18:00 Punchestown

Wednesday 1 May 2024

All14:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2518:0018:35

HSS Hire Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 18:01 | Winning time: 5m 14.80s

James Du Berlais^t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| D

7/2

Consistent sort but he's been winless in this sphere since his debut in January 2023. However, was an excellent second under a big weight in Topham at Aintree last month and he's a big player with a repeat.

Form: 3-44372

Authorized Art¹⁶⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151| C| D

25/1

Useful chaser who returned with improved efforts in cheekpieces to finish in the frame in the Galway Plate and Kerry National, but not seen since pulled up in Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November.

Form: 456-24P

Idas Boy¹²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Ewing| T: N Meade| OR: 149| CD

20/1

Lightly-raced sort who made returned from year off to win 8-runner handicap chase here (21.3f, soft) in November, forging clear. Let down by jumping following month and off since, but clearly goes well fresh.

Form: 2/12P-1F

Adamantly Chosen¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| C

16/1

Made most of a good opportunity when resuming winning ways in 5-runner Down Royal chase (26.2f) in March. Reportedly bled when pulled up in Grand National 18 days ago.

Form: P-40710

Seddon¹⁹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: B W Harvey| T: J C McConnell| OR: 148| C| D

14/1

In excellent form for new yard last season, winning at the Cheltenham (chase) and Punchestown (hurdle) Festivals in the spring. Had a couple of runs over hurdles in the autumn but not seen since.

Form: 1111-23

Jetoile^t⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁵⁾| T: R Potter| OR: 145| D

18/1

Ended last season on the up, landing back-to-back handicaps at Chepstow before making a winning return in Old Roan Chase at Aintree. After another 3 months off, shaped well when fourth at Cheltenham (20.6f) but needs to shrug off a poor run at Newbury.

Form: 411-14P

Indiana Jones^p,t⁸⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M F Morris| OR: 144| C

28/1

Seems to have put his jumping issues behind him and picked up a couple of novice chase wins last season, notably a Grade 3 at Navan (2m). Better for return when fourth in Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter in November and excuses at Leopardstown since.

Form: 143-640

The Goffer^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 143| C| D

15/2

Shaped better than distance beaten suggests when fifth of 21 in Ultima Handicap at the Festival. Failed to stay in Grand National since but that was only 18 days ago. Drop in trip is a big plus.

Form: 4-85850

Embittered^t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Carl Millar⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 141| C| D

50/1

Back to winning ways at Navan in December. Respectable eleventh of 21 to Shakem Up'arry in the Plate at Cheltenham (20.6f, soft) but ran poorly in the Topham at Aintree since.

Form: 1P0300

Watch House Cross^t⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 137| D

8/1

Hit the ground running returned to this sphere when landing pair of small-field novice events at Wexford last summer. Yet to build on that since, though, just a respectable ninth of 21 in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival (20.6f, soft) 48 days ago.

Form: 3360F9

Brideswell Lad⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Slevin| T: S Neville| OR: 136| C| D

22/1

Course winner who returned to form from out of the blue with a career-best win in 10-runner handicap chase at Leopardstown (21.5f, soft) 59 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Won the Pat Taaffe (off 10 lb lower) at this meeting last season so must be respected.

Form: 61F071

Hereditary Rule^t⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 135| CD

40/1

Produced a career-best effort when signing off last term with success in this race off 6 lb lower but lightly raced and no encouragement from 4 runs this season.

Form: 01-00P0

Bill Baxter^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: W Greatrex| OR: 132| D

9/1

Winner of the Topham at Aintree 12 months ago but he turned in a laboured effort when only sixth of 9 in handicap chase (9/2) at Newbury (19.8f, soft) before getting no further than the third in this season's renewal of the Topham 19 days ago.

Form: 38486U

Lets Go Champ³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 131| BF| D

11/4

Promising sort. Third of 5 in handicap chase at Limerick (19.6f, heavy, 11/8) 38 days ago. Unexposed and remains open to improvement back in a more truly-run affair.

Form: 212-323

Must Be Obeyed³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Mike O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: T Gibney| OR: 129| CD

18/1

Course winner. Ran well at this meeting last season. Mixed record this term, respectable fourth of 8 in handicap chase (7/1) at Fairyhouse (21.6f, heavy) 32 days ago.

Form: 4-3P384

Aarons Day^t³⁶⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 124| D

66/1

Latest win in chase at Naas in January 2023. Not seen since pulled up in handicap chase at this meeting 12 months ago.

Form: 515F5P-

Union Park^p1,t¹¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Simon Torrens| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 123| D

28/1

Capitalised on a lower hurdles mark in 12-runner handicap (12/1) at Cork (20f, heavy) before producing best effort to date back chasing when close third at Naas in January. This much tougher.

Form: 4-61513

Forecasts

Lets Go Champ (11/4), James Du Berlais (7/2), The Goffer (15/2), Watch House Cross (8/1), Bill Baxter (9/1), Seddon (14/1), Adamantly Chosen (16/1), Must Be Obeyed (18/1), Jetoile (18/1), Idas Boy (20/1), Brideswell Lad (22/1), Authorized Art (25/1), Indiana Jones (28/1), Union Park (28/1), Hereditary Rule (40/1), Embittered (50/1), Aarons Day (66/1)

LETS GO CHAMP was unsuited by the slow pace when third at Limerick and this unexposed sort is potentially ahead of his mark in a race which promises to suit. The Goffer is well worth another try at this shorter trip and is next best ahead of Idas Boy, who has an excellent record fresh.