15:05 Punchestown

Sunday 9 December 2018

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

K Club Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 7m 12.30s

Mon Lino¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: P Nolan| OR: 116

12/1

Useful three-time hurdle winner at up to 2m6f but not taken to fences so far and never better than ninth in five starts with jumping clearly an issue. Hard to be confident now.

Form: P9-09U0

Cresus De Grissay^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 114

9/1

Nine-race maiden ran his best race to date latest when keeping on into second in a Wexford novice chase (2m4f) back in September. Should appreciate this step up in trip but looks to have been given plenty of weight.

Form: 0/5646-2

Snugsborough Hall^h²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: D F O'Regan| T: L P Cusack| OR: 112| C

9/1

Extreme hold-up tactics have seen him finish fifth of six and sixth of 18 in two chases this season over 2m6f and 2m5f respectively. No guarantee he stays this far and more needed in any case.

Form: 203F-56

Flynsini⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: P M Cloke| OR: 110| C

14/1

Three-time chase winner, the most recent over 2m6½f here last November. Recent return saw him finish fifth of 12 over an inadequate 2m2f. This more suitable but remains 10lb higher than aforementioned course win.

Form: 1/6129-5

Nicole's Milan^t1²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: S Aherne| OR: 110

8/1

Fair form last term winning at Fairyhouse and twice placing here before unseating over 3m6f here and falling over hurdles. One paced sixth over 2m4f at Naas on return but now goes up to a trip likely to be ideal and has genuine chances here.

Form: 213U-F6

Guided By You²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 110

7/1

Early days yet over fences for this 3m hurdle scorer but doing best work late on in two beginners chases at Galway (third) and Cork (seventh) over 2m6½f and 2m5f. Step up in trip will suit and this unexposed sort should go well here.

Form: 0P-0537

Treasure Chest²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: N P Madden| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 110

16/1

Fair 119-rated hurdler yet to really take to fences in three starts, never finishing better than his latest remote fifth. Up by a full 1m in trip now so interesting to see how he fares but risky proposition overall.

Form: 5-01685

Se Mo Laoch^p¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: B McMahon| OR: 107| BF

9/4

In good form all year (eight starts) winning over 3m1f over hurdles and since twice finishing second over 2m6½f over fences including here latest. Step up in trip likely to suit and has very strong claims now to go one better.

Form: 333122

Thekingofconnemara²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr N McParlan⁽³⁾| T: Barry J Murphy| OR: 104

12/1

Yet to win over fences (seven starts) but ran best race to date latest when a staying on second over 2m7½f at Fairyhouse. Slight step up in trip here no problem and on the back of that run he has sound each-way claims.

Form: 8-8P652

Asitsohappens³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M McCabe| OR: 95

20/1

Poor strike rate having only won once in 35 starts and that over hurdles in 2014. Pulled up a long way out on recent return and very hard to recommend here.

Form: 4573-3P

Select Opportunity²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Brian Hayes| T: E Cawley| OR: 94

10/1

Sligo handicap winner over 2m5f in the autumn was still going well until falling three out latest at Fairyhouse. This will be the furthest he has raced over so stamina to prove but often shaped as though a greater test may suit so not ruled out.

Form: 60105F

Hawk Eye Down⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: M A Cahill| OR: 93

40/1

2m7½f Thurles winner last term but not really fired in two starts this season for this yard with remote 12th and 10ths to his name. Hard to be confident after such efforts.

Form: 715P-00

Witness Of Fashion^p¹¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-1| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Rooney| OR: 93

14/1

Veteran is a five-time winner over fences including beating Se Mo Laoch in March. Fair sixth of 15 on return here last month and should come on for that so again expecting him to be thereabouts although vulnerable to less exposed sorts.

Form: 631U-46

Non-Runners

Enduring Love²¹⁸

Weight: 9-10| Age: 6

T: P J Rothwell J: Simon Torrens

Seanathair¹⁸⁴

Weight: 9-10| Age: 6

T: I Madden J: C J Orr

Forecasts

Se Mo Laoch (9/4), Guided By You (7/1), Nicole's Milan (8/1), Snugsborough Hall (9/1), Cresus De Grissay (9/1), Select Opportunity (10/1), Thekingofconnemara (12/1), Mon Lino (12/1), Witness Of Fashion (14/1), Flynsini (14/1), Treasure Chest (16/1), Asitsohappens (20/1), Enduring Love (33/1), Seanathair (33/1), Hawk Eye Down (40/1)

NICOLE'S MILAN was running well over fences last term until unseating his rider over 3m6f here but this previous 2m5f winner could find this trip absolutely ideal and after a recent pipe-opener over 2m4f he should be ready to make a bold bid here. In form Se Mo Laoch will be popular after two close second and is an obvious danger while unexposed novice Guided By You is another of interest particularly now stepping up in trip.