13:25 Punchestown

Sunday 9 December 2018

All12:2012:5513:2514:0014:3015:0515:40

Sherry Fitzgerald Lettings Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:29 | Winning time: 4m 57.20s

Pateen¹⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: E O'Connell⁽⁵⁾| T: P G Kelly| OR: 118

33/1

Won a Galway handicap back in July 2017 but only seen once since when a never involved 12th of 14 here back in June. Plenty of question marks to answer now.

Form: 26/501-0

Auvergnat⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 116| C

7/1

Cross-country and banks specialist has won three times here in such contests in the past. 15lb lower hurdles mark makes some appeal but recent return saw him beaten 28L when 15th of 19 so others appeal more.

Form: F141-30

Force Of Forces⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: N P Madden| T: I Madden| OR: 116| D

50/1

Failed to build on a Fairyhouse maiden win for Willie Mullins last season in four subsequent starts. First run for this yard saw him unseat just after halfway when lying third. Might have more to come but risky proposition on balance.

Form: 13P-55U

Grotesque^p1¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 116

4/1

Point-to-point and bumper winner finished third in last two maiden hurdles for Mouse Morris last winter. Seemed to run out of steam here on stable/season debut when fifth over 2m6f but with fitness now boosted he has genuine claims here.

Form: 160/33-5

Countess Cathleen^h²⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hickey| OR: 115

14/1

Clonmel maiden hurdle winner on heavy ground last season then fell in a Grade Three when already beaten two out. Now returns and has a first crack at a handicap but this a tall order first time out.

Form: 3/5641F-

Aasleagh Dawn²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: G N Fox| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 112

16/1

Won three times this year already, the most recent at Navan two starts back. Since struggled in a warmer Cheltenham handicap and suspect handicapper has her measure now.

Form: 064710

Schmidt¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: S A Shortall| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 112

50/1

Won once for Henry De Bromhead but beaten out of sight in three starts since joining this yard. Handicap mark falling but would want to see some glimpses before recommending.

Form: 294400

Wings Like Arion^p²⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 110| C

25/1

Dual 2m heavy ground winner last January including here struggled the next twice with a 7lb rise seemingly catching her out. No relent yet from the handicapper so more needed on return.

Form: 56116P-

Little Haarth³⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: D McDonogh| OR: 109| D

40/1

Not won in two and a half years and off the track for 13 months since taking a heavy fall here. Hard to see him being ready to do himself justice here.

Form: 34643F-

Smithscorner⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: M Kennedy| OR: 107

8/1

Beat Arctic Light at Cork in October and again ahead of that rival when an excellent second of 23 at the same venue. Unseated at the third latest but providing that leaves no lasting issues he once again looks sure to make a bold bid.

Form: 46512U

Curious Times¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 106

16/1

Maiden made a pleasing start over hurdles when second in a 20-runner Downpatrick contest but was too keen on return at Navan when sixth in a similar contest. Has untapped potential as he now goes handicapping.

Form: F843-26

Jake Peter²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Flynn| OR: 109

8/1

In fine form on the flat winning twice and following up with two seconds and converted that form to hurdles when winning comfortably at Thurles over 2m. Longer trip here almost certainly a plus and leading claims in first handicap.

Form: 8071

Artic Pearl^t²⁰⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M Brassil| OR: 104| CD

8/1

Only completed once in four starts after winning a Leopardstown chase last March. Starts out over hurdles and previous C&D winner here albeit off a 14lb lower mark.

Form: 31U5U-P

Ar Eagla Na Heagla^b¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: Francis Casey| OR: 106

12/1

Off the mark at the 19th time of asking latest (10th hurdle) when staying on best to land a 2m handicap at Gowran. 5lb rise for that not overly harsh and may benefit for extra 4f here so has each-way claims once more.

Form: 533391

Fruits Of Glory^h,t⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Brian Hayes| T: E Cawley| OR: 100

14/1

Only won once in 34 starts and that almost four years ago in a maiden hurdle. Third last week his best effort for some time but even that saw him beaten 17L so hard to fancy here.

Form: 7U80F3

From Eden^p⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: D F O'Regan| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 99

33/1

Only won one of his 24 starts and last 12 all unplaced. Form seems to be regressive and is hard to fancy once again here.

Form: 00-0008

Party Playboy²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: D J Mullins| T: A Mullins| OR: 102

6/1

Only minor promise in three maiden hurdles but much better latest when a 2L third in a novices handicap here. Upped 2lb and likely faces a tougher contest here but can't be ruled out off a low weight.

Form: 7663

Lily Trotter³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 96

16/1

Twice placed in his six hurdle starts including two starts back but disappointing next when stepped up to 2m4f and on the balance others make more appeal.

Form: 928-638

Non-Runners

Arctic Light²¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: T Mullins J: Mark Walsh

Forecasts

Grotesque (4/1), Party Playboy (6/1), Auvergnat (7/1), Artic Pearl (8/1), Jake Peter (8/1), Smithscorner (8/1), Ar Eagla Na Heagla (12/1), Fruits Of Glory (14/1), Countess Cathleen (14/1), Arctic Light (14/1), Curious Times (16/1), Aasleagh Dawn (16/1), Lily Trotter (16/1), Wings Like Arion (25/1), From Eden (33/1), Pateen (33/1), Little Haarth (40/1), Schmidt (50/1), Force Of Forces (50/1)

JAKE PETER successfully converted his recent flat form to hurdling at Thurles last month and there should be more to come now upped in trip given how well he stays on the flat so he is worth siding with in this wide-open contest. Smithscorner is a danger having been in great form until unseating his rider last time out as is Grotesque who can build on his stable debut latest where he looked to tire over 2m6f.