20:45 Punchestown

Wednesday 16 May 2018

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

Punchestown Event Centre Flat Race

Off time: 20:46 | Winning time: 3m 55.9s

Arizengo¹⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁷⁾| T: H Smyth

100/1

Yeats gelding out of a Sri Pekan mare related to the likes of Holly Bush Henry and Augusta Kate. Looks a long-term prospect, confirming suspicion when tailed off on debut at Down Royal in January (tailed off).

Form: 9-

Ballinlina Boy²¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J J King⁽³⁾| T: James King

33/1

Notnowcato gelding ran green on debut when fourth at Navan in September, having been well supported in the market. Took a backwards step in tougher race at Galway soon after and returns from a layoff now.

Form: 46-

Batcio⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr A McMahon⁽⁷⁾| T: T M Walsh

20/1

Point-to-point winner, only shown promise in one of three bumpers runs so far, when beaten 9L into fifth of nine at Fairyhouse (2m, soft) in February. Since unseated rider at that track and possibly best watched for now.

Form: U165U-

Caracara Mail⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: Jonathan Sweeney

8/1

Good winner of a point-to-point at Dawstown already this month under Derek O'Connor and partnership well worth paying attention to on rules bow.

Form: 45-1

Castle North²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr W J Gleeson⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins

5/2

Runner-up in both bumper starts so far, including over C&D on heavy ground in February. Was second-favourite in both instances, so has achieved what was expected. Yard in scintillating form (15-44) and likely to be a warm order.

Form: F/22-

City Island^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: M Brassil

9/2

Yard not noted for bumper winners but Court Cave gelding was runner-up on debut over C&D (soft) last month having gone off 33/1 and must go on the shortlist with improvement possible from that run.

Form: 2-

Criq Sun²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R O Harding⁽³⁾| T: L Fowler

33/1

Not without promise on debut at Fairyhouse over this trip having gone off 50/1 (finished down about 12L in sixth of 10). Less convincing over 2m3f at Limerick since.

Form: 64-

Denwork^t⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T Hamilton⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien

9/1

Network gelding was third on rules debut over hurdles at Thurles (2m, soft) in February and duly made favourite for 2m3f Cork bumper last month, when only able to finish a remote third. Down in trip now.

Form: 633-

Makka Pakka⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Crean⁽⁷⁾| T: W Harney

66/1

Duke Of Marmalade gelding, pulled up on sole point-to-point outing at Oldtown in February and comes to the racetrack for the first time at five-years-old.

Form: P-

Minstrel Song

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: J J Hanlon

50/1

Dark Angel gelding makes debut and merits a look in the betting, though trainer is 0-20 with bumper runners so far in 2018.

Form:

Pilot Station⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr C Fahy⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy

14/1

Looked promising in Leopardstown bumper over Christmas behind Blackbow (8¾L down in fourth) but hasn't built on that showing in two runs at Fairyhouse since. Needs to up game to be winning this.

Form: F/UF467-

The Abbey³⁰⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr F Maguire⁽³⁾| T: K Prendergast

18/1

Yeats gelding well beaten in bumpers last year at Naas and Kilbeggan, 193 days apart. Returns now from a 300-day absence and market will tell a deal more on what is anticipated.

Form: 9/6-

Turnpike Thunder⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J M Burke⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Burke

100/1

Well beaten when finishing tenth on debut at Thurles (soft to heavy) in a bumper in February and probably best watched at present.

Form: 0-

Valdieu^t¹⁵

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

11/4

Promising on debut over C&D last spring before switching from Gordon Elliott to this yard, turned over at odds-on in Navan bumper in November and beaten favourite again at Ballinrobe this month. Needs better ground to spark some improvement.

Form: F19/2-3

Non-Runners

Ozzie's Way⁶

Weight: 12-0| Age: 5

T: D Hogan J: Mr J Hogan

Shimmer And Shine²⁷

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: P Croke J: Mr H D Dunne

Forecasts

Castle North (5/2), Valdieu (11/4), City Island (9/2), Caracara Mail (8/1), Denwork (9/1), Pilot Station (14/1), The Abbey (18/1), Batcio (20/1), Ozzie's Way (20/1), Criq Sun (33/1), Ballinlina Boy (33/1), Shimmer And Shine (33/1), Minstrel Song (50/1), Makka Pakka (66/1), Arizengo (100/1), Turnpike Thunder (100/1)

CASTLE NORTH has done what the market suggested he would in both bumpers starts so far by finishing second. He's likely to be a warm order for this contest and should live up to his billing again by scoring for the bang in-form Mullins team. Caracara Mail could be the main danger having impressed in a recent point-to-point win under Derek O'Connor while City Island made a pleasing start over C&D, finishing second, and should go well again. Valdieu has been a bit frustrating since a promising C&D debut more than a year ago but his trainer is doing very well in this sphere of late and the chance of better ground may assist his case.