15:40 Punchestown

Thursday 28 April 2022

All15:4016:1516:5017:2518:0018:3519:1019:45

Specialist Joinery Group Handicap Hurdle (88-123)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 3m 58.60s

Gin Coco⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 123

10/3

Promising sort. First run since leaving Charlie Mann when 13/8, won 11-runner novice hurdle at Fontwell (17.7f, good) 50 days ago, plenty in hand. Makes handicap hurdle debut. One for the shortlist with prospect of more to come.

Form: 22-1

Global Society¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs P Dobbs| OR: 123

80/1

20/1, pulled up in novice chase at Cork (20f, heavy) 11 days ago, pulled up before 3 out. Bounce back called for returned to timber.

Form: 7-1642P

Serenity Grove¹²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 122

40/1

Winner in hurdle at Downpatrick (18.7f) in September. 50/1, creditable ninth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (20f, good to soft) 120 days ago. Present mark demands progress.

Form: F-1759

Cafe Con Leche^b⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: M J Smith| OR: 119| D

33/1

Blinkered for 1st time, excellent third of 21 in handicap hurdle (16/1) at Naas (15.5f, soft) 60 days ago. Headgear needs to have desired effect once more.

Form: 0FR-093

The Greek^t⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 119| D

28/1

Winner in hurdle at Leopardstown in December. Pulled up in handicap hurdle at Thurles (15.5f, good to soft, 4/1) 95 days ago, clearly not 100% on the day. Just the type to bounce back for his powerul stable.

Form: 24F41P

Mount Brown²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: E Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 118| D

22/1

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. Good second of 6 in rated novice hurdle at Limerick (16f, good to soft, 9/2) 21 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 59512

Walnut Beach³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Flynn| OR: 118| CD

12/1

Confirmed previous hurdles promise when off the mark in a Punchestown maiden (2m) in February. Best not judged harshly on latest Flat run (left with lot to do) and he's an interesting runner back over hurdles.

Form: 4218

Bold Approach^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Ricky Doyle| T: B W Duke| OR: 117

25/1

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles. 7/1, fourth of 6 in minor event hurdle at Naas (16.2f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 6-424

Ideal Pal^t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jordan Gainford| T: M Mulvany| OR: 117| D

12/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Career best when winning 15-runner handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, good to soft, 16/1) 10 days ago, kept up to work.That may not prove his limit.

Form: 56-71

Broomfield Hall^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 116| D

10/1

6/4, career best when winning 20-runner novice hurdle at Naas (16.2f, good to soft) 28 days ago, albeut allowed the run of the race. Fancied to remain competitive now handicapping.

Form: 3232P1

Colenso¹⁰⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: J P Flavin| OR: 116| D

28/1

Completed a hat-trick in handicaps (at 2m) in spring of 2019. The betting may well prove the best guide on this belated return to action.

Form: 060111/

Golden Spear^t⁵²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: J B Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 113| D

33/1

Veteran who didn't need to improve to win 18-runner handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, good to soft, 10/1) 52 days ago by head from Na Caith Tobac. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 0-09U21

The Grey Falco⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 113| D

22/1

Scored at Haydock in January and matched that level when third at Bangor (19.6f, heavy) 46 days ago. Drops back to a more familiar trip here and can't be fully discounted from this reasonable mark.

Form: P-56173

Figurehead^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Gearoid Brouder| OR: 112

50/1

First run since leaving Michael G. Cleary when pulled up in novice hurdle (10/1) at Ballinrobe (17.6f, good to soft) 20 days ago, pulled up before next. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Market may prove the best guide with booking of Aidan Coleman catching the eye.

Form: 43220P

Hisnameis Mrdevitt^h²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Kevin Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 112

18/1

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles. 40/1 and hooded for 1st time, very good third of 15 in novice hurdle at Ballinrobe (17.6f, good to soft) 20 days ago. That was his first start for 12 months and he's not discounted now handicapping.

Form: 046-3

Jake Peter¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: M A Cahill| OR: 111| D

40/1

5/2, creditable second of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (12f) 16 days ago. This no easy task back over hurdles, however.

Form: 1222/PU-

Luke Short³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 111

15/2

Fairly useful Flat winner who showed plenty of promise in a trio of maiden hurdles at around 2m during the autumn. Likely first start for 5 months on Flat was needed in March and intriguing now handicapping in this sphere.

Form: 323

Pike County^p1³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 111

28/1

25/1 and blinkered for 1st time, respectable ninth of 18 in handicap at Navan (13f, good to soft) 30 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: F49-67P

Hide And Seek^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 107| D

9/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Career best when winning 12-runner novice hurdle (4/5) at Tramore (16f, good to soft) 18 days ago, forging clear. Worth a look now handicapping in this sphere.

Form: U5331

Powersbomb^t⁵⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: B McMahon| OR: 107| C| D

50/1

40/1, respectable sixth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Navan (20f, soft) 54 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 48-31P6

Golf Marin^t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Mark Walsh| T: A J Martin| OR: 106

13/2

Tongue strap on for 1st time, 13¼ lengths fourth of 15 to Ideal Pal in handicap hurdle (25/1) at Fairyhouse (16f, good to soft) 10 days ago, running on late. Worth noting if market speaks in his favour for shrewd connections.

Form: 360-6P4

Na Caith Tobac^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: B Browne| T: P W Flynn| OR: 105| BF

33/1

Best run for some time over hurdles when runner-up at Leopardstown (2m) in March. Not in same form over hurdles/on Flat either start subsequently but bounce back not ruled out.

Form: 000025

Mountain Fox^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Slevin| T: F Oakes| OR: 104| D

22/1

Bit below form twelfth of 20 in handicap (50/1) at Leopardstown (10f, good) 22 days ago, merely passing beaten rivals. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Creditable on last hurdle run.

Form: 72670/4-

Only Sky³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 111| D

11/1

Fairly useful winner at 13f on Flat. Improved with each start over hurdles, getting on top dying strides to make it third time lucky in a Cork juvenile (2m) in March. More to come now handicapping for powerful yard.

Form: 331

Sellarbridge⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Ewing| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 103| CD

80/1

20/1, eighth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Navan (16f, heavy) 47 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter. Reserve 1.

Form: 70-5008

Non-Runners

Hidden Land²

Weight: 10-13| Age: 5

T: A Kinirons J: B J Cooper

Union Park¹¹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 6

T: P J Rothwell J: Reserve 2

Uncle Gerhard¹⁰

Weight: 10-5| Age: 7

T: C O'Dwyer J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Gin Coco (10/3), Golf Marin (13/2), Luke Short (15/2), Hide And Seek (9/1), Broomfield Hall (10/1), Only Sky (11/1), Walnut Beach (12/1), Ideal Pal (12/1), Hisnameis Mrdevitt (18/1), Uncle Gerhard (20/1), Mount Brown (22/1), Mountain Fox (22/1), The Grey Falco (22/1), Bold Approach (25/1), Union Park (25/1), Pike County (28/1), The Greek (28/1), Colenso (28/1), Na Caith Tobac (33/1), Golden Spear (33/1), Cafe Con Leche (33/1), Jake Peter (40/1), Serenity Grove (40/1), Powersbomb (50/1), Figurehead (50/1), Hidden Land (50/1), Sellarbridge (80/1), Global Society (80/1)

GIN COCO looked an improved model and made light of a 17-month absence with ease when scoring on yard debut at Fontwell back in March. It's interesting connections pitch him in here on handicap debut, and with further progress distinctly possible, he can make another bold bid. Recent Fairyhouse scorer Ideal Pal, Luke Short and Hide And Seek are others fancied to be firmly in the mix.