15:20 Punchestown

Tuesday 18 February 2020

All13:4514:1514:4515:2015:5016:2016:2516:5016:55

Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 6m 29.20s

Battle Of Midway^t1⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Donagh Meyler| T: N Meade

33/1

Narrowly justified favouritism in a novice event at Fairyhouse but very disappointing when stepped up to Graded company at Cork when last seen in December. Needs a career best to mix it with these, first-time tongue-tie on.

Form: 15-1215

Floueur³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 141

9/2

Promising effort in a bumper prior to a pair of wins in France and then returned to the UK with an impressive success at Navan when debuting for this yard last month; open to any amount of improvement and won't mind the ground.

Form: 3111

Fully Charged⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| D

10/1

Improved from a promising course debut with a win at Limerick in December when making light work of an 11-runner field and while the form of that race doesn't look anything special, he couldn't have won an easier; worth a crack at this level.

Form: R/521-21

Mr Hendricks³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| D

25/1

Maiden hurdle winner at the third time of asking at Navan last month, shaping like he would relish this step up in trip and form of that race, with a rival already rated 129 back in fourth; not one to rule out with improvement on the cards.

Form: P41-061

Run Wild Fred³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 131

14/1

Maiden hurdle winner who was running a decent race before falling at Thurles last month; should appreciate this longer trip and should continue to improve for a yard in form.

Form: 161-31F

Vis Ta Loi³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135

10/1

Maiden hurdle winner on debut and filled third spot in a pair of Grade 3 races prior to finishing tailed off in novice company at Thurles last time; jumped left that day and wouldn't want to do that at this venue.

Form: 3/1333

Well Set Up⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M Fahey| OR: 133| D

11/2

Has won three of her five starts this season and only narrowly denied a Grade 2 success at Limerick last time out; the winner from that wasn't disgraced in a Grade 1 last time and she's open to further improvement.

Form: 2-12112

Lord Royal⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

8/11

Built on a promise Flat performance in France when bolting up with a 33L win at Clonmel in January; looks as if this step up in trip will not be an issue and holds both Ballymore and Albert Bartlett entries; fascinating contender.

Form: 2-1

Sailingtobyzantium³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr T Hamilton| T: H De Bromhead

66/1

Fell on her hurdles debut but left that form behind when winning at Clonmel in December. However, struggled when dropped in trip and upped to Listed company at Thurles last time and others make more appeal over this much longer trip.

Form: P-32F18

Forecasts

Lord Royal (8/11), Floueur (9/2), Well Set Up (11/2), Fully Charged (10/1), Vis Ta Loi (10/1), Run Wild Fred (14/1), Mr Hendricks (25/1), Battle Of Midway (33/1), Sailingtobyzantium (66/1)

LORD ROYAL has the profile of a hugely exciting prospect for this top yard and he could hardly have been any more impressive on his debut at Clonmel. Mr Hendricks should improve for this longer trip while Floueur is another exciting prospect worthy of consideration.