17:00 Punchestown

Saturday 4 May 2019

All14:3515:1015:5016:2517:0017:3518:1018:40

Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 6m 22.1s

Acting Lass^t⁴³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: H Fry| OR: 144| BF

8/1

Winner of all three starts over fences and readily landed a decent handicap at Ascot when last seen over 14 months ago. Progressive sort last year and British raiding yard among the winners this week.

Form: 24/1119-

Heron Heights^p,t³⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 141| CD

12/1

Five from 14 over the larger obstacles including when landing a 16/1 shock in the Grade B Pat Taafe handicap chase over C&D in this contest 12 months ago off a 6lb lower mark. Not seen since May, but clearly targeted this race.

Form: 0B001-0

Bellow Mome¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| C

9/2

One from seven over the larger obstacles, raced well to a point in the Thyestes at Gowran Park on his return from 655-day absence, before a couple of below par runs recently. Plenty to prove in this contest.

Form: 46U/035

Walk To Freedom^h,t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 136| C

3/1

Useful handicap hurdler who has been in top-class form in big-field handicaps winning at Navan in November. One from six over the larger obstacles and his third of 10 at Fairyhouse recently puts him in the mix.

Form: 0142P3

Oscar Knight³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: J S McGarvey| T: T Mullins| OR: 135| C

16/1

Two from 18 over fences finished 11L behind William Henry in the Grade 3 Coral hurdle at the Cheltenham festival before disappointing here on Wednesday, pulling up over 2m4f. Below par form set to continue.

Form: 8P670-P

Arkwrisht^t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: A Ring| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 133

25/1

Some decent form last season but has failed to finish on three of his last five starts, including falling three out in the Kim Muir and a laboured looking run in the Irish Grand national last month. Needs to improve on even his best form.

Form: 3P0UF0

Full Cry^p,t¹⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 133| D

25/1

Won at Kilbeggan in September, a first success in more than two years. Well held in three starts since towards the end of the year and difficult to make a case for on return to action here.

Form: 3P14U7

Swingbridge^b,t¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 124| D

12/1

Four from 17 over fences but without success in two visits to this venue. Plenty to like following a runner-up position at Perth last month on return from a five month break. Not getting any younger.

Form: 105902

Onefortheroadtom^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: N P Madden| T: H Fry| OR: 122

6/1

Fell in first-time cheekpieces when falling when still going well at the 14th at Ayr last month following an encouraging run at Kempton in March. British raiding yard among the winners here this week.

Form: 65662F

Young Paddymc⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: Danny Mullins| T: T Gibney| OR: 120| BF| C

11/4

Put together a number of consistent displays together since December in three solid chase starts. Won a Punchestown beginners contest in January before being turned over as beaten favourite at Navan on handicap debut last month. Looks progressive.

Form: 310-212

Non-Runners

Na Trachtalai Abu²³

Weight: 10-7| Age: 9

T: J Motherway J: D F O'Regan

Forecasts

Young Paddymc (11/4), Walk To Freedom (3/1), Bellow Mome (9/2), Onefortheroadtom (6/1), Acting Lass (8/1), Heron Heights (12/1), Swingbridge (12/1), Na Trachtalai Abu (14/1), Oscar Knight (16/1), Full Cry (25/1), Arkwrisht (25/1)

The Jessica Harrington-trained WALK TO FREEDOM can improve on his third of 10 beaten 5½L on his first run over the larger obstacles in three years at Fairyhouse last month to add to the trainer/jockey winners this week. The nine-year-old can see off the attentions of the returning Acting Lass and the Gordon Elliott-trained Swingbridge who ran well on return to action at Perth recently.