15:55 Punchestown

Saturday 17 November 2018

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:2515:55

Up The Yard Challenge Race

Off time: 15:56 | Winning time: 3m 33.60s

Diamond Cauchois^t²⁰⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-9| J: Oleg Pereverzev| T: G Elliott

9/2

Above-average hurdler with winning graded form in that sphere, should have a big say in this company.

Form:

Laid Back Luke¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-9| J: Ganna German| T: S Lavery| OR: 83

5/1

Must put a poor run in the November Handicap at Naas recently behind him if hoping to play a forward role now. Possible he can do that.

Form: 18-2000

Midnight Request²⁰⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-9| J: Mairead Weathers| T: T O'Connor

20/1

Not pulling up any trees over hurdles of late and recently changed hands. Market may guide but others more likely.

Form:

The King Of Brega¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-6| J: Cathal Jennings| T: H De Bromhead

12/1

Now 11-years-old, has winning hurdles for over 2m4f last month at Gowran Park but this trip might expose the legs.

Form:

Manomine²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-3| J: Nicole Smyth| T: R K Watson| OR: 51

50/1

Capable of winning at his own level on the Flat, with five wins to his name. Liable to run into one or two classier rivals here however.

Form: 93-8080

Markhan^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-3| J: Camilla Sharples| T: G Elliott| OR: 73

5/1

Three-time winner on the Flat previously and has been running well in maiden hurdles of late, entitled to go on any shortlist for this event.

Form: 353172

Tongie²⁰⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-3| J: Maurice Hartnett| T: P A Fahy

10/1

Third in Ballinrobe handicap chase over 2m4f in May when last spotted. No previous form on the Flat to note and others have more in their favour here.

Form:

Alelchi Inois^t¹⁰⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Stephanie Searle| T: W P Mullins| C

7/2

Former a very decent chaser, though twice tailed off at Galway Festival in the summer and no win in over two years now. Market check needed.

Form: 7-

Bendanella⁸⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Lee Shanahan| T: R O'Sullivan

14/1

Both jumps successes have come at trips in excess of 2m2f, stays three-miles and entirely possible he will get caught for a turn of foot by some of these.

Form:

Bill Hickok⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Ian Montgomery| T: N Meade

25/1

Just three starts so far and unable to get any kind of blow in during two maiden hurdles or a 1m2f Flat maiden in August. Big step up required.

Form: 9

Easy Pass²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Debbie Flavin| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 60

10/1

18-race maiden in all codes, tailed off over hurdles at Wexford in May when last spotted and previous Flat form isn't inspiring.

Form: 45/85-46

Joe The Crow¹

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Emma Walshe| T: J P O'Brien

25/1

Modest maiden hurdler, well beaten and no impression on AW debut over 1m earlier this month. Plenty to prove (engaged at Dundalk on Friday).

Form: 99

Marine One¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Megan Donovan| T: D Hogan| OR: 73

14/1

Twice finished second on the AW in Britain last year in maidens at up to 1m5f. Not disgraced in apprentice contest at Dundalk last month and can be given a squeak in this company.

Form: 2-53450

Bobbie The Dazzler³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Caoimhe O'Hare| T: L Lennon

14/1

Scored in a heavy-ground Ayr maiden hurdle over 2m4f earlier in the week. In good heart, albeit this represents a much different and unknown challenge.

Form:

Be My Dream¹⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Nessa O'Brien| T: J R Finn

33/1

Lightly-raced, placed in Hunter Chase at Tramore and a Sligo maiden hurdle in the spring over 2m/2m5f. Off since and market can guide, though suspicion this will be unfolding too quickly.

Form:

Kilbarry Calling⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Justin Houlihan| T: C O'Keeffe

14/1

Doesn't have many miles on the clock, improved effort when chasing home Mullins hotpot in a maiden hurdle at Clonmel last month. Needs to up game to score it seems.

Form:

Non-Runners

Dalton Highway¹⁹

Weight: 12-3| Age: 5

T: D K Weld J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Alelchi Inois (7/2), Diamond Cauchois (9/2), Markhan (5/1), Laid Back Luke (5/1), Easy Pass (10/1), Tongie (10/1), The King Of Brega (12/1), Kilbarry Calling (14/1), Marine One (14/1), Bobbie The Dazzler (14/1), Bendanella (14/1), Dalton Highway (14/1), Midnight Request (20/1), Bill Hickok (25/1), Joe The Crow (25/1), Be My Dream (33/1), Manomine (50/1)

Gordon Elliott won this charity event last year and looks to have strong claims once more with DIAMOND CAUCHOIS. He was a Grade 2 winner over timber back in February and can land this as a springboard for his new season. Alelchi Inois would be a big threat if anywhere near his best but he was poor in both start at the Galway Festival. Markhan, Marine One and Kilbarry Calling all merit some interest while Dalton Highway would be a player if getting the call-up.