17:35 Punchestown

Saturday 28 April 2018

All14:3515:1015:5016:2517:0017:3518:1018:40

Ballymore Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Off time: 17:38 | Winning time: 4m 58.70s

Swamp Fox^b¹⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: J G Murphy| OR: 152| D

28/1

Back in handicap company after tackling Apple's Jade and Faugheen on his last two starts. Classy dual purpose horse that should stay this trip, and will find conditions ideal. Not out of it despite the welter burden.

Form: 112437

Diamond King^t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 148| CD

25/1

His run in the Coral Cup is best forgiven, as was hampered early and never recovered. Back to winning form when making the most of a simple task at Thurles last time, conditions fine and looks a player for yard going well this week.

Form: PP-53P1

Abbyssial¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: R Loughran| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143| C

33/1

Still looks a bit high in the handicap based on what he's done this season, some moderate efforts since coming back off a long absence and although he may strip fitter here, is still hard to fancy.

Form: 6F0/4P0

Early Doors⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 143| C

6/1

Improving and showed he gets this trip fine when a staying on third in the competitive Martin Pipe conditionals hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last time. More to come from him and has to be taken seriously here.

Form: 3-11293

Dream Berry^t⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J S McGarvey| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 142

11/1

Was spotted doing some good late work in the Coral Cup under fairly tender handling, finishing on the heels of the placed horses. Second in this last year and with yard starting to fire, looks spot on to try and go one better.

Form: 61322-7

Bunk Off Early⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: N M Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

28/1

Looks nicely treated on his second to Bacardys last year if you want to use that as a marker, but in truth has become a bit disappointing and isn't progressing. Well beaten earlier in the week and hard to fancy.

Form: 205-2F0

Voix Du Reve^h¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

16/1

Some good handicap form to his name but another from the Mullins yard that has become bitterly disappointing. Going nowhere fast at present and needs to refind form.

Form: F2/8900

Max Dynamite⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| BF

16/1

Classy dual purpose horse, beaten under 4l in the valuable Hing Kong Vase but well below par when beaten a long way in the Coral Cup. Hard to know what to expect here but on a going day, holds every chance under suitable conditions.

Form: 4F72/90

Meri Devie¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139| CD

14/1

C&D winner here in February and on the same mark here, so nothing wrong with his weight, ran a bit better than the bare result suggested in a Grade A hurdle at Fairyhouse last time and step back up in trip a plus. Holds chances.

Form: 245106

Joey Sasa⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 138

8/1

Improving and turned in his best effort to date when second in a valuable race here earlier in the week, looking like this step back up in trip was needed. If over that effort, looks one of the more likely players here.

Form: 207-412

Turcagua³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: R M Power| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137| BF| CD

20/1

Reverts to hurdles after falling twice in chases lately, and may find this more to his liking. Overall though, has become a little disappointing and although back into handicap company here, others make more appeal.

Form: 2PP-2FF

C'Est Jersey^b²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: A E Lynch| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| CD

33/1

Won at this Festival last year (good ground) but since then has thrown in a series of moderate efforts and despite a better effort last time, was still well seen off at the finish. May find this ground too soft to show his best, and others preferred

Form: 01-2P05

Carrig Cathal^p1,t⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: D F O'Regan| T: S J Mahon| OR: 136| D

66/1

Ballinrobe winner in April but that win stands out like a beacon among a sea of otherwise middling efforts. Cheekpieces given a try today but he's too inconsistent to be confident about.

Form: 0-U0P10

Karalee^t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136

12/1

Twice beaten at odds-on this season, so not one to trust implicitly, and form hasn't really improved this year despite a better effort last time. Step back up in trip could help, but very risky.

Form: 38P325

Yaha Fizz¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 135

8/1

Generally consistent over the last year without improving, did at least put in his best effort last time at Fairyhouse but that was over 2m and he's unproven at this trip. Needs more.

Form: 1-23672

Allblak Des Places³⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 133

33/1

Not seen out for a year when he was well beaten in this event. Looks on a fair mark for reappearance and a bit of market support might make him interesting, but on what he did last year, is hard to make a solid case for.

Form: 12/50P0-

Prince Garyantle^p,t³^{(ex 12)}

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 121| C| D

14/1

Made every yard and came away for a ready victory here earlier in the week, a quite taking performance. 12lb penalty for that win makes life a lot harder, and will face competition for the lead, but in good heart and follow up not ruled out.

Form: 460181

Low Sun^p⁴^{(ex 8)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 123

9/1

In good form, took care of a big field at Fairyhouse just under a fortnight ago and then stayed on into fourth here in a handicap earlier in the week. Tries a new trip today and no saying he won't get it, so has to be given respect.

Form: 142014

Minella Beau¹³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 129

16/1

Beaten too many times when made a short priced favourite for comfort already, possible he's one that has simply needed a bit of time but not seen out since December when once again disappointing. Not one that can be backed with confidence.

Form: 212223

Spades Are Trumps²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 129| C

11/1

Only had the four starts and looked useful when beating 21 rivals here in a maiden hurdle last November, staying on well late for the spoils. Latest effort too bad to be true, and is best forgiven. Chances if getting this new trip.

Form: 312P

Court Artist³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: John J Fitzpatrick⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 128| D

33/1

Twice a winner last autumn and back to form when third to Lackaneen Leader in a Grade 3 hurdle at Limerick last time. Small drop back in trip here no bother, and any more rain a plus. One to keep an eye on in the market.

Form: 611303

Agent Boru¹¹^{(ex 8)}

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: J M Moore| T: T Gibney| OR: 119

16/1

Found some form from nowhere when a decisive winner at Fairyhouse last time, for which he carries a penalty here but still looks nicely treated, even with it. Of more concern is the drop back in trip, but if handling it, chances of following up.

Form: 455801

Bargy Lady^h²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: M A Enright| T: W P Mullins| OR: 124

20/1

Came good at Navan in March but had thrown away good opportunities before that, and isn't one to trust implicitly. Twice well beaten with the hood on recently and this simply looks too tough.

Form: 42214-P

Benkei¹²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: H Rogers| OR: 122

25/1

No problem with these likely conditions but overall strike rate leaves a bit to be desired and he normally operates at a lower level than this.

Form: 7-51457

Non-Runners

Flawless Escape⁴³

Weight: 10-7| Age: 5

T: G Elliott J: R Loughran

Uradel¹¹

Weight: 10-6| Age: 7

T: W P Mullins J: Rachael Blackmore

Pietralunga⁴

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: W P Mullins J: Reserve 1

Hey Little Boy³

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: W P Mullins J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Early Doors (6/1), Joey Sasa (8/1), Yaha Fizz (8/1), Low Sun (9/1), Dream Berry (11/1), Spades Are Trumps (11/1), Karalee (12/1), Meri Devie (14/1), Prince Garyantle (14/1), Flawless Escape (14/1), Voix Du Reve (16/1), Agent Boru (16/1), Minella Beau (16/1), Uradel (16/1), Max Dynamite (16/1), Bargy Lady (20/1), Turcagua (20/1), Benkei (25/1), Diamond King (25/1), Bunk Off Early (28/1), Swamp Fox (28/1), C'Est Jersey (33/1), Allblak Des Places (33/1), Abbyssial (33/1), Court Artist (33/1), Carrig Cathal (66/1)

Many chances in another wide open handicap. Early Doors looks one of the more obvious ones after an excellent effort at Cheltenham but DREAM BERRY was a big eyecatcher at the Festival too, finishing his race off well to be a close seventh in the Coral Cup. With that under his belt, he can strip fitter here and go one better than he did in the race last year. Max Dynamite is a quality performer on his day and can never be ruled out in these big field handicaps, Agent Boru comes here off the back of a win and the quicker they go the better his chance, and Low Sun looks a potential improver.