15:00 Punchestown

Monday 31 December 2018

All12:1512:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:30

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 3m 59.8s

Pegi Browne³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: I T Queally| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 95| D

12/1

Got her head in front in a weak handicap hurdle at Gowran Park last month getting off the mark over hurdles at the sixth time of asking. Well held off her new mark recently and may make for a similar story here.

Form: 00-5417

Feagreen Native³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Simon Torrens⁽²⁾| T: J J Lambe| OR: 90

20/1

Not much to shout about in three maiden hurdle starts to date. Initial mark looks a little tough and others hold stronger profiles.

Form: 583U0

Fourina¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: C J Maher⁽²⁾| T: M Fahey| OR: 90

20/1

Winner of a 2m5f handicap hurdle at Tramore in April off a 6lb lower mark. Well held since including a heavy 43L defeat earlier this month at Naas. Others make more appeal.

Form: 0P31-60

Fu's Island⁶⁰⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: N Bashford⁽⁴⁾| T: P Meany| OR: 90

50/1

Two-time winner over hurdles but not seen since May 2017 with both wins coming over further. Generally struggling in both codes when last spotted and long absence to overcome.

Form: 090000/

Galuppi^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R J Condon| T: J R Finn| OR: 90| D

20/1

Sole victory in 45 Rules starts came at Fakenham three years ago when in the care of trainer John Jenkins. Difficult to see any light at the end of the losing tunnel in this contest.

Form: 10/35-56

Marino Marvel^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: G P Brouder| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 87

16/1

10-race maiden over timber, twice making the frame. Ridden and no impression on latest start in a Naas handicap hurdle earlier this month. Looks a tall order on form shown.

Form: 330-F70

Seapoint^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: T N Brett| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 90

33/1

Poor form in a number of hurdle starts since October and requires a chunk of improvement to play a part here.

Form: 746900

Hughies Bay^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: K J Brouder| T: D Howard| OR: 86

10/1

Signs of improvement for the gelding, without a win over hurdles in 23 starts, when finishing third of 18 at Thurles last month. Unlikely to maintain consistency here.

Form: 270-503

Baby Bellini^p,t¹⁰⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: T Ryan| T: I Madden| OR: 85

11/1

Winner over a similar trip when last seen in September beating 15 rivals ¾L getting off the mark over timber at the 10th time of asking for connections in first-time cheekpieces. Entitled to make the shortlist.

Form: 0P-5041

Ballybeggan Peggy³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D P Holden| T: A Murray| OR: 85

25/1

Has suffered three heavy defeats over hurdles over a variety of trips to date and has plenty to prove on handicap debut in this contest.

Form: 0050

Bective Cave^p,t⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: C P McNamara⁽²⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 85| D

12/1

Two from 27 starts over hurdles with his last win coming in June 2017 off a similar mark. Chasing of late and unlikely to trouble the judge on return to timber.

Form: 800530

Breesy Mountain^t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D J Hand| T: S Crawley| OR: 85

25/1

Well beaten in four starts in maiden hurdles and finished 31L adrift of the winner on handicap debut last month at Thurles. Could find one or two better handicapped sorts in the line-up.

Form: 0/00-78

The Mcgregornator^p,t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: John J Fitzpatrick| T: A Keatley| OR: 87

14/1

Moderate flat performer a winner at up to 7f but hasn't shown anything in five hurdles starts to warrant selection in this contest.

Form: P-0U00

Longtimesincejaspr^t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr L P Gilligan| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 86

4/1

Exposed as just a modest sort in handicaps, although not disgraced over 2m at Fairyhouse last month or when finishing fourth of 25 earlier this month in a Naas 2m3f handicap hurdle beaten 8L. Place claims.

Form: 507654

Sir Pimpernel³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J P O'Sullivan| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 86

33/1

Well held in three maiden hurdle starts to date beaten a minimum of 30L on each occasion. Plenty to find on handicap debut.

Form: 8-000

Glendaars Warrior⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽²⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 82

9/2

Modest levels of form achieved so far and done little to suggest he can rid himself of the maiden tag over hurdles. Others preferred.

Form: 95579U

Mollys Boxty^v¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: M Browne⁽⁴⁾| T: J G Carr| OR: 82

33/1

Beaten in a couple of handicap hurdles to date with the handicapper already revising his initial mark of 85. May have to come down a little more before consideration.

Form: 74F8F9

Fly Round The Bend^t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr J C Canavan⁽²⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 81

16/1

Long-standing hurdles maiden and was basically tailed off in last two starts in the spring, before a similar story on return to the track last month beaten 21L at Thurles.

Form: 7488-07

Daigreen^p,t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽²⁾| T: D P Nagle| OR: 80| D

50/1

Three time winner over hurdles but out of form in recent years. Has failed to complete in two of his last three starts, beaten 56L at Naas earlier this month. First time cheekpieces unlikely to bring about the required improvement.

Form: 00-0PP0

Divin Desir^v⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Gavin Brouder⁽²⁾| T: I Madden| OR: 80

50/1

Nothing of note in a number of desolate displays over the summer and autumn months. Impossible to construct a case for in this company.

Form: 8-P0000

Golden Silence⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: M J Stenson⁽²⁾| T: V C Ward| OR: 80

40/1

Point-to-point winner who has failed to land a blow under rules in 25 starts and not seen under rules for over 12-months.

Form: 90/08P-P

Neatly Put⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: E T Daly| T: D Hogan| OR: 91| D

9/2

Third Reserve: Lightly raced Rail Link mare who was not disgraced on return to action at Thurles last month. before being pulled out before two out at Limerick on Thursday.

Form: P009/4P

Non-Runners

Bantiss Jack¹³

Weight: 11-6| Age: 4

T: D Hogan J: E T Daly

Balaclava¹⁰⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: Ms M Kelly J: Reserve 1

Magen's Moon¹³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 4

T: E Mullins J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Longtimesincejaspr (4/1), Glendaars Warrior (9/2), Neatly Put (9/2), Hughies Bay (10/1), Baby Bellini (11/1), Bective Cave (12/1), Pegi Browne (12/1), The Mcgregornator (14/1), Fly Round The Bend (16/1), Marino Marvel (16/1), Fourina (20/1), Feagreen Native (20/1), Galuppi (20/1), Breesy Mountain (25/1), Bantiss Jack (25/1), Magen's Moon (25/1), Ballybeggan Peggy (25/1), Seapoint (33/1), Mollys Boxty (33/1), Sir Pimpernel (33/1), Balaclava (33/1), Golden Silence (40/1), Divin Desir (50/1), Fu's Island (50/1), Daigreen (50/1)

BABY BELLINI can land the spoils in a race that shouldn't take a lot of winning, building on his Galway win in September off a 5lb lower mark. Bective Cave for trainer Matthew Smith can emerge as the biggest danger, with Longtimeincejaspr, Hughies Bay and Feagreen Native all capable of hitting the frame.