11:40 Punchestown

Sunday 26 November 2023

All11:4012:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0015:35

Pigsback.com Risk Of Thunder Chase

Off time: 11:40 | Winning time: 7m 5.10s

Mica Malpic³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: E Bolger| OR: 126| D

9/2

Fairly useful chaser. Latest win in chase at Kilbeggan in August. 11/2, fourth of 7 in handicap chase at Limerick (19f, heavy) 35 days ago, finishing with running left. Step back up in trip a plus now and no surprise to see him go well.

Form: 731354

Vital Island^t⁸⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Slevin| T: R P O'Keeffe| OR: 110| CD

16/1

Course winner. Latest win in La Touche Cup in April. Pulled up in listed cross-country race (20/1) at Craon (29.8f, good) 84 days ago won by Bomari, pulled up early final circuit. Better showing anticipated.

Form: 31121-P

Birchdale⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Simon Torrens| T: E Bolger| OR: 130| D

5/2

Useful chaser. Thirteen runs since last win in 2022. Not disgraced in form terms when third of 10 in handicap chase at Listowel (22f, soft, 20/1) 64 days ago, merely passing beaten rivals. Still, he's not out of things if a short break has had positive effect.

Form: P5-F263

Blast Of Koeman^t²¹¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: P Maher| OR: 95

40/1

Temperamental sort. Two wins from 52 NH runs. Good second of 14 in minor event chase at this course (25f) in April, running on. Finished midfield in this race 12 months ago and this run may well be needed back from 7 months off.

Form: 94PP42-

Champagne Platinum^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark McDonagh⁽³⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 132| D

9/2

Unreliable individual. 22/1, below form seventh of 14 in handicap chase at Cork (28f, soft) 21 days ago, possibly in need of the run following 7 months off. Cheekpieces back on here but he's become increasingly difficult to predict nowadays.

Form: 8004P-7

Enjoy D'allen²²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: E Walsh⁽³⁾| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 140| D

4/1

Useful chaser at his best who was quite highly tried last term and he never looked happy from an early stage when well twelfth in last season's Grand National at Aintree. This much less demanding if he's ready to roll back from 7 months off with headgear discarded.

Form: 9/00060-

Singing Banjo^p⁴²

Age: 13| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr B J Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: B J Walsh| OR: 88| CD

5/1

Veteran campaigner who gave Delta Work a scare when just touched off in this race 12 months ago and another sound effort when runner-up back here (25f) in February. Recent spin between the flags (Oct.15) ought to have set him up perfectly for this.

Form: 36282-0

Three By Two²¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: D P Murphy| BF| CD

17/2

Dead-heated in a point prior to seeing off Vital Island on her Cross-Country debut here (25f) in April. Good third back here later that month and she's less exposed than most in this discipline.

Form: 6P1313-

Forecasts

Birchdale (5/2), Enjoy D'allen (4/1), Mica Malpic (9/2), Champagne Platinum (9/2), Singing Banjo (5/1), Three By Two (17/2), Vital Island (16/1), Blast Of Koeman (40/1)

A number may have their sights set on targets later in the season but last year's runner-up SINGING BANJO has a particularly solid record at this venue and, with a recent spin between the Flags under his belt, the veteran could well be ready to strike. Enjoy d'Allen is an intriguing runner in this discipline and market support behind him would look significant. Birchdale and Mica Malpic are others worth monitoring.