15:40 Punchestown

Thursday 2 May 2019

All15:4016:1516:5017:3018:0518:4019:1519:45

JLT Handicap Hurdle (88-123)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 3m 56.90s

Feeling The Love^t²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 122| D

25/1

Improved rapidly last summer to win three times on bounce, all over approx. 2m. Held off this mark final start, has gone well fresh before and not certain we've seen the best of him yet.

Form: 021113-

Silver Star^t⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 122| D

33/1

Shaped well on Navan comeback after a break and would have been involved but for falling two out. Unable to build on that in March run at Leopardstown over this trip, ensuring he's got plenty to prove.

Form: 3130F8

Vaniteux^t¹⁶⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 118| D

25/1

Cost £125,000 from Nicky Henderson in May 2017 having shown high-class form over hurdles and fences, but unable to score in 13 attempts for David Pipe despite dropping steadily in the weights. Risky proposition debuting for latest yard.

Form: 303550-

Le Vagabond⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Cooper| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 117| BF| D

14/1

ual hurdles winner back in 2016. Not especially well-treated here, but does come into the race on the back of a sound showing at Dundalk on the all-weather and good jockey on board

Form: 4109P/3-

Shanroe Tic Tec^b⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 117| BF| D

25/1

British raider, won three times in early part of 2019 over this sort of trip on ground ranging from soft-good. Held latest at Bangor off 2lb higher and this is competitive fare.

Form: 991114

Cool Colonnade^h¹⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 116| D

16/1

Modest sort on the Flat, with just a Sligo maiden hurdle to his name after four hurdles starts. Returns from a layoff and too soon to be writing him off, given he's still running out this yard.

Form: 1336-

Curious Times^t⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 116

13/2

Bagged a Down Royal maiden hurdle at 16-1 in January, getting off the mark for connections at the seventh time of asking over hurdles. 7lb higher than his last appearance in a handicap when beaten 23L and not the easiest to catch right.

Form: 43-2681

Drop The Anchor⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Mark Walsh| T: P A Fahy| OR: 116| D

8/1

Listowel bumper winner in September, beautifully bred sort has shaped well enough on three hurdles runs to warrant a close look back from a layoff for this handicap debut. Tough ask, just the same.

Form: 5/1643-

Masterstonemason^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Phillip Enright| T: F Costello| OR: 116| D

33/1

Only career win came in minor hurdles event at Gowran Park (2m, soft) all the way back in 2017. Outran odds of 50-1 at Ballinrobe in a handicap last time, but this is a lot tougher.

Form: 070404-

Polished Steel^t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 116| D

16/1

Maiden hurdle winner at Thurles in February over this trip, supported a couple of times in betting since for handicaps at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse and has shaped well enough. Could be more to come.

Form: 731540

Bercasa²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 123

8/1

Modest on the Flat buy eye-catching performance when cantering away to win a Ballinrobe maiden last month on second start over timber. Handicapper hasn't taken any undue chances, but respected going into this sphere.

Form: 31

Kilkeaskins First¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 115| D

20/1

Took advantage of a soft lead and being allowed to dictate matters when easily winning 2m5f Tramore handicap last month (soft). 10lb higher and unlikely to be offered quite as much rope now.

Form: 11/6981-

Jon Ess¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 112

11/1

80-rated handicapper on the Flat who won at Cork on good ground last month before going close on handicap hurdle bow at Fairyhouse (2m, good to yielding). 3lb higher and quick enough turnaround, but wouldn't be discounted.

Form: 9283-

Elm Grove^t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: D F O'Regan| T: Madeleine Tylicki| OR: 111| D

16/1

Mare is closely-matched with re-opposing Jon Ess on recent Fairyhouse effort. Capable of another bold showing and will be suited more than most should the ground ease towards soft.

Form: 94/3814-

Put The Kettle On⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 111| D

8/1

Navan maiden hurdle winner (had Gypsy Island in second) over 2m in November on good, fair handicap debut at Gowran Park (2m4f, soft) in January. 1lb higher for that, but respected trainer/jockey team and should go well.

Form: 52153

The Last Indian¹⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: A A Howard| OR: 111| BF| D

28/1

Enjoyed a profitable start to 2018 over hurdles with couple of wins at Tipperary and Ballinrobe. Trip fine but he's in as deep as he's ever been in this field.

Form: 9/211U3-

Itsalonglongroad^h,t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny Mullins| T: J C McConnell| OR: 109| D

50/1

Maiden hurdle winner a year ago at Tramore, ticked over on the Flat since and not makes handicap debut in this code, with trainer showcasing ability to produce one already this week. Betting check required.

Form: 6F1/

Share The Honour^t⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: D N Russell| T: A J Martin| OR: 108| BF

7/1

Consistent in handicaps around the turn of the year without winning, inching up the weights as a consequence. Often supported in the betting, so a positive showing wouldn't be unexpected.

Form: 097/324-

Peacocks Secret^b⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr T Hamilton⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 107| C

40/1

Winner of 2m4f handicap chase here in January, though form has tailed off in five further starts in that sphere. Much lower rating back over hurdles, but a surprise should something not be able to do him for a bit of pace.

Form: 12075P-

Roachdale House^h²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Flynn| OR: 107| D

33/1

Lightly-raced in recent seasons, and has hinted at a revival on last two starts, and still well in contention when making a bad late mistake at Ayr last time. Not dismissed, but this is tougher.

Form: 87-F966

Broder²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: J J Walsh| OR: 106| D

25/1

10L runner-up at Wexford (2m4f, yielding) on most recent outing. Best form has come over further and rates as one of the less likely sorts in this field.

Form: 777562-

Misty Millie^b,t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Donnelly| OR: 106| D

33/1

Dylan Thomas mare, scored a pair of hurdles win last spring but well held since including two recent spins on the Flat. Plenty to do here if hoping to turn things around with Elm Groove in Limerick meeting in March.

Form: 074P86-

Sil Ver Klass^h,t⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: E O'Connell⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 106| BF

10/1

Maiden, twice gone close in 2m soft-ground handicaps at Leopardstown and Navan in March. Rated 3lb higher now but could have a big run in him for shrewd handler.

Form: 42-0422

Stephenstown⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: N P Madden| T: E Griffin| OR: 105

33/1

Not shown enough in trip of maiden hurdles since January to warrant selection not turning to handicaps in this very tough contest. Back from short break, opening mark is stiff enough.

Form: 040-

De Mazzaro^h,t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: C D Maxwell| T: T G McCourt| OR: 105

66/1

So You Think gelding is a maiden after 17 starts in both codes. Poor run most recently at Cork (2m, good to yielding) having been supported in betting (Reserve).

Form: 745737-

Non-Runners

Bolbec²⁰

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: A Fleming J: Donagh Meyler

Forecasts

Curious Times (13/2), Share The Honour (7/1), Put The Kettle On (8/1), Bercasa (8/1), Drop The Anchor (8/1), Sil Ver Klass (10/1), Jon Ess (11/1), Le Vagabond (14/1), Polished Steel (16/1), Elm Grove (16/1), Cool Colonnade (16/1), Kilkeaskins First (20/1), Feeling The Love (25/1), Vaniteux (25/1), Shanroe Tic Tec (25/1), Broder (25/1), Bolbec (25/1), The Last Indian (28/1), Misty Millie (33/1), Silver Star (33/1), Roachdale House (33/1), Masterstonemason (33/1), Stephenstown (33/1), Peacocks Secret (40/1), Itsalonglongroad (50/1), De Mazzaro (66/1)

Insanely competitive start to proceedings. Feeling The Love returns from a break and is capable of improving again while the likes of Jon Ess and Elm Grove are possibles. Kilkeaskins First surely won't get things as easy as at Tramore while Shanroe Tic Tec and Put The Kettle On make the shortlist. The two to settle on are Itsalonglongroad, unseen since a maiden win last summer, and SIL VER KLASS for Tony Martin. He ran well on handicap debut and can improve from near the foot of the weights. Watch out for easy Ballinrobe winner Bercasa.