13:30 Punchestown

Wednesday 15 January 2020

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3515:0515:40

Ladbrokes Football 'Acca-Boosty' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 5m 18.5s

Abyssinian²³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: J R Barry| BF

33/1

Useful 94-rated dual Flat winner made a taking hurdling debut when finishing second of 10 beaten 3¾L at Killarney over 2m4f following a 628-day break. Well held back in May on final start for trainer Joseph O'Brien.

Form: 20

Banner Rebel²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: K Purcell

100/1

Stowaway gelding. Half-brother to useful hurdler/smart chaser Ballybolley. Detached three out when pulled up on hurdling debut at Limerick last month.

Form: 1-FPP

Berkerys Enigma¹¹

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

100/1

Sent of at big prices in a number of starts since November before running accordingly on each occasion. Hard to fancy against a number of these rivals.

Form: 51-PB60

Bois De Clamart^t⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Miss E Doyle

33/1

Beaten 76L on hurdling debut at Down Royal before falling at the third in a maiden contest here in November. Overall record casts doubt on his ability to get competitive at this level.

Form: 1/2-66F

Castlegrange¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: J Dullea

100/1

Beaten over 100L in a Tramore bumper and a Limerick maiden on hurdling debut, both starts coming last month. Out of sorts recently and impossible to make a case for.

Form: 4-87

Chesterville^h⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Gary Brian Noonan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Neville

100/1

Sent off at odds of 100/1 on both hurdling starts so far following his debut in a Listowel maiden hurdle in September. Hard to place any faith in.

Form: 6P9

Column Of Fire¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| BF

1/1

Improving sort who has been knocking on the door in a number of starts over hurdles since November. Still in contention when falling two out in a Fairyhouse contest on yielding ground earlier this month. Leading contender.

Form: 3B2-32F

Gold Des Bois²⁵⁷

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

6/1

Cost connections £100,000. Weakened over 3f to finish 10th of 17 beaten 29L on racecourse debut in a 2m2f bumper at this track when last seen in May. Worth a market check on hurdling debut for respected connections and holds a Grade 1 entry.

Form: F1-0

Groody Rover³²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: P Fenton

33/1

Milan gelding opened account at third time of asking in points earlier in the spring. Needs close market monitoring on hurdling debut.

Form: 331-

Rebellito^h⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

3/1

Winner of two of his six career starts on the Flat in France. Not fluent on debut in a 2m maiden hurdle at this venue when last seen in November; should improve.

Form: 6

Aircraft Carrier^t1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: L Comer

33/1

90-rated handicapper on the Flat for trainer John Ryan. More needed from a disappointing couple of starts over hurdles last month.

Form: 06

Bard Of Eirn

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley

100/1

Gelding by Westerner out of a Presenting mare. Possibly best watched on racecourse debut in this contest representing Co Meath trainer who has just one winner over hurdles from 36 starters this term.

Form:

Cala Di Volpe²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: R K Watson

100/1

Well held in a couple of point-to-point starts last spring before finishing wide of the mark in a Down Royal maiden hurdle last month. Possibly best watched unless market vibes suggest otherwise.

Form: 6-67

For Talks Sake²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan

14/1

Coastal Path half-brother to French bumper/chase winner Ebrasca de Thaix. Sixth of 12 beaten 15L in a Leopardstown 2m bumper last month Worth a check in the market for trainer among the winners here on Sunday.

Form: 2-16

Friary Rock¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: M F Morris| OR: 119

8/1

Running with plenty of credit in four career starts so far including three runs over hurdles. Solid and consistent sort who should go well again.

Form: 5-255

High As Akite¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: D Kenneally

100/1

Gelding by Mountain High out of a Beneficial mare. Little encouragement in maiden hurdles since September. Not in the form required to play a part.

Form: 00P

Johnny Little Legs¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: M M McDonagh⁽⁷⁾| T: S O O'Brien

100/1

Well beaten in a couple of starts since his debut at Naas over 2m3f last month in a soft ground maiden hurdle. Plenty to prove at present.

Form: 90

Presenting Cody³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: K Purcell

50/1

Presenting gelding a brother to bumper/2m7f hurdle winner Bally Conor. Sixth of 24 beaten 27L on hurdling debut in a Naas 2m3f contest in December. On balance probably has plenty to find in this contest.

Form: P6

Forecasts

Column Of Fire (1/1), Rebellito (3/1), Gold Des Bois (6/1), Friary Rock (8/1), For Talks Sake (14/1), Bois De Clamart (33/1), Groody Rover (33/1), Aircraft Carrier (33/1), Abyssinian (33/1), Presenting Cody (50/1), Cala Di Volpe (100/1), Castlegrange (100/1), Johnny Little Legs (100/1), Berkerys Enigma (100/1), Banner Rebel (100/1), Chesterville (100/1), Bard Of Eirn (100/1), High As Akite (100/1)

The Gordon Elliott-trained COLUMN OF FIRE was still in contention when falling two out in a Fairyhouse contest on yielding ground earlier this month and can get off the mark at the sixth time of asking. The six-year-old had previously running well in defeat in a number of starts since November and can get the better of the former Joseph O'Brien-trained Abyssinian. The Willie Mullins-trained Rebellito is likely to improve from his debut run at this venue in November while Friary Rock can run a creditable race and is clearly better than his last run suggests.