16:55 Punchestown

Wednesday 1 May 2019

All15:4016:2016:5517:3018:0518:4019:1019:45

Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle

Off time: 16:57 | Winning time: 4m 59.8s

Crack Mome^h1,t1⁷⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

14/1

Second in Moscow Flyer Novices' Hurdle over C&D in 2017, but not seen since running poorly at Cheltenham that March, and asking a lot of him to be competitive after such an absence..Hood and tongue tie worn for the first time now.

Form: 1120/

Paloma Blue⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 148

7/2

Disappointing in the Arkle having won over fences at Leopardstown in December, and no surprise to see him back over hurdles. Did run poorly at this meeting last year, but claims on the form he showed when fourth in the Supreme Novices' last March.

Form: 340-416

Valdieu^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 130

11/1

Placed in a series of bumpers before finally getting his head in front at Down Royal over Christmas. Won a Naas maiden hurdle in January, but held back by his jumping in better company since.

Form: 211703

Vision D'Honneur^t⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| C

11/4

Cost €350,000 after winning in France, and won well on his second start over hurdles over 2m here. Third to Klassical Dream in Grade 1 at Leopardstown, but didn't run his race at Cheltenham behind that rival. Can do better, and this is easier.

Form: 1-4139

Caribert¹²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| BF

9/1

Won Goffs Bumper at Newbury last season, and shaped well when 8L second of 18 to Greaneteen in maiden at Exeter on hurdling debut. Open to stacks of improvement, and one to bear in mind.

Form: 121-2

Days Without End¹⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: D N Russell| T: D K Weld

14/1

Won maiden bumper at Downpatrick on debut in 2017/18 by 3¾ lengths from Boris Grishenko, and has since gone on to makes his mark on the Flat at up to 2m, winning last time. No easy task on hurdles debut, but can't be ignored.

Form: 1-

Crack Tiepy⁸⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| D

16/1

Ex-French performer who has won her only start over hurdles since joining current yard, and while that came way back in 2016 at Wexford, the fact that stable jockey elects to ride her here speaks volumes, and she merits respect.

Form: 625131/

Elimay⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

5/2

Best effort to date when second of 7 to Good Thyne Tara in EBF Mares' Hurdle at Leopardstown on return, but failed to build on that at Cheltenham in March behind Roksana. This is easier, and she enters the equation on balance of her form.

Form: 3222-26

Forecasts

Elimay (5/2), Vision D'Honneur (11/4), Paloma Blue (7/2), Caribert (9/1), Valdieu (11/1), Days Without End (14/1), Crack Mome (14/1), Crack Tiepy (16/1)

A trappy race with two of the more interesting runners, Crack Mome and Crack Tiepy coming back from long absences. the latter is the pick of Ruby Walsh, so merits respect, but preference is for VISION D'HONNEUR, who is better than he showed at Cheltenham and is worth a chance in these calmer waters. Paloma Blue has also being plying his trade at a much higher level, and is respected on his return to hurdles.