14:40 Punchestown

Thursday 31 December 2020

All12:3013:0513:3514:0514:4015:1015:40

Tote Supporting Irish Racing Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:42 | Winning time: 5m 30.0s

Blast Of Koeman^t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Phillip Enright| T: P Maher| OR: 126

22/1

Twenty runs since last win in 2017. 8/1, first run since leaving Robert Tyner when creditable fifth of 17 in minor event chase at this course (24f, heavy) 37 days ago. Respected switched to hurdles.

Form: 92-P895

Debuchet²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 123| BF

6/4

First run since leaving Ms Margaret Mullins when good second of 13 in novice hurdle (9/2) at this course (20f, heavy) 23 days ago, finishing strongly. Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 393-7P2

Wingin A Prayer³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 123| D

3/1

Good fifth of 17 in handicap hurdle (12/1) at Fairyhouse (19.5f, soft) 33 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Stable in good form so worth considering.

Form: 371-F35

Best Behavior²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D J McInerney| T: O McKiernan| OR: 122| D

9/1

50/1, fell first on return in handicap chase at Navan (20f, heavy) 26 days ago. Switches to hurdles so not dismissed.

Form: 9511F-F

Andratx^t⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Slevin| T: M M McNiff| OR: 120

28/1

Very good second of 14 in handicap at the Curragh (12f, heavy, 17/2) 59 days ago. Back hurdling now so not ruled out.

Form: 111206/

Conquredalofeurope^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: J Motherway| OR: 120

14/1

Debut winner of 20f Clonmel maide hurdle but only twelfth of 13 in novice hurdle at this course (20f, heavy) 23 days ago. Makes handicap bow now and needs to bounce back.

Form: 64-10

Dalton Highway⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Kennedy| T: D K Weld| OR: 120| D

4/1

Leopardstown 20f handicap winner when last seen over hurdles 12 months ago. Since scored on the Flat so not taken lightly back in this sphere.

Form: 675/51-

Crosshue Boy^t¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr H D Dunne⁽⁵⁾| T: S Doyle| OR: 119| C| D

33/1

Course winner but pulled up in handicap hurdle at Naas (19f) 9 months ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 6/30P-PP

Oscar Sam²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 116| CD

80/1

C&D winner. First run since leaving Mrs J. Harrington when tenth of 13 in novice chase at Clonmel (16.2f, heavy, 50/1) on debut over fences 28 days ago. Back over hurdles with work to do.

Form: B0870/0

Hurricane Darwin^t²³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: K C Sexton| T: P Maher| OR: 112| D

28/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2017. Only ninth of 18 in handicap hurdle (33/1) at this course (24f, heavy) 23 days ago so others appeal more.

Form: 495-8U9

Non-Runners

Campeador³²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: J S McGarvey

Damalisque⁴⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: E P Harty J: Mark Walsh

Halsafari¹⁹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 7

T: M J Bowe J: Brian Hayes

R'evelyn Pleasure²⁰

Weight: 10-13| Age: 8

T: S O O'Brien J: Donagh Meyler

Forecasts

Debuchet (6/4), Damalisque (11/4), Wingin A Prayer (3/1), Dalton Highway (4/1), Halsafari (8/1), R'evelyn Pleasure (8/1), Best Behavior (9/1), Campeador (10/1), Conquredalofeurope (14/1), Blast Of Koeman (22/1), Hurricane Darwin (28/1), Andratx (28/1), Crosshue Boy (33/1), Oscar Sam (80/1)

Plenty with chances but DEBUCHET is taken to build on his encouraging debut second for Gavin Cromwell and gain an overdue first win over hurdles. Damalisque looks sure to have a say on the back of his good Naas second, while R'Evelyn Pleasure also needs considering after his recent win here.