17:20 Punchestown

Wednesday 26 April 2023

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

Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:32 | Winning time: 6m 10.20s

Affordale Fury⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D McMenamin| T: N Meade| OR: 142| D

6/1

Successful on sole outing in points/bumpers and also made a winning hurdling debut at Galway in late October. Relished the emphasis on stamina when length second of 20 to Stay Away Fay in Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham Festival. Should go well again.

Form: 1-11F62

Embassy Gardens⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

13/2

Fairly useful bumper winner who was a wide-margin winner of a 5-runner Thurles novice hurdle in January. Did too much too soon and a lot better than being pulled up in Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, making most until 2 out.

Form: 15-241P

Favori De Champdou⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

16/1

Useful hurdler. 3 wins from 4 runs this season. Lacklustre display in Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last month but he's better than that.

Form: 1/2-111P

Franciscan Rock^p1³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M F Morris| OR: 121| BF| D

80/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Winner in hurdle at Thurles in February. 3/1, creditable third of 12 in handicap hurdle at Cork (24f, heavy) 34 days ago. Cheekpieces on first time. Has plenty to find at this level.

Form: 332213

Gaelic Warrior⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152

4/5

Smart hurdler. Had no problems with the longer trip when 6½ lengths second of 10 to stablemate Impaire Et Passe in Ballymore at Cheltenham (21f, soft) 42 days ago. Up in trip again now. Leading claims.

Form: 32-1112

Harry Des Ongrais¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 130| D

40/1

Useful hurdler. Winner in hurdle at Wexford in October. Good fifth of 12 in handicap hurdle (8/1) at Fairyhouse (24.5f, soft) 18 days ago. This demands more.

Form: 0-41235

Kalanisi Star^t1¹⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| D

50/1

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. 28/1, tailed-off seventh of 8 to Champ Kiely in Lawlor's of Naas Novices' Hurdle at Naas (20f, heavy) 108 days ago. Tongue strap on for 1st time. Stiff task.

Form: 411-157

Salvador Ziggy⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 145| C| D

5/1

Progressive hurdler. Course winner. 4 wins from 6 runs this season. 10/1, very good second of 23 in Pertemps Final at Cheltenham (3m, good to soft) last month. That very smart effort suggests he can make his presence felt in a Grade 1 novice.

Form: 111142

Whatcouldhavebeen¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: J P Fahey| OR: 131

18/1

Useful hurdler. Excellent 5 lengths second of 14 to Ashroe Diamond in Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novices' Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse (20.5f, good to soft) 17 days ago, having benefit of enterprising ride.

Form: 631442

Forecasts

Gaelic Warrior (4/5), Salvador Ziggy (5/1), Affordale Fury (6/1), Embassy Gardens (13/2), Favori De Champdou (16/1), Whatcouldhavebeen (18/1), Harry Des Ongrais (40/1), Kalanisi Star (50/1), Franciscan Rock (80/1)

GAELIC WARRIOR ran a cracker when second in the Ballymore at Cheltenham and will be a tough nut to crack if his stamina holds now stepping up in trip again. Salvador Ziggy produced an excellent performance under a big weight in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham and can give the selection most to do ahead of Albert Bartlett runner-up Affordale Fury.