head when winning at Thurles (2m7f maiden, heavy) last month, but found wanting in a stronger contest at Clonmel next time. Will struggle even more against such talented rivals.

Form: P15214

Delta Work^h,t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 145| C| D

7/1

Brings solid C&D handicap form into this Grade 1 contest, and bettered that effort when taking the 3m Pertemps Final by a nose from Glenloe at last month's Cheltenham Festival. Gritty and determined, but that'll be required in spades here.

Form: 332431

Discorama⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Kevin Sexton| T: P Nolan| OR: 138

20/1

Comfortably held by Blow By Blow in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (2m4f) at Cheltenham. Nevertheless, that was a career best effort so far. Although arriving on an upward trajectory, he needs much more in Grade 1 company.

Form: 2-12372

Lackaneen Leader²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| D

25/1

Receives weight from all of her rivals as the sole mare in the line up, but she sports a 50% strike rate over timber (3 from 6). No match for the brilliant Laurina at Fairyhouse over Easter (2m4f soft to heavy).

Form: 721112

Forecasts

Next Destination (5/4), Kilbricken Storm (5/1), Delta Work (7/1), Ballyward (8/1), Jetz (10/1), Blow By Blow (12/1), Brahma Bull (16/1), Discorama (20/1), Lackaneen Leader (25/1), General Consensus (100/1), The Conditional (100/1)

Both Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are equally represented with a trio of runners. The latter saddles a couple of Cheltenham Festival Handicap winners (Blow By Blow and Delta Work) who seek to cut their teeth at a higher level, so it appears to be advantage Mullins. Ballyward is lightly raced over hurdles and needs to improve past his Albert Bartlett conqueror Kilbricken Storm, but could potentially do so with the Colin Tizzard seven-year-old generally strongest at Cheltenham. However, NEXT DESTINATION is the most likely winner after his solid effort (third) behind Samcro in the Ballymore. He should truly relish his first attempt at this 3m trip.