18:45 Punchestown

Wednesday 15 May 2019

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Next Race Day 12th June Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 18:45 | Winning time: 5m 51.6s

Napoleon Blue^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: A Murray| OR: 102| D

7/1

Improved to win at Thurles in March, the addition of cheekpieces seemingly doing the trick (retained here). Close third at Perth since and off his lower domestic handicap he has leading claims.

Form: 087013-

Party Playboy^p1¹⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Mullins| T: A Mullins| OR: 102

9/1

Fair effort since handicapping with thirds and fourth placed finishes the last twice suggesting handicap is within range. Up in trip here after a break and mixed messages as to whether he will want such a stamina test.

Form: 76634-

Back To Bataan¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: M Torrens| OR: 101

25/1

Good third at Down Royal on Boxing Day hinted his turn may soon come but was well beaten on return when fourth at Kilbeggan. Should come on for that here however and interesting now upped fully 7f in trip.

Form: 8/76934-

Derby De Thaix^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 101

16/1

Lone win remains a French bumper in 2017 and after a fair fifth on chase bow in April proved another false dawn as he flopped next. Unappealing profile.

Form: 577058-

Shantou Warrior¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Mrs P Dobbs| OR: 99

7/1

Upped 7lb for maiden success in a Sligo handicap back just last month which followed on from a more promising effort at Limerick. Getting the hang of this game now and should make another bold bid with extra 3f no concern.

Form: 95005-1

Hero's Welcome^t⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: J S McGarvey| T: A J Martin| OR: 98

7/1

Last four efforts in handicaps from December to march were all pretty respectable although never managed to make the first three. Handicap in range for another solid run if as effective on this sounder surface, no guarantees he will be.

Form: 6/06455-

City Hall^t¹¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: S A Shortall| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 97

14/1

Lightly raced son of Galileo form the immediate family of Supasundae was a fair seventh on handicap bow at Gowran but having raced exclusively over 2m he could improve plenty now upped in trip and is an interesting contender.

Form: 5007-

Top Of The Charts^t1⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 97

10/1

Close second just eight days ago in a 2m4½f Ayr handicap looked a career best effort. With that run in mind here he must be considered a likely sort.

Form: P4746-2

Cantkidakidder^p⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: N Dooly| OR: 96

33/1

Out of sorts towards the end of last year and finished a remote 15th of 18 at Tipperary just last week. Can't improve enough in such a short space of time to contend surely.

Form: 12207-0

Ask David^b⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 95| BF| C

10/1

In good form currently finishing second before winning a handicap hurdle here in February. Still in contention when brought down next before finishing sixth last week at Tipperary. Handicapper may have caught him up.

Form: 7021B-6

Duke's Girl^t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 93| BF

5/1

25-race maiden including 15 defeats over hurdles. Not suited by drop back in trip at Fairyhouse latest but better judged on sixth at Thurles in February. Never like to swerve those from this yard but will do so here.

Form: 4P0460-

Laughing Trix¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 93

50/1

Landed a December 2018 point-to-point but makes little appeal based on four hurdle starts for connections since her rules debut in January.

Form: 1807-0

Eimear²¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: C D Maxwell| T: W Ross| OR: 92

50/1

Placed in a Sligo maiden hurdle last August and fourth twice subsequently in similar events before showing substandard form over fences twice. Hurdles then may suit better but still only limited appeal in first handicap.

Form: 442567-

The Reaping Race³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 89

7/2

Showed next to nothing in maidens and same story In three handicaps since. Have to question if he will have it in him to win a race.

Form: 6/70000-

Humps And Bumps¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Mr C Cullinan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Croke| OR: 83

14/1

Point-to-point winner almost sprang a major upset latest when second at Kilbeggan at 22/1 in a 3m handicap. Upped 2lb for that effort but a repeat here should see her make a bold bid.

Form: 061892-

The Broom Squire^t¹⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 80

33/1

Placed a couple of times last summer but form then tailed off quite severely after a fall. Returns from a break now with plenty of questions to answer.

Form: 23F00P-

Forecasts

The Reaping Race (7/2), Duke's Girl (5/1), Hero's Welcome (7/1), Napoleon Blue (7/1), Shantou Warrior (7/1), Party Playboy (9/1), Top Of The Charts (10/1), Ask David (10/1), City Hall (14/1), Humps And Bumps (14/1), Derby De Thaix (16/1), Back To Bataan (25/1), Cantkidakidder (33/1), The Broom Squire (33/1), Eimear (50/1), Laughing Trix (50/1)

A chance is taken on Joseph O'Brien's highly unexposed CITY HALL, a beautifully bred son of Galileo who could prove a revelation now upped in trip after a break. Recent winners Shantou Warrior and Napoleon Blue look the biggest dangers in what is a pretty competitive race on the whole.