15:45 Punchestown

Sunday 12 January 2020

All12:3013:0513:3514:1014:4015:1515:45

Racing TV Club Day Today Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 4m 20.50s

Alabaster⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: C F Hart⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan

66/1

Had some fair form for Sir Mark Prescott on the Flat but struggled when sent to Ireland late last year; a dour stayer on the Flat, he might find this on the sharp side but could go well in this company.

Form:

Arakan Quest^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: B R Hamilton

33/1

Has plenty of bumper experience; finished third of 15 at Gowran Park (2m) on his hurdles debut in November before unseating his rider last month at Down Royal; fair chance if jumping improves.

Form: 22273U

Ballyadam Destiny

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: T O'Brien

66/1

Newcomer by top sire Martaline cost €70,000 as a three-year-old and is a brother to 2m-2m4f hurdle winner Papagana and half-brother to two more winners in France. Likable pedigree so one to keep a close eye on here.

Form:

Blackbow^h²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF| D

1/3

Had some very useful bumper form a few year ago and has made progress over hurdles despite poor jumping; should have won last time but fell at the last at Navan; becoming expensive to follow but looks likely winner if jumping soundly.

Form: 1152/2F

Hardy Man^t1³⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Richard Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan

50/1

Placed on all three of his point-to-point starts back in 2018; difficult to currently assess and best place for guidance will be the betting ring.

Form: 23/2-

Le Musigny⁶⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

12/1

€45,000 three-year-old Anzillero gelding is a half-brother to several winners, including top-class hurdler/high-class chaser Grands Crus. In good hands starting out, watch betting.

Form: 3/P-

Liam Eile^t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: P Martin

100/1

Low-grade Flat handicapper who has been detached on both starts over hurdles since November. Not one to place a great deal of faith in.

Form: 00

Port Stanley¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

4/1

High-class form to his name in a couple bumpers finishing just behind the likes of Envoi Allen and Abacadabras; reasonable effort on hurdles debut at Limerick recently and one to consider.

Form: P132-53

Rebel Gold^h,t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: M A Enright| T: T Foley

100/1

Tailed off on both starts in bumpers and similar tail on hurdles debut at Fairyhouse earlier this month; hard to see him being competitive here.

Form: B-52890

Bobby Boy²¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: A McNamara

40/1

Dual winner for Ger Lyons over a mile on the Flat and looks an interesting recruit to hurdling; last effort on the level was disappointing but should be ready here and has run well fresh in the past.

Form:

Cleared To Go

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: N P Madden| T: P Roche

66/1

Nicely-bred gelding who dam was a half-sister to very useful hurdler/chaser Tully East; stable going well at present and one to keep an eye on in the market.

Form:

Funky Dady¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan

100/1

Well held in a Fairyhouse bumper before a dismal effort on hurdling debut at Leopardstown last month; difficult to get excited about.

Form: 5FF00

Midnight Wilde²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: C D Maxwell| T: G P Cromwell

66/1

Useful staying handicapper on the Flat when with John Ryan; has changed stable a few times since then and has not been at his best for a long while; hurdling may revitalise him and one to keep an eye on in the market.

Form:

Nero Rock¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: M F Morris

16/1

Much better performance last time out following on from two poor efforts at Cork and Wexford; penny may have finally dropped and has reasonable chance of a place at the very least.

Form: 5-02P03

Powerful Ted^t1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| D

25/1

Looked a good prospect when winning on bumper debut at Galway in October; given a gentle introduction to hurdling last month at Leopardstown and should be better for that run; reasonable chance.

Form: 148

Sole Trader⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: D H Kelly

66/1

Flat-bred gelding who cost 20,000 euros as a yearling; pulled up on only point-to-point outing in November; difficult to assess.

Form: P

The Broghie Man²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J S McGarvey| T: P Roche| OR: 114

33/1

85-rated dual Flat winner who shown moderate aptitude for hurdling; did not enjoy step up in trip last time at Naas; should be better suited here and one to consider.

Form: 570

Wavelength¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell

28/1

Off the mark at the second time of asking for connections when landing a Roscommon bumper on heavy ground in September; mixed bag so far over hurdles but entitled to improve and difficult to write off totally.

Form: 31F5

Roses Queen⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: C O'Dwyer

66/1

No great shakes on the Flat but made a reasonable hurdling debut at Thurles in October; should have learned from that outing and should give another good account of herself.

Form: 7

Seskin Bonnie²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: P Carey

100/1

Bred to stay much further than this and her two dire efforts over hurdles reflect this fact; not one to get excited about.

Form: 00

Stowaway To Heaven

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan

66/1

Nicely bred mare related to some useful National Hunt performers; tough ask on debut but market may provide clues of the stable's confidence.

Form:

Get Crackin

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Reserve 1| T: E Cawley

100/1

Reasonably bred gelding though stable not renowned for getting them ready first time up; market best guide should he get a run: Reserve 1

Form:

Non-Runners

Santa Rossa²⁵⁶

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: D A McLoughlin J: A W Short

Loudest Whisper¹⁷

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: E D Delany J: Reserve 2

Coolnacritta⁸

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: J P Ryan J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Blackbow (1/3), Port Stanley (4/1), Santa Rossa (11/2), Le Musigny (12/1), Nero Rock (16/1), Powerful Ted (25/1), Wavelength (28/1), The Broghie Man (33/1), Arakan Quest (33/1), Bobby Boy (40/1), Hardy Man (50/1), Loudest Whisper (50/1), Coolnacritta (50/1), Alabaster (66/1), Ballyadam Destiny (66/1), Midnight Wilde (66/1), Roses Queen (66/1), Cleared To Go (66/1), Stowaway To Heaven (66/1), Sole Trader (66/1), Funky Dady (100/1), Rebel Gold (100/1), Get Crackin (100/1), Liam Eile (100/1), Seskin Bonnie (100/1)

Much here depends on the jumping of BLACKBOW. He looked all over the winner when long odds-on on his latest start but came a cropper at the last flight. Punters will be wary of taking such a short price but he could still be too strong in this weak looking contest. Many eyes will be on the debut of classy bumper winner Santa Rossa. She showed a wonderful consistency in all her contests and if she hurdles well she should give the selection most to do. Best of the rest could be Port Stanley who made a pleasing hurdles debut recently at Limerick and can improve.