14:10 Punchestown

Wednesday 19 February 2020

All13:4014:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:55

I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 5m 24.50s

Last Minute Man³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 124

13/2

Has hit the frame in five of his seven career starts over hurdles. Running well in defeat at Fairyhouse and Navan last month and worth another chance to get off the mark here.

Form: 2/00-333

Fils Spirituel^p1³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

5/1

Winner of a 1m4f bumper in France before disappointing on a number of occasions in maiden company since making his Irish debut in November. Likely to improve in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 1535

Ballylig²⁰²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: D E Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell

33/1

Gelding by Winged Love out of a Definite Article mare. Not seen since a dismal effort at the Galway festival in August in a 2m2f bumper on good ground finishing last of nine. Worth a check in the market.

Form: 3-9

Da Big Fella⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S G McDermott| T: Eamon Courtney

50/1

Not disgraced on bumper debut at Listowel before finishing midfield on hurdles debut at Clonmel. More needed in this company.

Form: 47

Desire De Joie²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott

12/1

Has been running with plenty of credit in a couple of starts over hurdles last month. Likely to improve again but could be vulnerable to a number of quicker sorts once again.

Form: 340/P34

Eklat De Rire¹⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

4/1

Holds an entry in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham next so possibly well regarded. Won point-to-point race on only start and bought recently for £110,000. Leading player.

Form: 1

Foxy Jacks^p²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Phillip Enright| T: M F Morris| OR: 120

3/1

Eight-race maiden over timber with four place efforts on the board. Career best effort at Thurles earlier was followed by another runner up effort at Naas over 2m3f last month. Yard going well and one for the shortlist.

Form: 277422

Hardy Man²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Donagh Meyler| T: D Hogan

33/1

Solid and consistent in three point-to-point starts without managing to get his head in front in 2018. Well held and never nearer in a couple of recent starts since an absence of two years. Likely to appreciate handicaps in future.

Form: 23/2-88

Lou Trek^h²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Cawley⁽⁷⁾| T: P G Kelly

66/1

Well beaten and no impression in a couple of desperate efforts over hurdles in December and more recently at Naas last month. Faces a tough ask in this contest.

Form: 1-52709

Not So Simple^b1⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: N Lee

66/1

Gelding by Kalanisi. No impression and never a factor in a couple of initial starts at Leopardstown and Clonmel last month. First time blinkers unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: 2-05

Rekindled^t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: M Brassil

66/1

Gelding by Martaline out of a Highest Honor mare. Cost 48,000 euros as a three-year-old. National Hunt bred who is related to plenty of hurdles and chase winners.

Form: 0

Attitash

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: M P Fogarty| T: S J Treacy

66/1

Gelding by Mahler out of a Phardante mare. Closely related to four-time winner, Indian Castle successful over hurdles/fences racing between 2m4f and 3m1f. Worthy of a market check on debut.

Form:

Lucky One⁴⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins

9/2

Gelding by Derby winner Authorized out of a Vettori mare. Holds entries in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices and Ballymore Novices' at the Cheltenham festival. Solid efforts in France and in good hands to make winning Irish debut.

Form: 22-

Mig Des Taillons^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: M A Enright| T: R A Curran

33/1

Gelding by Montmartre out of a Robin Des Champs mare. Beaten a long way in a couple of bumpers around the turn of the year despite misleading finishing positions. Hasn't looked a winner in waiting just yet.

Form: F26

Stormy Judge²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Mullins| T: P A Fahy| OR: 114

10/1

Five-race maiden who has been running well in defeat in a couple of efforts in December and more recently at Down Royal last month. Could well still have more to give in this company.

Form: 675223

Babysean^t1³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: A W Short| T: Caroline Mccaldin

66/1

First Reserve: Well beaten and no impression on debut run in an Ayr 2m4f maiden hurdle last month. Looks a tall order on that effort.

Form: 15

Non-Runners

Euclyde Dubreau⁴⁹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: Unknown Jockey

Second Symphony³

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: C A McBratney J: Reserve 2

Marajman⁸⁰⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: W P Mullins J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Foxy Jacks (3/1), Eklat De Rire (4/1), Lucky One (9/2), Fils Spirituel (5/1), Last Minute Man (13/2), Stormy Judge (10/1), Marajman (11/1), Desire De Joie (12/1), Mig Des Taillons (33/1), Hardy Man (33/1), Ballylig (33/1), Euclyde Dubreau (33/1), Da Big Fella (50/1), Second Symphony (50/1), Not So Simple (66/1), Rekindled (66/1), Attitash (66/1), Lou Trek (66/1), Babysean (66/1)

First-time cheekpieces could be the key to the Willie Mullins-trained, FILS SPIRITUEL getting off the mark at the fourth time of asking for connections over hurdles. The mount of Paul Townend, the seven-year-old can hold off the attentions of stablemate, Lucky One, owned by Sullivan Bloodstock. The Mouse Morris-trained Foxy Jacks is a potential improver in the field while the Gordon Elliott pair, Last Minute Man and Desire De Joie the mount of Davy Russell can joust for minor honours.