14:05 Punchestown

Wednesday 20 February 2019

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2516:55

I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 5m 0.9s

Final List¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| BF

6/1

Shown a lot of promise in his two starts over hurdles and likely there's more to come. Has to give weight away for a win in bumper but is going the right way and is prominent on the shortlist here.

Form: 5-2123

Big Nick⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: H De Bromhead

7/2

Shown a good level of ability so far and made a pleasing impression on hurdles debut in December. Possible he had a lot of fizz to burn off on that day and more patient approach may help him here. Another to bear in mind.

Form: 2-4

Calicojack^t⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

5/1

Returned from a break with two sterling efforts to be placed the last twice. Has a likeable attitude and is on an upwards curve. Dangerous to rule out.

Form: 4/224-22

Castlehume Gold¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: A Ring| T: R K Watson

100/1

Modest in point-to-points but has adapted well to racing under rules. Likely he'll do better over fences and does need to improve upon his efforts over timber if he's going to get involved in the thick of the action.

Form: 7P48-85

Insult⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

13/8

The form of his debut run at Tramore has already produced a useful looking winner and the gelding is likely to be a lot wiser with that run behind him. Well worth considering if the market vibes are positive.

Form: 2

Southern Nights⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins

14/1

Shown ability in bumpers and possibly needed the run on his seasonal return at Limerick just after Christmas. A bit to prove now switching to hurdles but his yard won this last year and the gelding is sure to be primed and ready now. Place claims.

Form: 230-5

Harley B³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade

66/1

Well held in both starts so far and likely one or two of these are more progressive at this stage. May need more time.

Form: 07

Lord Fitzwilliam⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell

100/1

Made very little impression in a large-field maiden hurdle at Naas on debut and needs a big step forward on that evidence.

Form: 0

Opposites Attract²⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B J Geraghty| T: D A McLoughlin

10/1

Finished third in his only point-to-point up to press and likely this will teach the gelding a lot about what is now required of him under rules. Best watched.

Form: 3

Spoken For²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

16/1

Faded from just after half-way on debut in a bumper and is hard to recommend on that performance. Highly respected yard but the gelding is another who will surely only benefit from this experience.

Form: 0

Forecasts

Insult (13/8), Big Nick (7/2), Calicojack (5/1), Final List (6/1), Opposites Attract (10/1), Southern Nights (14/1), Spoken For (16/1), Harley B (66/1), Castlehume Gold (100/1), Lord Fitzwilliam (100/1)

Several of these are likely to improve as they go forward and the likes of Final List, Big Nick, and Calicojack are all going the right way and are worth considering for place money at least. However, a chance is taken on INSULT building on what was a very promising run on debut at Tramore and, given that form has been franked since, there's probably a lot more to come here.