16:45 Punchestown

Wednesday 27 April 2022

All15:4016:1516:4517:2017:5518:3019:0519:45

Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 5m 3.80s

Champagne Gold^p1,t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 132

16/1

Useful hurdler. Tongue strap on for frst time, below form ninth of 23 in handicap hurdle (28/1) at Cheltenham (21f, soft) 42 days ago. That isn't a race to judge him harshly on and cheekpieces now on.

Form: 00-5709

Classic Getaway⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| CD

5/1

Amiss when pulled up in Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Spa) at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft, 22/1) 40 days ago won by The Nice Guy, pulled up 3 out and reportedly bled. Certainly in the right hands to bounce back.

Form: 1-121P

Crosshill^p1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 135| C

15/2

Useful hurdler. Course winner. Third of 5 in minor event hurdle at Thurles (23f, good to soft, 11/4) 39 days ago. Cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 428-253

Fils D'oudairies¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143| D

6/4

Smart hurdler. Good second of 21 in handicap hurdle at Aintree (20f, good, 10/1) 19 days ago, clear of rest. That is just about he best form on offer.

Form: 5FF-P22

Ganapathi^t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| BF

9/2

Useful hurdler. Bit below form third of 7 in minor event hurdle at Cork (16f, heavy, 6/4) 10 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Back up in trip and may improve away from the mud.

Form: 250F-03

Gibraltar³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins

9/1

Ex-Flat racer for Michael Bell. Winning hurdles debut and better form when second of 6 in minor event hurdle at Cork (16f, good to soft) 34 days ago. Up in trip and open to progress.

Form: 12

Indiana Jones^p,t⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M F Morris| OR: 130

22/1

Useful chaser. 4/1, running well fell in novice chase at Gowran (20f, heavy) 67 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Difficult ask.

Form: P-22FFF

Largy Debut^t1²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 132

14/1

14/1, below form 17¾ lengths fourth of 8 to Flame Bearer in Hardy Eustace Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Tongue strap on first time.

Form: 13/1P54

Merlin Giant¹⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Brian Hayes| T: E Mullins

25/1

Fairly useful winner at 16f in bumpers. Fourth of 18 in Flat maiden at the Curragh (12f, good to soft, 11/4), having to pick way through. Off 6 months. Makes hurdles debut in a deepr race.

Form: 4-21

Result Amended

Classic Getaway - Original Position 2nd. Amended Position 3rd.

Fils D'oudairies - Original Position 3rd. Amended Position 2nd.

Forecasts

Fils D'oudairies (6/4), Ganapathi (9/2), Classic Getaway (5/1), Crosshill (15/2), Gibraltar (9/1), Largy Debut (14/1), Champagne Gold (16/1), Indiana Jones (22/1), Merlin Giant (25/1)

FILS D'OUDAIRIES has cranked it up a notch in handicaps reverting to hurdles in 2022 and his Aintree second 3 weeks ago is just about the most persuasive piece of form. Ganapathi could improve on this better ground, with stablemate GIbraltar also of interest.