16:45 Punchestown

Wednesday 26 April 2023

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

Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle

Off time: 16:58 | Winning time: 5m 2.90s

Da Capo Glory¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Darragh Allen⁽⁷⁾| T: Padraig Butler| OR: 134

11/1

Useful hurdler. 9/1, eleventh of 16 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (16.4f, soft) 18 days ago. Up in trip. Enters calculations.

Form: 1713-40

Eye Van³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Niall Moore⁽⁷⁾| T: R P Cody| OR: 125| D

25/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Winner in hurdle at Down Royal in December. Fourth of 5 in novice hurdle at Navan (22f, heavy, 7/1) 37 days ago.

Form: 2-21634

Grangeclare West⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| C| D

6/4

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. 20½ lengths sixth of 8 to Good Land in Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novices' Hurdle at Leopardstown (22.1f, good to soft, 15/2) 81 days ago.

Form: 1/1-156

Imagine⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 136| BF| C

9/4

Useful hurdler. Latest win in hurdle at Wexford in October. Creditable fifth of 21 in handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (20.2f, good to soft, 5/1) 40 days ago. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 1-12225

Perfect Attitude²¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

28/1

Useful chaser. Second of 7 in novice chase at Listowel (22f, good, 10/1), no match for winner. Off 7 months. Switches from chase to hurdles. Others more persuasive.

Form: 304-682

Port Stanley⁵²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 125

20/1

Useful chaser. 7/2 and blinkered for 1st time, creditable third of 9 in handicap chase at this course (22.6f, good to soft). Off 17 months. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 023/F23-

Riggs⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: B W Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: P Cluskey| OR: 120| D

125/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Below form fifth of 11 in handicap hurdle (5/1) at Thurles (24f, heavy) 44 days ago. First run for yard after leaving John McConnell. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 534635

Un Des Flos^h1,t1¹⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: H Rogers| OR: 122

100/1

14/1, pulled up in handicap hurdle at Cork (20f, soft) 157 days ago. First run for yard after leaving Gavin Patrick Cromwell. Hooded for 1st time, tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 1526-P

Tag Man⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| C

3/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Below form third of 25 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft, 7/4) 88 days ago. Back up in trip. Likely to improve.

Form: 341-423

Forecasts

Grangeclare West (6/4), Imagine (9/4), Tag Man (3/1), Da Capo Glory (11/1), Port Stanley (20/1), Eye Van (25/1), Perfect Attitude (28/1), Un Des Flos (100/1), Riggs (125/1)

IMAGINE fared best of the handicap debutants when a very good fifth of 21 in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival 6 weeks ago and that form is arguably the best on offer. Grangeclare West wasn't up to Grade 1 level the last twice but should make much more of an impact here, while Da Capo Glory could figure if his latest run is forgiven.