14:20 Punchestown

Monday 16 January 2023

All12:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:50

Book Your Festival Hospitality Novice Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 5m 50.0s

Gali Flight¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Niall Moore⁽⁷⁾| T: P Fenton| OR: 108

11/2

Still looking for first win but ran right up to best when second of 19 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (20f, soft, 14/1) latest and must enter calculations.

Form: 873272

Ahead Of The Posse¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 107

9/2

2/1, career best when winning 14-runner handicap hurdle at Tramore (16.2f, heavy) 15 days ago, cosily. 8 lb higher now but remains open to improvement.

Form: 2-36671

Friends N Commerce²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁵⁾| T: P G Kelly| OR: 107

28/1

Below form sixth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (20f, heavy, 16/1) 20 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 6423-66

Verdant Place⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Simon Torrens| T: P T Foley| OR: 102

13/8

Promising individual. Much improved when third of 22 in handicap hurdle at this course (21.7f, good to soft, 14/1) 48 days ago, staying on well. Likely has more to offer yet.

Form: 57-93

Gringo D'ainay¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: J Queally| OR: 101

14/1

Eighth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (20f, soft, 10/1) 18 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 635-208

Coolavin Boy^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Cian Quirke⁽⁷⁾| T: Louise G Lyons| OR: 99

25/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, third of 14 in novice hurdle at Limerick (19f, heavy, 33/1) 18 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: P-0003

Chainofconsequence⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: Aengus King| OR: 98| D

16/1

Winner in hurdle at Limerick in November. 9/2, seventh of 11 in handicap hurdle at Naas (18.8f, heavy) 8 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: U90167

Champ Royal²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Richard Condon⁽⁵⁾| T: Colm Murphy| OR: 97

8/1

4/1, respectable fifth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (22.5f, heavy) 26 days ago. Holds solid claims.

Form: 8439-45

Makfils²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: E A Fitzgerald⁽⁷⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 97

20/1

Below form sixth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, soft, 18/1) 21 days ago. Up in trip. Others preferred.

Form: 340736

Ernie From Nurney^t²⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Peter Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 96

33/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 7/2, thirteenth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe (17.1f, good). Off 8 months. Up in trip. Others preferred.

Form: 0708-0

Rockbrook⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 94

33/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Tenth of 17 in novice hurdle at Gowran (16f, heavy, 66/1) 51 days ago. Back up in trip. Improvement required on handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 60-0

Bella Union²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: J C McConnell| OR: 91

50/1

10/1, last of 16 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, heavy) 26 days ago. Up in trip. Work to do.

Form: 44-0090

Killinure Lass¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Slevin| T: B McMahon| OR: 90

33/1

22/1, twelfth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (21f, heavy) 19 days ago. Makes limited appeal.

Form: 209630

Moonlight Getaway¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Phillip Enright| T: D Hassett| OR: 89

100/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Twelfth of 15 in novice hurdle at Limerick (16f, heavy, 200/1) 19 days ago. Up in trip. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Difficult ask.

Form: 000

Come On Sally²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Jordan Gainford| T: P M Pierce| OR: 81

28/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 33/1, seventh of 25 in handicap hurdle at Naas (15.9f, soft) 27 days ago. Up in trip. Hard to recommend.

Form: 0/00-7

Forecasts

Verdant Place (13/8), Ahead Of The Posse (9/2), Gali Flight (11/2), Champ Royal (8/1), Gringo D'ainay (14/1), Chainofconsequence (16/1), Makfils (20/1), Coolavin Boy (25/1), Friends N Commerce (28/1), Come On Sally (28/1), Ernie From Nurney (33/1), Killinure Lass (33/1), Rockbrook (33/1), Bella Union (50/1), Moonlight Getaway (100/1)

VERDANT PLACE left his previous efforts behind when third on handicap debut here last time and remains open to further improvement. He can open his account. Ahead Of The Posse and Gali Flight rate the principal dangers.