19:10 Punchestown

Friday 3 May 2019

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

SalesSense International Novice Hurdle

Off time: 19:12 | Winning time: 3m 54.4s

Breaken^h1³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

13/8

Runner-up on his only start over hurdles in France, but made a winning debut for this stable when bolting up at Limerick in March. Keen enough on that occasion, so no surprise that a hood is fitted.

Form: 2-1

Cash Back^h²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141| D

3/1

Two starts for this yard since joining from France and, after winning at Thurles, he was a good second in a Grade 2 contest at Fairyhouse. The hood he wore on that occasion is retained and he looks to have fair prospects.

Form: 67/22-12

Cenotice²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

20/1

Winning pointer who got off the mark at the second attempt over hurdles when scoring easily at Ballinrobe last month. Should improve and looks a nice hurdler in the making.

Form: 3355B1

Dunvegan⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: P A Fahy| OR: 140| CD

6/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in December, but was flying too high behind City Island at the Cheltenham Festival last time and was pulled up. Looks vulnerable again.

Form: 621-10P

Notebook^t⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 130| D

20/1

Sent off at 50-1 when 12th of 16 in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Ran well at a lower level before that, but this is another tougher assignment.

Form: 122120

Whatsinthecorner^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 103

100/1

Plenty of placed form this season, but looks to have his work cut out against this opposition and is readily opposed.

Form: 220264

Gardens of Babylon^p,t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 141| CD

5/2

Punchestown maiden hurdle winner on New Year's Eve and has run well to be placed on all four starts since, including when third in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. Good effort at Fairyhouse last time and is firmly in the mix again.

Form: 12232

Darling Days⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: H P Cleary⁽⁷⁾| T: Michael G Cleary| OR: 82

100/1

Unplaced and beaten a long way in four starts over hurdles. Hard to see her making any sort of impact in a contest of this quality.

Form: 0000

Filon D'Oudairies^h¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: J S McGarvey| T: J P O'Brien

50/1

Two runs for this trainer since leaving France and was a long way behind stable companion Gardens Of Babylon last time. Hard to fancy on that evidence.

Form: 2458

Non-Runners

Annamix³⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: W P Mullins J: R M Power

Capuccimix⁷⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: H De Bromhead J: H Morgan

La Tektor¹⁰

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: A J Martin J: E O'Connell

Forecasts

Breaken (13/8), Gardens of Babylon (5/2), Cash Back (3/1), Dunvegan (6/1), Annamix (6/1), La Tektor (14/1), Capuccimix (16/1), Notebook (20/1), Cenotice (20/1), Filon D'Oudairies (50/1), Whatsinthecorner (100/1), Darling Days (100/1)

The four-year-old Gardens of Babylon has sound prospects in receipt of weight from most of his rivals, but Willie Mullins has a strong hand in this with three representatives and the best of them may be BREAKEN, who bolted up on his debut for the stable at Limerick and is the choice of Paul Townend. Cenotice looked good when winning at Ballinrobe and can get involved.