17:35 Punchestown

Saturday 4 May 2019

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

Ballymore Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 4m 51.00s

Mr Adjudicator¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149| BF

20/1

Winner of two of his seven starts over hurdles and has hit the frame on a further three occasions. Ran well at the Cheltenham festival before pulling up early at Fairyhouse last month. One of nine for the Mullins yard.

Form: 122-28P

Jezki^p¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 148| C| D

16/1

Popular former champion hurdle winning veteran. Ran well in defeat in a Leopardstown handicap hurdle in February but is generally finding it a bit of a struggle in graded company of late. Not taken lightly but plenty on his plate in this.

Form: 0-20429

Ivanovich Gorbatov^b,t¹¹^{(ex 9)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: J S McGarvey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 137

16/1

The 2016 Triumph Hurdle winner bounced back to form when landing a Fairyhouse handicap hurdle last month off a 9lb lower mark following a run of 24 defeats. Needs to step up again.

Form: 000031

Lac Kivu^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| CD

7/1

Winner of a maiden hurdle over C&D in May 2017. Lightly raced since and one to note in the betting following a comeback win at Cork last month. One of nine for the yard.

Form: 14-1

Swamp Fox^b¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: J G Murphy| OR: 145| D

50/1

Useful handicap hurdler with four wins, came up short in graded races early last season and finished tailed off behind Lac Kivu on return from a year off at Cork last month. Hard to place any faith in.

Form: 24370-5

Canardier^h²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 143| C

7/1

Running for the first time since October when finishing 2½L fifth in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, suffering interference and just finding it tough up the hill before a fine performance at Aintree last month. Another bold show looks likely.

Form: 233153

Davids Charm²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 143| D

33/1

Winner of three of his 11 starts over hurdles, but has been well held on infrequent appearances in this code since September. Plenty more needed in this group.

Form: 121-960

Stratum^h¹⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142

12/1

Rated 102 on the Flat the Dansili gelding has won one of his four starts over hurdles. Not seen since a heavy defeat in December but one of nine in the contest for the trainer and worth a market check.

Form: 12-40

Woodland Opera^b,t⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 142| CD

16/1

In tremendous heart when grabbing a Grade 2 chase at Gowran Park following a summer jumping campaign before finishing a respectable second of six behind Road To Respect in a Grade 1 contest at Down Royal. Well held on latest start in March.

Form: 911125

Out Of The Loop⁴³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: P Roche| OR: 138| D

16/1

In useful form last season, winning a Downpatrick maiden in October and 2m4f handicap here either side of a strong run in a valuable race at Down Royal. Last seen beating Sire Du Berlais at Fairyhouse over 14 months ago. Looks opposable.

Form: 5/31511-

Golden Spear^t¹⁸²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: E O'Connell⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 137

16/1

Winner of a valuable handicap hurdle over an extended 2m at Down Royal when last seen in November by 5L. Likely to be an improving sort and any market move should be monitored.

Form: 26040-1

Landofhopeandglory^b,t⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 137| C| D

25/1

Course winner that has also won over the trip. Grade 3 winner over both hurdles and fences and won a Cork hurdle when last seen in March over 2m in a five-runner contest. Capable of a big run if in the mood.

Form: 0-05621

Shanning¹⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| BF

16/1

Won her first three over hurdles and has made the transition into handicap company in fierce company. Last seen in November finishing 5L behind Golden Spear at Down Royal. Trainer runs nine in this contest.

Form: 11-322

Dorrells Pierji⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: D A Jacob| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| D

11/1

Dual hurdles winner. Coughing post-race when flopping behind Derrinross at Limerick in December, but appeared a doubtful stayer when weakening at Leopardstown and at the Cheltenham festival in March, 43L behind Minella Indo. One of nine for trainer

Form: 151680

Sayar⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: N de Boinville| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135

25/1

Winner of two of his three starts over hurdles as a novice in 2017/18 campaign, including 2m soft to heavy ground Grade 3 at Tipperary. Hasn't fired in two starts since returning from injury and possibly best avoided here.

Form: 117-00

Take Revenge^t⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: M Brassil| OR: 135| CD

12/1

Definite promise in a couple of initial maiden hurdle starts including a second of 18 behind the Willie Mullins-trained Tornado Flyer in December before a maiden win over C&D in February. Yard among the winners here Friday.

Form: P1-5321

Cartwright^b²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 134

12/1

Two from 11 over hurdles but has not troubled the judge since landing a Navan novice hurdle in March last year. Needs a couple to falter but holds strong place claims.

Form: 056064

Cut The Mustard^h¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132| CD

14/1

Only has a maiden hurdle success to her name but she's been running well in defeat on recent starts. 11th of 24 never in the Grade 3 County hurdle at the Cheltenham festival before a couple of defeats at Limerick and Fairyhouse last month.

Form: 722024

Eight And Bob¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 128| BF| D

16/1

Solid and consistent sort finishing in the first two in his last eight hurdle starts winning on three occasions. Failed to land a hat-trick of wins at Fairyhouse last month. Not ruled out but needs to shake off last run.

Form: 222110

La Tektor^t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: D F O'Regan| T: A J Martin| OR: 128| D

8/1

Four seconds in a row before shedding his maiden tag in a recent maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse. Much more to do against a few of these rivals, but is a nice sort for the future.

Form: 4/22221

Spades Are Trumps¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: N P Madden| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 127| C

12/1

Lightly raced gelding, winner of one of his seven starts over hurdles but has missed most of this season. Second of 14 beaten ¾L at Fairyhouse last month and open to significant improvement in this company.

Form: 12P0-62

Man Of Plenty^b,t⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-13| J: J M Moore| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 125| D

20/1

Highly tried in recent starts including in a 3m Grade 1 at Cheltenham before finishing third of 12 here on Tuesday when subsequently disqualified after his rider weighed in light. Liable to find a fair few stronger.

Form: 05660-0

Contingency²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 123

25/1

Lightly raced mare by Champs Elysees. Not seen for over 14 months when finishing 23L adrift of the winner at Ballinrobe last month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 1134-9

Supreme Vinnie^t¹⁸⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: Miss D O'Shea| OR: 122| C| D

50/1

Blotted his copybook by running out in Munster National two starts back, but did nothing wrong when third to Peregrine Run in a Listed event at Wexford when last seen in October. Tough ask on return to action.

Form: 81P9R3

Eoline Jolie^t1¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: A W Short| T: W P Mullins| OR: 122

40/1

Third Reserve: Filly didn't achieve a lot in three spring starts for champion trainer after arriving from France before an innocuous efforts in November and at Fairyhouse following another break last month.

Form: 168-406

Non-Runners

Milan Native²⁷

Weight: 10-8| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Ask Susan¹

Weight: 9-10| Age: 7

T: W P Mullins J: Reserve 1

Cooldine Bog¹⁷⁰

Weight: 9-10| Age: 6

T: A Slattery J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Canardier (7/1), Lac Kivu (7/1), La Tektor (8/1), Dorrells Pierji (11/1), Stratum (12/1), Spades Are Trumps (12/1), Take Revenge (12/1), Cartwright (12/1), Cut The Mustard (14/1), Milan Native (14/1), Woodland Opera (16/1), Shanning (16/1), Golden Spear (16/1), Jezki (16/1), Eight And Bob (16/1), Out Of The Loop (16/1), Ivanovich Gorbatov (16/1), Mr Adjudicator (20/1), Man Of Plenty (20/1), Contingency (25/1), Landofhopeandglory (25/1), Ask Susan (25/1), Sayar (25/1), Davids Charm (33/1), Cooldine Bog (33/1), Eoline Jolie (40/1), Swamp Fox (50/1), Supreme Vinnie (50/1)

CANARDIER for trainer Dermot McLoughlin can follow up on a couple of solid runs at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals finishing not far behind William Henry and Three Musketeers. The gelding will have to see off a selection of the Mullins battalions including Lac Kivu, Eight And Bob, Shanning and, should there be any market move, Stratum. Of the J P McManus runners, Ivanovich Gorbatov and Out Of The Loop deserve consideration.