16:50 Punchestown

Tuesday 18 February 2020

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

David Trundley Artist At Punchestown Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 16:52 | Winning time: 6m 50.8s

Marshalled³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: P Roche| OR: 100| BF

8/1

Disappointed last time out here over 2m4f after impressing previously at Clonmel over shorter; steps up in trip again and while has ability will need things to fall right for him to play a leading role.

Form: 6-0515

Mick The Jiver²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Phillip Enright| T: E O'Grady| OR: 99| D

5/2

Won well at Navan over 3m in December and ran well for a long way last time at Gowran Park last month; could possibly need to drop a few more pounds again to get competitive in a race like this but has a bit going for him.

Form: 71-4617

Spancil Hill^p³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 97| C| D

10/1

Course winner; hinting at a return to form of late and it was his best effort for some time when fourth of nine sporting first-time cheekpieces last time; still above his highest winning mark but not out of this if the headgear has the same effect.

Form: 490P44

Sweet Sting³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Brian Hayes| T: M J Bowe| OR: 99

20/1

Off the mark on hurdling debut in a Tramore maiden hurdle over 2m4f in August; has been below par since then but has dropped a few pounds in the handicap and step up in trip may be beneficial.

Form: 991U07

Trickey Trix^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 96| D

20/1

Seven-race maiden who is not the most fluent of jumpers; well beaten on most recent starts and difficult to nominate as a possible winner despite falling mark.

Form: 330885

Ask Mary^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss E A Lalor⁽⁵⁾| T: R H Lalor| OR: 90| D

7/2

Inconsistent chaser/hurdler; sent off favourite but disappointed when last seen over hurdles in November (over course and distance); has ability on a going day but sometimes difficult to pinpoint when that will be.

Form: 86882U

Ice Cool²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: G P Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 90| C| D

14/1

Won three times over timber back in 2015/16 but missed a chunk of time after and showed very little when returned to the track in 2017/18 season; well beaten in three recent outings and while hard to totally write off, looks an unlikely winner.

Form: 0P7/070

Railway Tommy^t1⁶⁷⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: P McCreery| OR: 90| C| D

40/1

Yet to win a race and this looks a tough assignment making his first racecourse appearance for nearly 700 days. Wears first-time tongue-tie.

Form: F6664P/

Ask Cory^p³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: C A McBratney| OR: 89

12/1

Had been showing some promise late last year including being placed at Ayr in October; bounced back into form last time out at Navan and a repeat of that effort would see him in the shake-up if this return to hurdles suits.

Form: 2824P3

Ballea Fox^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: S Spillane| OR: 89| D

5/1

Was struggling badly this season prior to two poor efforts in handicap hurdles at Thurles. Nudged up 2lb for his latest effort but should remain competitive.

Form: 00P952

Campo Viego^p1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: J Dullea| OR: 86

16/1

Beaten at big prices on all five of his starts under Rules. Looks hugely reliant on first-time cheekpieces working the oracle.

Form: 7-8006P

Justice Jim^t³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: H P Cleary⁽⁷⁾| T: Michael G Cleary| OR: 84

50/1

Had shown very little in four racecourse appearance before showing some signs of ability when doing his best work in the closing stages of his penultimate start at Clonmel; ran fair race on handicap debut last time out.

Form: 980P77

Baby Sioux^p1⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Richard Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: E Sheehy| OR: 83

66/1

Well beaten on all three starts in maiden hurdles prior to finishing pulled up at Tramore on New Year's Day and makes no appeal on her handicap debut here. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: P000P

Forecasts

Mick The Jiver (5/2), Ask Mary (7/2), Ballea Fox (5/1), Marshalled (8/1), Spancil Hill (10/1), Ask Cory (12/1), Ice Cool (14/1), Campo Viego (16/1), Sweet Sting (20/1), Trickey Trix (20/1), Railway Tommy (40/1), Justice Jim (50/1), Baby Sioux (66/1)

SWEET STING will be better for her recent outing at this track after a short break. She won a Tramore maiden hurdle well enough in August and looks likely to appreciate this step up in trip against some very inconsistent rivals. Ask Cory returns to hurdling after showing some ability over fences and ran a fair race last time out. If he can translate that effort to the smaller obstacles he should have a fair chance. Justice Jim isn't out of this if he can build on his latest start while Ballea Fox should remain competitive despite a 2lb rise in the weights.