15:40 Punchestown

Sunday 18 February 2024

All13:3514:0514:3515:0515:4016:1016:4017:10

Old House Kill Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 49.90s

Cut The Rope⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Nolan| OR: 115

10/1

Bumper winner last winter. Promise first 2 starts over hurdles but needs to shrug off a lesser run last time.

Form: 1-2F9

Kilkee Bay⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

14/1

Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Clay Rogers. Failed to win in 5 points but has joined a top stable for hurdle debut.

Form: 8-624F

Kinturk Jack

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Kieren Buckley| T: T Gibney

66/1

Kalanisi gelding. Dam (h93), maiden hurdler (stayed 2¾m), sister to useful hurdler (stayed 3m) Grand Theatre.

Form:

Splendid Choice¹³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Smith

200/1

Thrice-raced maiden under NH rules. Last of 11 in bumper (16/1) at this course (16.2f, good to soft) on bumper debut 130 days ago. Switches from bumpers to hurdles. Back up in trip.

Form: P0-0

Syracus Du Houx⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan

4/1

Twice-raced maiden under NH rules. Fifth of 22 in maiden at Naas (16f, soft, 25/1) on hurdles bow 98 days ago. Up in trip. Likely to improve.

Form: 32-25

The Busy Fool¹⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell

5/4

Promising individual. Bumper winner. 8/1, second of 15 in maiden at Down Royal (22.5f, soft) on hurdles bow 100 days ago. May well do better.

Form: 12

Wakie Wakie¹³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B W Harvey| T: G Keane

250/1

Twice-raced maiden under NH rules. Switches from bumpers to hurdles. Up in trip. First run for yard after leaving Mrs Gillian Callaghan.

Form: P9

Paggane²⁰

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

13/8

Fair Flat winner. Promising type. Third of 11 in maiden hurdle at this course (20f, heavy, 9/4) 20 days ago. Likely capable of even better and leading claims.

Form: 523

Non-Runners

Whale Harbour⁵²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: G P Cromwell J: Keith Donoghue

Majestic Force⁷⁸

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: H De Bromhead J: Rachael Blackmore

Forecasts

The Busy Fool (5/4), Paggane (13/8), Majestic Force (13/8), Syracus Du Houx (4/1), Whale Harbour (6/1), Cut The Rope (10/1), Kilkee Bay (14/1), Kinturk Jack (66/1), Splendid Choice (200/1), Wakie Wakie (250/1)

PAGGANE has been shaping up quite well and is taken to make it fourth time lucky over hurdles. Henry de Bromhead point recruit Majestic Force is a potentially dangerous opponent, particularly if the betting vibes are strong. The Busy Fool is another to consider.