15:40 Punchestown

Friday 27 April 2018

All15:4016:2016:5517:3018:0518:4019:1019:45

KFM Hunters Chase For The Bishopscourt Cup

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 43.9s

Alpha Male²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: P Maher

2/1

With Nicky Henderson under rules in England but joined this trainer for £23,000 in May 2017. Won on point-to-point debut at Borris House in December (3m heavy) and largely respectable since including in defeat to Enniskillen (3m Punchestown PTP).

Form: 332-123

Battle Hard²²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: Peter Fahey

6/1

Remains a maiden and quiet since contesting a Listowel bumper in September 2017. Has point-to-point experience, but that is a modest level of form.

Form: 7P-5344

King Norman^p³²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr A M King⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Carr| OR: 89

50/1

An 18 race career maiden (0 from 10 over fences). Failed to complete; fallen, on his last four starts over the larger obstacles, so he'd be a very brave shout on that basis.

Form: U9/FFF-F

Lighting Tunes³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr N O'Rourke⁽⁷⁾| T: P Maher

16/1

Took a maiden point-to-point at Tinahely by 5L in January, but probably deserved that following some respectable previous efforts. Made much of the running over banks here on Tuesday before weakening to finish seventh to Just Wait And See (3m).

Form: 6/23817

Premier King^p1,t1⁶¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: D J Barry

20/1

Not looked the part either over hurdles or in point-to-points previously, and is now 0 from 11 overall. Finished a well beaten seventh to Shin A Vee in this race in 2016. Wears the first time tongue tie and cheek-pieces.

Form: 6970-4U

Quare Handy⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr J C Barry⁽⁵⁾| T: D Cullen

10/1

Broadway Flyer gelding who lacks much in the way of racing experience, but did have a sight of this track (point-to-point) on debut in February; 3m soft to heavy.

Form:

Say Geronimo^t¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr A J Fox⁽⁷⁾| T: S Byrne| OR: 99

12/1

A fairly modest sort under rules during 2015/16 (0 from 6), but more competitive in point-to-points. Beaten 12L by Peeping Tom at Stradbally latest (3m), but work to do with Alpha Male on earlier Punchestown (PTP) evidence.

Form: 5PF/P-43

Das Mooser³⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: M Fahey| CD

7/4

Unlucky not to be unbeaten in three starts (unseated rider in the lead on debut), and defends her 2017 crown having out-battled the 2016 scorer Shin A Vee by 8L. Off since, but hard to imagine she'll not be ready.

Form: U11-

Close Your Eyes⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr R O Harding⁽³⁾| T: P Maher

40/1

Not shown a great deal of form so far, but receives some handy weight allowances. Should be sharper for her spin at Largy (fourth) last week, but her trainer saddles much more obvious contenders.

Form: F0FP-4

Tropical Express^h³⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr J J O'Neill⁽⁷⁾| T: S Fahey

33/1

A maiden under rules (0 from 10), and yet to even tackle fences. Off since May 2017, and a major surprise if she's competitive.

Form: F09/FP-0

Forecasts

Das Mooser (7/4), Alpha Male (2/1), Battle Hard (6/1), Quare Handy (10/1), Say Geronimo (12/1), Lighting Tunes (16/1), Premier King (20/1), Tropical Express (33/1), Close Your Eyes (40/1), King Norman (50/1)

Peter Maher launches a three-pronged attack on the Kildare Farmers' Race (The Bishopscourt Cup) with ALPHA MALE, Lighting Tunes and Close Your Eyes. The selection appears to have been bought with this race firmly in mind, and his recent point-to-point form strongly implies that he'll be tough to beat (holds Say Geronimo). His chief threat will no doubt come from the Mark Fahey trained Das Mooser. She beat the 2016 winner of this race Shin A Vee by 8L when taking the 2017 renewal. Absent since, but she'll almost certainly be ready to defend her crown in this traditionally keenly fought local contest.