16:50 Punchestown

Wednesday 28 April 2021

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

Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 5m 19.0s

Blast Of Koeman^p,t³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Slevin| T: P Maher| OR: 127

40/1

Temperamental sort who again ran well when ceditable second of 9 in minor event hurdle at Thurles (23.9f, good to soft, 18/1) 39 days ago. However, fact he's winless since 2017 is off puttng.

Form: 895322

Blue Sari^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139| C

3/1

Low mileage 6-y-o who looked set to get firmly back on track when falling at the last in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham in March (looked booked for second). Of interest again on the back of that.

Form: 2/14P-PF

Decimation^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 139

2/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Very good neck second of 8 to Ashdale Bob in Easter Festival Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f) 24 days ago. Another bold show likely.

Form: 22212

Fastorslow⁶⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M Brassil

14/1

Promising individual. who made it 2 wins from 3 career starts when landing 8-runner novice chase at Auteuil (17.4f) back in September 2019. Absent since but he remains with potential for new yard now.

Form: 21-

Fighter Allen²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 133| C

6/1

Useful hurdler who not for the first time failed to see his race out when thirteenth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (3m) 25 days ago. Needs to get back on track dropped down in trip.

Form: 7-1P330

Lifetime Ambition³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 125

13/2

Fairly useful hurdler. Career best when winning 18-runner novice hurdle (8/13) at Limerick (19f, heavy) 31 days ago. However, this demands further improvement.

Form: 243421

Marajman⁴²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins

14/1

Fairly useful hurdler. First run since leaving Emmanuel Clayeux when won 15-runner novice hurdle at Clonmel (18.8f, heavy, 8/13) on IRE NH debut, driven out. Off 14 months. Should have more to offer.

Form: 3/1-

Panda Boy²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M Brassil| OR: 128| C

13/2

Twice-raced winner over hurdles. Course winner. Seventh of 20 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (3m) 25 days ago, keeping on when snatched up final 100 yds. Remains open to improvement.

Form: 17

Sky Marshal²³²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: K J Brouder| T: R P Burns| OR: 124

150/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Respectable sixth of 18 in handicap hurdle at this course (20.3f) back in September. This no easy task on return.

Form: 298-656

Winter Fog⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J G Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: D G Murphy

50/1

Thrice-raced winner over hurdles. Won 15-runner novice hurdle (28/1) at Limerick (19.2f, soft) 9 days ago, driven clear. This is a whole lot more demanding.

Form: P/35751

Dragon's Pass^b⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 94

300/1

Modest hurdler. Winner in hurdle at Navan in November. 15/2, respectable ninth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (20f, good) 52 days ago. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 617249

Non-Runners

Iberia⁴⁵

Weight: 11-3| Age: 4

T: J Halley J: J J Doyle

Forecasts

Decimation (2/1), Blue Sari (3/1), Fighter Allen (6/1), Lifetime Ambition (13/2), Panda Boy (13/2), Fastorslow (14/1), Marajman (14/1), Iberia (20/1), Blast Of Koeman (40/1), Winter Fog (50/1), Sky Marshal (150/1), Dragon's Pass (300/1)

BLUE SARI saw the wheels come off following his C&D maiden success back in 2019 but was in the process of getting his career firmly back on track when falling at the last in the Coral Cup last month (looked booked for second). He gets the nod to confirm the promise of that run, possibly at the chief expense of the progressive Decimation. Fastorslow and Panda Boy complete the shortlist.