18:05 Punchestown

Wednesday 25 April 2018

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

Racing Post Champion I.N.H. Flat Race For The Conyngham Cup (Grade 1)

Off time: 18:05 | Winning time: 4m 2.80s

Blackbow⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134| D

9/4

Beaten just shy of 6L by stablemate Relegate (Carefully Selected second, Tornado Flyer third) in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper last month. Previously unbeaten at a flatter track (Leopardstown), so respected back on home turf.

Form: 1-115

Carefully Selected⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: W P Mullins| OR: 129| D

4/1

Lost his unbeaten rules record when edged out by stablemate Relegate (Tornado Flyer third, Blackbow fifth) in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper last month. Should appreciate this switch to a flatter track given his prominent style of racing.

Form: 21-112

Felix Desjy⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: G Elliott| OR: 126| CD

8/1

A highly touted horse for the majority of the season, winning well here (October) and at Down Royal (November). Beaten approximately 7½L (sixth) by the Mullins battalion in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper last month.

Form: 1-116

Getaway John²³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr F Maguire| T: G Elliott| CD

6/1

Beaten just a head by subsequent Cheltenham Champion Bumper third Tornado Flyer when runner up at Fairyhouse in January (soft), he's won both of his next two starts in the style of a progressive horse.

Form: 3-211

Rapid Escape⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Ms L O'Neill| T: G Elliott| CD

12/1

Unbeaten in a trio of bumpers (Down Royal, Punchestown and Navan), before tasting defeat for the first time at the hands of Blackbow at Leopardstown in February (soft). Needs to bounce back with regular rider aboard.

Form: 15-1115

Tornado Flyer⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: R Deegan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 117| D

12/1

Did well to beat Getaway John by a head on debut at Fairyhouse (January), before tackling the Champion Bumper next time. Lacked the experience of some of his stablemates, so probably did well to finish 3½L third to Relegate/Carefully Selected.

Form: 13

Where Eagles Dare¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M J O'Hare| T: N Meade| D

40/1

Mahler gelding out of Tariana who cost €80,000 as a three-year-old. Left his debut effort at Navan well behind when beating Vent D'automne by 6L at Limerick recently (heavy), but this rates as a significant step up in class.

Form: 31

Relegate⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Katie Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 120| CD

9/2

Unbeaten in three starts, including when accounting for a number of these rivals (mainly stablemates) in the Champion Bumper latest. Her previous Leopardstown form also reads well; beat subsequent Aintree winner Getaway Katie Mai by 1½L.

Form: 111

Dorking Boy^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien| T: T Lacey

16/1

Third foal of a bumper/2m hurdle winning full-sister to Champion Bumper winner Ballyandy. Looked to be an above average sort himself when making a winning debut at Market Rasen recently (2m+ heavy) in the hands of Richard Johnson.

Form: 1

Young Ted³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Ms N Carberry| T: N Meade| D

18/1

Ran out a decisive 14L winner on his second career start at Thurles last month (2m heavy), but he's bred to be a stayer, so his future lies over hurdles/fences. Stiff task against some much speedier looking rivals here.

Form: 21

Forecasts

Blackbow (9/4), Carefully Selected (4/1), Relegate (9/2), Getaway John (6/1), Felix Desjy (8/1), Tornado Flyer (12/1), Rapid Escape (12/1), Dorking Boy (16/1), Young Ted (18/1), Where Eagles Dare (40/1)

A very strong Champion Bumper with all of the main protagonists from Cheltenham present and correct, with the filly RELEGATE seeking to confirm her superiority over stablemates Carefully Selected, Tornado Flyer and Blackbow, as well as the much hyped Felix Desjy. As at Cheltenham, she receives a handy 7lb allowance from her rivals, and her previous Leopardstown form has been franked since by Getaway Katie Mai at Aintree. However, the prominent racing Carefully Selected might ideally be suited by this much flatter track, whilst Tornado Flyer should be increasingly more street-wise on his third career start, so follow up success isn't a given.