14:50 Punchestown

Sunday 10 February 2019

All13:4514:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

Punchestown Festival Ticket Deal Discount Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 1.0s

Acronym⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

16/1

Dual bumper winner towards the end of the year but failed to build on initial promise when beaten in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle in December. Yard have a 45% win and place strike rate at the track in early/mid February in the last three years.

Form: 41139

Dalton Highway¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: M J Bolger| T: D K Weld

33/1

Rated in the 80's at best on the Flat and remained largely consistent in that sphere last year. Plenty to take from his maiden hurdle debut last month at Fairyhouse and is open to a chunk of improvement.

Form: 6

Dos Gardenias¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: J Motherway

50/1

Dual winner in France, form that isn't easy to assess. Well held when finishing down the field in a couple of maiden hurdle starts around the turn of the year and has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 1312-66

Lighthouse Warrier^t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: Jonathan Sweeney| C

6/1

Produced a couple of solid and promising efforts over hurdles since returning to action following 12 months on the sidelines, including finishing second of 15 over C&D last month. Likeable type who should be in the mix.

Form: 1/212-22

Shanes Hill Glen²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: A Ring| T: H Smyth

100/1

Second of six on last appearance in a point-to-point in May but disappointed on hurdling debut in a Fairyhouse maiden last month when looking beaten before three out. Drop in trip not sure to suit and may find this a tough assignment.

Form: P-420

Take Revenge^t⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: M Brassil

4/1

Definite promise in a couple of initial maiden hurdle starts including a second of 18 behind the Willie Mullins-trained Tornado Flyer over C&D when last seen in December. Will look to verify his entry in the Ballymore novices' at the festival.

Form: P1-532

Askthekerryheadman

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: D Hassett

100/1

Son of Ask out of a Shareef Dancer mare. Cost €3,500 as a foal which dropped when only fetching €800 as a three-year-old. Looks a long-term prospect.

Form:

Castle Oliver⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien

6/1

Placed on maiden hurdle debut here over a similar distance in November before a confidence boosting win in a Fairyhouse bumper over 2m on good ground last month. Should be among the leading players.

Form: 31

Dark Decade²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

40/1

Will have disappointed leading connections with a couple of drab efforts over trips between 2m and 2m4f around the turn of the year when well held and leaving his hurdling a little to be desired. Vast improvement needed to figure.

Form: 08

Discordantly²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

3/1

First sign of ability when third of 22 over 2m at Cork finishing 5½L adrift of the Joseph O'Brien-trained Fakir D'oudairies before confirming that promise when third of 29, not beaten far in a Navan maiden hurdle last month. One to be interested in.

Form: 7-033

Thegoaheadman²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington

66/1

Encouraging point-to-point form last year has yet to be replicated following a couple of inadequate displays over C&D recently. Looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: PP-42P6

Unexpected Depth³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan

25/1

Bought for £75,000 after winning a Loughrea point-to-point in August before looking a little one paced on debut when finishing a moderate seventh of 22 beaten 28L behind the Joseph O'Brien-trained Fakir D'oudairies at Cork last month.

Form: 17

Young Ted^h⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

6/1

Plenty of encouragement to be taken from the Fame And Glory geldings two maiden hurdle efforts in December. Repeat of that form should see him in the hunt for more place money.

Form: 216-43

Elaines Dirha³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Ricky Doyle| T: T P O'Connor

100/1

Yet to start a race with odds less than 100/1 and has run accordingly on each of her three career efforts to date including a heavy defeat on maiden hurdle debut at Thurles earlier this month. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 050

Sophie's Best²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Brian Hayes| T: P Meany

100/1

Court Cave mare who was towards rear and never a factor on disappointing debut in a Navan maiden hurdle last month finishing 19th of 29 beaten 73L in the process. May struggle once again.

Form: 0

Lethal Steps¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott

6/1

Second of 24 beaten 5L behind the Joseph O'Brien-trained Konitho in a Naas maiden hurdle over 2m last month. Leading player given the yard have a 45% win and place strike rate at the track in early/mid February in the last three years.

Form: 52

Seizieme⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Robbie Colgan| T: B McMahon

100/1

Champs Elysees gelding out of an Oasis Dream mare. Cost 7,000gns in the Newmarket July sales last year. Always towards rear on Leopardstown debut over Christmas and unlikely to play a part in the finish here.

Form: 0

Wink Wink

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey

66/1

Galileo filly. Closely related to useful hurdler/chaser Teacher's Pet and handy chaser Whatareudoingtome. Expected to be a future prospect for leading owner but best watched on debut.

Form:

Shantou Warrior⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Reserve 1| T: Mrs P Dobbs

100/1

First Reserve: 100/1 chance and no threat in a novice hurdle at Galway on second start last month before a heavy 53L reversal in a Navan bumper when last seen in February. Others look open to more improvement.

Form: 795

Ask Your Mother⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Reserve 3| T: M J Smith

100/1

Third Reserve: Daughter of Ask finished last of nine when pushed along before four out on debut at Navan in November.

Form: 9

Non-Runners

Glamorgan Duke¹⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: P J Gilligan J: Mr L P Gilligan

Our Big Red¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: J P Dempsey J: S J Crimin

An Marcach¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: D Donovan J: A W Short

Lilly Banner¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: J P Dempsey J: C Brassil

Mixed Virtue⁴⁴

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: P J Rothwell J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Discordantly (3/1), Take Revenge (4/1), Lethal Steps (6/1), Young Ted (6/1), Lighthouse Warrier (6/1), Castle Oliver (6/1), Glamorgan Duke (14/1), Acronym (16/1), Unexpected Depth (25/1), Dalton Highway (33/1), Dark Decade (40/1), Dos Gardenias (50/1), Mixed Virtue (50/1), Thegoaheadman (66/1), Wink Wink (66/1), An Marcach (66/1), Our Big Red (66/1), Lilly Banner (66/1), Sophie's Best (100/1), Shantou Warrior (100/1), Shanes Hill Glen (100/1), Ask Your Mother (100/1), Askthekerryheadman (100/1), Seizieme (100/1), Elaines Dirha (100/1)

The Gordon Elliott yard boast a 19% strike rate at this venue with his runners in early to mid February and his Cheveley Park Stud-owned LETHAL STEPS can land the spoils here following a solid second of 24 beaten 5L behind Konitho at Naas over 2m last month. The gelding shaped as though a step up in trip would suit and the four-year-old can hold off the attentions of C&D second of 15 last month, Lighthouse Warrior, Noel Meades potential improver, Young Ted and the Jessica Harrington-trained Discordantly. Glamorgan Duke and Take Revenge will be looking to support Albert Bartlett and Ballymore novice entries at the festival.