17:20 Punchestown

Wednesday 28 April 2021

All15:4016:1516:5017:2017:5518:3019:0019:35

Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 6m 17.40s

Crosshill²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 138| C

15/2

Useful hurdler who posted very good second of 20 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (24f, good to soft, 25/1) 25 days ago, collared dying strides. Not without hope if progressing again.

Form: 9-12F42

Stattler⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| BF

10/1

Useful hurdler. 7/2, creditable 15¼ lengths fourth of 16 to Vanillier in Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Spa) at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft) 40 days ago. Should remain competitive.

Form: 32-3134

Streets Of Doyen^b1,t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Simon Torrens| T: J C McConnell| OR: 139| D

40/1

Useful hurdler. 11/2 and tongue strap on for 1st time, creditable 21½ lengths fourth of 12 to Ahoy Senor in Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree (24.7f, good to soft) 19 days ago. Blinkers on 1st time.

Form: 111634

Torygraph^p⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 137| D

22/1

Useful hurdler who was strong at the finish when winning 2m 7f novices at Fairyhouse and Thurles. Below form in first-time cheekpieces away from the mud in the Spa at Cheltenham last time, though.

Form: 5-32118

Vanillier^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 150| D

10/3

Showed much improved form when winning 16-runner Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Spa) at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft) 40 days ago, well on top finish. Open to further improvement.

Form: 1-21201

Galopin Des Champs⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150

13/8

Much improved switched to handicap company when impressive winner of 22-runner Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival last time. Has stamina to prove at 3m but he's open to further improvement.

Form: 12P61

Gentlemansgame²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Mark Walsh| T: M F Morris| OR: 142| BF| D

11/1

Made a winning hurdling debut at Cork in January prior to excellent second in Leopardstown Grade 1. Failed to reproduce that effort last time, but retains potential.

Form: 1123

Telmesomethinggirl⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 142

6/1

Found another chunk of improvement to win 15-runner Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham (16.8f) 41 days ago, keeping on well. That form has been franked since so highly respected.

Form: 131131

Forecasts

Galopin Des Champs (13/8), Vanillier (10/3), Telmesomethinggirl (6/1), Crosshill (15/2), Stattler (10/1), Gentlemansgame (11/1), Torygraph (22/1), Streets Of Doyen (40/1)

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS has stamina to prove now stepping up to 3m, but it was hard not be impressed with the way he jumped and travelled in the Martin Pipe so is well worth keeping onside. Spa-winner Vanillier looks open to further improvement now he’s found his right conditions, while Telmesomethinggirl is also highly respected with her Dawn Run win working out well.