16:20 Punchestown

Friday 3 May 2019

All15:4016:2016:5517:3018:0518:3519:1019:45

EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 5m 31.70s

Hardline^h⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 151| BF| C

7/1

Market springer when well beaten in the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. May have found that 2m contest too sharp and looks a major player back in trip and in handicap company.

Form: 121137

Real Steel¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151| BF| D

5/2

Not disgraced in mid-division in the JLT Chase at Cheltenham and again ran with credit when runner-up in last month's Ryanair Chase at Fairyhouse. Obvious chance dropped from Grade 1 company to a handicap. Stable won this last year with Kemboy.

Form: 4-F1162

Jetz^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 147| BF

15/2

Landed a Grade 3 contest at Navan in March, but last two runs, latterly in first-time cheekpieces, have not gone to plan. Has a bit to find on earlier form with Hardline.

Form: 4341U2

Louis' Vac Pouch^h²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J McGrath| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 143| D

9/1

Has improved for the switch to fences, scoring on first two starts over the bigger obstacles and running a sound race when second in a Grade 2 race at Ayr last time. Probably faces his stiffest test, but the only English runner is one to consider.

Form: 0-011F2

Pravalaguna¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| C

9/1

Finished well behind stable companion Real Steel at Cheltenham, but shaped better at Fairyhouse last time. Opening handicap mark looks fair, but others make more appeal.

Form: 1-41192

Poker Party⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138| D

8/1

Progressive over fences, winning novices' handicap chases at Naas on last two starts. Has been raised 19lb for those successes, but cannot be discounted with even more improvement possible.

Form: 6U5211

Quamino^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 137| D

14/1

Pulled up in the Cheltenham handicap won by A Plus Tard, but returned to form when good second of nine in a Fairyhouse handicap last month. Runs off the same mark in a stronger race.

Form: 3U21P2

Scoir Mear⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: T Mullins| OR: 135

16/1

Series of disappointing displays before defying odds of 25-1 to win a quite valuable novices' handicap chase over 3m at Navan last month. Has been hit with a 9lb rise and drops in trip.

Form: 760671

De Name Escapes Me^h,t⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: N P Madden| T: N Meade| OR: 132

9/1

Won a 17-runner 2m4f handicap at Navan in December and probably found 3m too far in the Leinster National at Naas last month. Runs off the same mark and can get involved.

Form: 3-12105

Beyond The Law^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Phillip Enright| T: M F Morris| OR: 130

12/1

Ended a quite long losing run when opening his account over fences at Cork last month. This is a much harder task, but at least confidence should be high.

Form: 26F521

Ah Littleluck^t⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: T Gibney| OR: 127| D

20/1

Beaten quite a long way when finishing in mid-division in the 3m2f Kim Muir Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Drops in trip and faces another stiff task from 3lb out of the handicap..

Form: U341U0

R'evelyn Pleasure¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Donagh Meyler| T: S O O'Brien| OR: 127

16/1

Winner of two of his eight starts over fences, but has had his limitations exposed recently and has it all to do from 3lb out of the weights.

Form: 2143P3

Forecasts

Real Steel (5/2), Hardline (7/1), Jetz (15/2), Poker Party (8/1), Louis' Vac Pouch (9/1), Pravalaguna (9/1), De Name Escapes Me (9/1), Beyond The Law (12/1), Quamino (14/1), Scoir Mear (16/1), R'evelyn Pleasure (16/1), Ah Littleluck (20/1)

English challenger Louis' Vac Pouch has done well over fences and should not be underestimated, but this may chiefly concern the two at the top of the handicap, Real Steel and HARDLINE. The latter probably found 2m too sharp in the Arkle Chase and is given the chance to show the market support for him that day was indicative of his ability. Poker Party is improving and can go well, along with Scoir Mear and De Name Escapes Me.