15:40 Punchestown

Thursday 27 April 2023

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

Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle (88-123)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 0.08s

Aslukwoodhavit¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mike O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 123| D

20/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time, career best when winning 13-runner novice hurdle (10/1) at Tramore (16f, good to soft) 10 days ago, pushed out. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Open to improvement.

Form: 2/43U-81

Garrybello^h,t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Philip Byrnes⁽⁵⁾| T: T Cooper| OR: 123

28/1

25/1, good fifth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Cork (19f, good to soft) 18 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: F1P-075

Figaroc¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 122

12/1

Winner in hurdle at Clonmel in March. Good fourth of 19 in handicap hurdle (9/1) at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 17 days ago, not ideally placed. Further progress likely and merits consideration.

Form: 2/P814

Walnut Beach²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Flynn| OR: 122| CD

66/1

C&D winner. 16/1, below form sixth of 14 in handicap at Navan (13f, heavy) 29 days ago, would have benefited from stronger handling. Switches from Flat to hurdles.

Form: 261430

Ifiwerearichman^h⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 121

7/1

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. Winner in hurdle at Down Royal in December. Back down in trip. May be capable of better on handicap debut.

Form: F0-3124

Feu Du Bresil²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: J B Foley| T: W P Mullins| OR: 120

16/1

4/1, improved to win 18-runner novice hurdle at Clonmel (16.6f, heavy) 21 days ago, going clear. Must be respected on handicap debut.

Form: 2/55P21

Francois^p1,t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr B Dunleavy⁽⁷⁾| T: Mary Ellen Doyle| OR: 120| C

100/1

Course winner. 6/1, bit below form fifth of 9 in handicap chase at Cork (16.7f, soft) 17 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Cheekpieces on for 1st time in this code.

Form: 050355

Wild Shot^t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: B W Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 120

40/1

2 wins from 6 runs this season. Latest win in hurdle at Tramore in June. Creditable fourth of 11 in handicap (18/1) at Dundalk (16f) 27 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Not taken lightly.

Form: 110644

Broomfield Bijou¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 118

6/1

Career best when winning 13-runner novice hurdle at Ballinrobe (17.4f, soft, 11/8) 13 days ago, forging clear. Likely more to come on handicap debut.

Form: 5-43521

Clarens¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D King⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Flavin| OR: 117| D

33/1

80/1, sixth of 8 in minor event hurdle at Cork (16f, good to soft) 18 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 0111-86

Clonshire River^t1⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Ricky Doyle| T: E & P Harty| OR: 116

18/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Last of 9 in minor event hurdle (5/1) at Down Royal (17.2f, soft) 93 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time. Makes limited appeal on handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 1-439

Fascinating Shadow¹³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J S McGarvey| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 116| D

33/1

Thrice-raced winner over hurdles. Fairly useful winner at 12f on flat. 15/2, sixth of 8 in handicap at Dundalk (10.7f). Switches from Flat to hurdles. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 175

Gentleman Joe^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 116

17/2

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles. Fairly useful winner at 8f on flat. Respectable seventh of 19 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft, 11/1) 17 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 48-07

The Dasher Conway³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Mrs G Callaghan| OR: 115| D

28/1

4/1, running well fell in handicap chase at Navan (17f, heavy) 38 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 24004F

Brookie^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: L A McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 114| D

10/1

Winner in hurdle at Limerick in November. 9/1, respectable sixth of 19 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 17 days ago. Booking of McKenna a plus. Can make presence felt.

Form: 1270F6

Clever Currency^t⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: P W Flynn| OR: 114| D

16/1

Career best when winning 15-runner handicap hurdle (14/1) at Leopardstown (16f, good to soft) 52 days ago, kept up to work. Remains feasibly treated.

Form: 60F771

Too Bright²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: N Meade| OR: 113

22/1

Very good second of 16 in handicap (10/1) at Bellewstown (14.3f, heavy) 21 days ago, clear of rest. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Fairly useful hurdler, poor on last hurdle outing.

Form: 0-43700

Itwasfate¹²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 112

16/1

Winner in hurdle at Kilbeggan in July. Below form seventh of 14 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, soft, 15/2) 122 days ago. Others more appealing.

Form: F21437

Listentillitellyea¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney| OR: 112

33/1

Remains a maiden after 16 NH runs. Below form eleventh of 19 in handicap hurdle (25/1) at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 17 days ago. Hard to recommend.

Form: 283260

Gordons Aura¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G Elliott| OR: 118| D

12/1

Winner in hurdle at Fairyhouse in February. 11/1, creditable third of 19 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 17 days ago, running on. Warrants respect.

Form: 843173

By Your Side⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 114| D

13/2

Low-key start over hurdles but really getting the hang of it now, landing big-field maiden at Naas (16.3f) last month before good third in Cheltenham handicap (16.8f, good). Must enter calculations.

Form: 334213

Snapius³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 112| D

20/1

Career best when winning 13-runner juvenile hurdle at Cork (16f, heavy, 10/3) 35 days ago. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 494351

Vischio¹⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R Deegan| T: R Donohoe| OR: 112| D

50/1

1 win from 3 runs this season. 40/1, last of 9 in handicap at Dundalk (12f). Switches from Flat to hurdles. Fairly useful hurdler, respectable on last hurdle outing. Needs a couple of these to falter. RESERVE.

Form: 214-718

It'sallabouteve¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: A McCurtin| T: Brendan Walsh| OR: 110| D

25/1

Creditable fourth of 20 in handicap hurdle (8/1) at Cork (16f, soft) 17 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals. RESERVE.

Form: P-6P424

Charcor^t⁶⁹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: M Brassil| OR: 110| D

50/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Off 23 months. First run for yard after leaving Noel C. Kelly. RESERVE.

Form: 2200/1-

Non-Runners

Captains Nephew²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 6

T: P J Rothwell J: Non Runner

Golf Marin¹⁸

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: A J Martin J: Non Runner

Ideal Pal¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: C Collins J: C J Orr

Forecasts

Broomfield Bijou (6/1), By Your Side (13/2), Ifiwerearichman (7/1), Golf Marin (8/1), Gentleman Joe (17/2), Brookie (10/1), Gordons Aura (12/1), Figaroc (12/1), Feu Du Bresil (16/1), Itwasfate (16/1), Clever Currency (16/1), Clonshire River (18/1), Aslukwoodhavit (20/1), Snapius (20/1), Captains Nephew (20/1), Too Bright (22/1), It'sallabouteve (25/1), The Dasher Conway (28/1), Garrybello (28/1), Clarens (33/1), Fascinating Shadow (33/1), Ideal Pal (33/1), Listentillitellyea (33/1), Wild Shot (40/1), Charcor (50/1), Vischio (50/1), Walnut Beach (66/1), Francois (100/1)

Plenty with claims here, including FIGAROC, who wasn't seen to best effect on handicap debut at Fairyhouse last time and remains open to improvement. By Your Side, Golf Marin and Broomfield Bijou make up the shortlist.