17:45 Punchestown

Wednesday 16 May 2018

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Panoramic Restaurant Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 4m 5.70s

Devils Bride^p,t²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 148| D

33/1

More than useful chaser on his day, with 7-25 record, has been asked some tough questions since joining this yard from Willie Mullins. Might just appreciate this easing of the examination.

Form: 2F5000-

Woodland Opera^b1,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 146| CD

9/2

Grade 2 scorer here over C&D in November, has run in three hot contests since that and is another that would be dangerous to rule out not eased in grade with the Harrington team in much better health now (10-51).

Form: 331439-

Montalbano^h¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| CD

7/1

Scored in a 2m beginners' chase at Gowran Park in January, but has failed to get around in three of six chase starts and outclassed in graded races at spring festivals in Fairyhouse and here. Stablemates look more likely.

Form: FU1U79-

Townshend^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| CD

7/1

C&D winner on this card 12 months ago, has come up short this season in a succession of graded races from 2m-2m4f, yard in form and one of three for champion trainer in this field.

Form: 45U7P9-

Mr Fiftyone^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Geraghty| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 137| CD

5/1

Former C&D scorer but has gone 11 runs (since 2016) without getting head in front, step in the right direction over this track and trip last month when 10½L fourth of 24 in valuable handicap. Second runner for team Harrington.

Form: 6/33804-

Asthuria^h²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| CD

11/8

Not disgraced when 17L third here in Grade 1 novice chase at last month's festival behind stablemate Footpad. Makes handicap chase debut now and she's likely to be in the firing line at the business end.

Form: 121223-

Draycott Place^t⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Ryan| OR: 124

20/1

Ran well enough in Down Royal handicap chase (2m, good) this month when runner-up and since failed to take advantage of 10lb lower mark over timber. On balance should find a few of these too strong.

Form: 5P6P-26

Supreme Vinnie^t¹²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Miss D O'Shea| OR: 120| D

20/1

Placed three times in five starts over these obstacles, off since a poor run on the AW at Dundalk in January and will surely require a career-best to get the job done here on return.

Form: 0/33636-

Usa¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 9-10| J: J M Moore| T: S J Mahon| OR: 120| D

50/1

Multi-purpose performer, has it all to do here having been pulled up at Ballinrobe recently and winless sequence goes all the way back to 2015.

Form: 259/53-P

Forecasts

Asthuria (11/8), Woodland Opera (9/2), Mr Fiftyone (5/1), Montalbano (7/1), Townshend (7/1), Supreme Vinnie (20/1), Draycott Place (20/1), Devils Bride (33/1), Usa (50/1)

Mr Fiftyone hasn't scored for a while but he took a step in the right direction over C&D at the festival last month and should challenge now. His stablemate WOODLAND OPERA however gets the vote. He was a Grade 2 C&D winner in November and ran in some hot contests since, during a time when the Harrington team often appeared to be struggling for winners. Things are much rosier now and he should give this a good sight. Asthuria is respected and looks best placed from the Mullins trio while Devils Bride might just produce a better effort with his sights lowered a tad.