16:50 Punchestown

Thursday 29 April 2021

All15:4016:1516:5017:2518:0018:3519:0519:35

Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 9m 26.2s

Classic Concorde²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Slevin| T: A McNamara| OR: 109

50/1

Latest win in chase at Fairyhouse in November. Respectable eighth of 13 in handicap chase (15/2) at Fairyhouse (24.7f, good to soft) 26 days ago. Significantly up in trip and right up against it.

Form: 13P228

Some Neck^p⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Harvey⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 142| C

7/2

Useful chaser. Course winner. Latest win in chase at Cheltenham in December. Good third of 13 in the Cross Country at Cheltenham (30.2f, good to soft) 43 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: F-63103

Space Cadet^b³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Ricky Doyle| T: G O'Loughlin| OR: 131

10/1

Useful chaser. Creditable fifth of 15 in handicap chase at Downpatrick (28.6f, good to soft, 17/2) 39 days ago. Took quite well to the course in February.

Form: F51-035

Stand Up And Fight^p²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: E Bolger| OR: 137| C

13/8

Useful hunter chaser. 16/5 and cheekpieces on for first time, good second of 11 in hunter chase at Fairyhouse (24.7f, good to soft) 26 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: P14202

Alpha Des Obeaux^b,t¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr J J Codd| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 143| C

7/2

Useful chaser. Fourteen runs since last win in 2018. Completed, albeit a long behind in the Grand National 19 days ago. Fourth in the Cross Country prior to that and has to be taken seriously.

Form: 95PP40

Ballyboker Bridge^p⁷⁴

Age: 14| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Maher| OR: 139| CD

12/1

Useful chaser. C&D winner. 4/1, pulled up in minor event chase at this course (25f, heavy) 74 days ago, pulled up twelfth. Regular in this, winning it in 2019.

Form: 13P2-2P

Blue Templar^p²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: E Bolger| OR: 90| C

9/1

Fairly useful chaser. Course winner. Excellent third of 11 in hunter chase at Cork (20f, good to soft, 20/1) 24 days ago, barely adequate test. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 457U0-3

Call It Magic^b²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Keith Donoghue| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 115

33/1

Fair chaser. Fourteen runs since last win in 2017. Creditable fifth of 13 in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (24.7f, good to soft, 12/1) 26 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: P2P-945

King's Song^p,t¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: D F O'Regan| T: D Broad| OR: 105| C

150/1

Fairly useful chaser. Course winner. Twelfth of 14 in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (21.2f, good to soft, 66/1) 16 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 200860

Like A Demon^t1¹¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr J C Barry⁽⁵⁾| T: N Slevin| OR: 86

200/1

Poor chaser. 20/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Tramore (21.4f, heavy) 118 days ago, pulled up before 2 out. Tongue strap on for first time and he's out of his depth.

Form: 46795P

Major Destination^p1,t⁷⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr S Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: Caroline Mccaldin| OR: 121

100/1

Unreliable individual. Below form eighth of 17 in minor event chase (12/1) at this course (25f, heavy) 74 days ago. Significantly up in trip. First run for yard after leaving Noel Meade.

Form: 6-573U8

Michael's Pick²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr T J Love⁽⁷⁾| T: Ciaran Murphy

80/1

Modest chaser. Good 14¾ lengths fifth of 15 to Singing Banjo in minor event chase (50/1) at this course (25f, good to firm) on Tuesday. Significantly up in trip. Difficult ask.

Form: 31P07-5

Singing Banjo^p²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B J Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 81| C

33/1

14/1, career best when winning 15-runner minor event chase at this course (25f, good to firm) 2 days ago. Significantly up in trip and this is a tougher race.

Form: 1P647-1

Non-Runners

Mia's Milan²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 13

T: D P Murphy J: Mr L J Murphy

Forecasts

Stand Up And Fight (13/8), Some Neck (7/2), Alpha Des Obeaux (7/2), Blue Templar (9/1), Space Cadet (10/1), Ballyboker Bridge (12/1), Singing Banjo (33/1), Call It Magic (33/1), Classic Concorde (50/1), Mia's Milan (66/1), Michael's Pick (80/1), Major Destination (100/1), King's Song (150/1), Like A Demon (200/1)

Only a handful of serious candidates, with SOME NECK taken to uphold Cheltenham Cross Country form with Alpha des Obeaux despite 5 lb worse terms with this step up to a marathon trip promising to suit. Ballyboker Bridge is a regular in this, winning it in 2019 and he's far more comfortable than most with the demands of this race.