15:45 Punchestown

Wednesday 19 February 2020

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

Ten Weeks To Punchestown Festival Mares Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 6m 14.50s

Fort Worth Texas³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: C Bowe| OR: 116

9/2

Three-race maiden. Third of nine beaten 23L on latest start at this track over 2m4f last month. More needed but not one to be putting a line through.

Form: 112663

Tucanae⁵⁵

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

11/8

Daughter of Yeats out of a US bred mare. Winner of a Limerick 2m bumper on St Stephens day finishing ahead of Nelly's Money. A little short on hurdling debut at this venue earlier but should have more to show here.

Form: 161

Ballycastle Girl^t1¹⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: D P Dunne

50/1

Two-race maiden. Well beaten and no impression on latest start when disappointing in a Clonmel maiden hurdle when last seen in September. Hard to recommend on evidence to hand.

Form: 9/P-48

Miss Pernickety^b²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien

9/4

Posted a career best effort on her latest start at Limerick last month. Plenty of room for improvement and should get competitive in this company.

Form: 323-752

Miss Queen Bee²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: J F Gleeson

33/1

Daughter of Scorpion out of a Yashgan mare. Won a January point-to-point. Market likely to be the best guide on hurdling debut.

Form: 761

Mrs Pops¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: P T Flavin

66/1

Arctic Cosmos filly out of a Grand Lodge mare. Not seen under rules since a couple of disappointing efforts over hurdles in September 2018. Watching brief on return to action.

Form: 0S-2P

Queen Of Fame¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Brian Hayes| T: D G Murphy

100/1

Daughter of Fame And Glory. Well beaten in a number of maiden hurdles last year and on return to action at Thurles earlier this month. Difficult to make a case for.

Form: 07-0

Royal Mahler²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Kevin Sexton| T: D P Dunne

100/1

had already disappointed connections on debut at Fairyhouse before pulling up when tailed off at the end of last month in a Limerick maiden hurdle. Plenty to prove at present.

Form: 0P

Rule Of June⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: M A Enright| T: L Casey

100/1

Daughter of Rule Of Law out of a Beneficial mare. Always in rear on dismal debut in a Fairyhouse novice hurdle when last seen in November. Needs to step up on that effort.

Form: 236

The Dreams Alive²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: E Griffin

66/1

Sent off at big prices on bumper and maiden hurdle debuts so far before running accordingly on both occasions. Plenty of questions to answer at present. .

Form: 06

Trixie Mc³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr J W Reilly⁽⁷⁾| T: G Hussey

100/1

A couple of dismal efforts in January following a couple of promising starts in 2018. Infrequent visits to the track will not be helping the mare to progress in the game.

Form: 437-0F7

Ballela To Moscow²⁸⁵

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

100/1

Daughter of Kalanisi out of a Moscow Society mare. Closely related to bumper winner Longhouse Poet and decent chaser Longhousesignora. Market likely to reveal expectations on debut.

Form: P

Hopefully⁴¹

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

10/1

Daughter of Beat Hollow. No impression on hurdling debut at Thurles in November weakening after four out before a pleasing effort at Clonmel last month. More needed but commands respect.

Form: 0305

Little Token²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Mike O'Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Keeffe

10/1

Plenty of reasons to be pleased with her recent starts at Limerick but distance beaten has to be a concern. Appears capable of a bold bid.

Form: 17-443

Miss Anfield⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell

100/1

Daughter of San Frontieres. Met smart rivals in both starts but tailed off 20th of 24 and midfield fall suggest she is best watched.

Form: 0F

Forecasts

Tucanae (11/8), Miss Pernickety (9/4), Fort Worth Texas (9/2), Hopefully (10/1), Little Token (10/1), Miss Queen Bee (33/1), Ballycastle Girl (50/1), Mrs Pops (66/1), The Dreams Alive (66/1), Queen Of Fame (100/1), Rule Of June (100/1), Trixie Mc (100/1), Royal Mahler (100/1), Miss Anfield (100/1), Ballela To Moscow (100/1)

MISS PERNICKETY can can build on her second of 14 at Limerick at the end of last month to land the spoils here. The Joseph O'Brien-trained mare wouldn't have to improve to much on that effort to get the better of the Paul Nolan-trained Tucanae, winner of a Limerick bumper on St Stephens day. Fort Worth Texas for trainer Colin Bowe and Little Token can compete for remaining prize money. The Willie Mullins-trained Hopefully the mount of Paul Townend should not be underestimated.