13:57 Punchestown

Saturday 31 December 2022

All12:1512:4713:2213:5714:3215:0715:42

Tote Proudly Sponsoring At Punchestown Hurdle

Off time: 13:58 | Winning time: 5m 8.6s

Floueur^b,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 142

11/2

Useful hurdler. Blinkered for 1st time, career best when winning 7-runner minor event hurdle (5/1) at Clonmel (24f, heavy) 23 days ago, easily. Not out of things provided headgear has desired effect once more.

Form: 30P-P01

Spoiled Rotten⁵⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott

100/1

Flemensfirth gelding who left hurdles debut form in his wake when getting on top late in a Roscommon maiden (2m) back in July 2021. This a big step up on return to action but he is in good hands.

Form: 01-

Weseekhimhere⁴⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott

33/1

Useful, dual bumper winner who impressed again when winning 19-runner novice hurdle (11/10) at Navan (15.8f, good) on hurdles bow last September, forging clear. Absent since but he remains an exciting prospect.

Form: 0113/1-

Any Second Now^b²⁶⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: D F O'Regan| T: T M Walsh| OR: 136| BF| C

16/1

Course winner. Runner-up in Grand National 8 months ago, pulling a long way clear with Noble Yeats. Switches to hurdles on return and season likely to be geared around another trip to Aintree.

Form: 13/9612-

Jeff Kidder⁴²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Cooper| T: N Meade| OR: 145| C

22/1

Useful hurdler (won the 2021 Fred Winter and Fairyhouse Grade 2). 17/2, 20 lengths third of 5 to Teahupoo in Fishery Lane Hurdle at Naas (16f, good to soft). Off 14 months. Up in trip. Might need this.

Form: 17111/3-

Koshari^p²⁶⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: B W Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Christie| OR: 148| CD

22/1

Smart on his day and ran right up to his best when running out an 80/1 winner at Aintree (24.7f) 14 months ago. Struggled to make an impact in pair of Grade 1's thereafter but this rates a more suitable assignment on return.

Form: 503176-

Run For Oscar⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Philip Byrnes⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 145| D

11/4

Smart hurdler. Good third of 13 in handicap hurdle (11/2) at Haydock (24.3f, good to soft) 42 days ago, faring best of those held up. Good chance on these terms.

Form: 02117-3

Saint Sam^h²⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142

1/1

Useful hurdler who displayed smart form over fences without always convincing with his jumping last season. Not out of things returned to timber after 8 months off.

Form: 25/13U6-

Summerville Boy⁴²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 148| D

10/1

2018 Supreme Hurdle hero who didn't go on from a winning reappearance at Aintree in 2020/21 campaign. Again below best sole start last winter but has made an interesting yard switch ahead of seasonal bow. Not discounted.

Form: 51455/5-

Social Distancing²⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Slevin| T: N McCluskey

300/1

Twice-raced maiden. 100/1, fourth of 9 in minor event hurdle at Down Royal (24f, good to soft). Off 8 months. Difficult ask.

Form: PS64P-4

Forecasts

Saint Sam (1/1), Run For Oscar (11/4), Floueur (11/2), Summerville Boy (10/1), Any Second Now (16/1), Koshari (22/1), Jeff Kidder (22/1), Weseekhimhere (33/1), Spoiled Rotten (100/1), Social Distancing (300/1)

Campaigned superbly on the Flat this year, RUN FOR OSCAR fared best of those held up when third back over hurdles at Haydock 6 weeks ago, again suggesting there's unfinished business with him in this sphere, and he gets the nod to come out on top. There is plenty of strength in opposition though, the dangers including Summerville Boy, Saint Sam and Floueur.