15:05 Punchestown

Wednesday 1 May 2024

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

Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 4m 48.20s

Answer To Kayf⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: John Shinnick⁽⁷⁾| T: T O'Brien| OR: 138| D

11/4

Made the most of a return to a lower grade when doubling his tally over hurdles at Naas (19.1f) in February and improved again when fourth in Martin Pipe at Cheltenham since. Remains fairly treated.

Form: 812314

Any Road³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mark McDonagh⁽³⁾| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 126

20/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Winner in hurdle at Clonmel in November. 6/1, creditable third of 9 in handicap hurdle at Cork (19f, heavy) 31 days ago. Others look better treated.

Form: 194363

Blizzard Of Oz⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| CD

13/8

Promising type. Career best when winning 7-runner novice hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, soft, 6/4) 59 days ago by 2¼ lengths from Purse Price, shaken up to assert. Back up in trip. Should go well again.

Form: 212-151

Iceberg Theory³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Jordan Gainford| T: P Nolan| OR: 120

22/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 9/2 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, career best when winning 6-runner novice hurdle at Navan (20f, heavy) 39 days ago. More on plate here.

Form: 30-3231

Black Bamboo¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Murphy| OR: 123

11/2

Made the most of a good opportunity to get off the mark at Cork in October and has shaped well in handicaps since, finishing sixth in Coral Cup at Cheltenham Festival and valuable handicap at Aintree in recent months. Warrants respect.

Form: 516666

Backtonormal⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G P Cromwell

7/1

8/1, creditable 2½ lengths third of 7 to Blizzard of Oz in novice hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, soft) 59 days ago. Since joined Gavin Cromwell and is worth monitoring in market.

Form: 231-233

Aeros Luck^h,t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Kieren Buckley| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 124

11/1

Off the mark at Listowel (16f) in September and improved on that (back from 7 months off) when very good sixth of 10 in novice hurdle at Naas (16f, soft) 27 days ago. Interesting contender.

Form: 522216

My Gaffer¹²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: J P Ryan| OR: 115

100/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Bit below form tenth of 23 in handicap hurdle (14/1) at Leopardstown (16f, good to soft) 127 days ago. Up in trip. Others preferred.

Form: 197400

Drumgill⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Daniel King| T: J P Ryan

125/1

Modest hurdler. Very good 3¼ lengths second of 10 to Theflyingbee in novice hurdle at Bellewstown (20.5f, good to soft, 16/1) 7 days ago. Up against it.

Form: 676352

Mont Beuvray⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Cian Quirke⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 90

250/1

Modest hurdler. 20/1, unseated rider in novice hurdle at Bellewstown (20.5f, good to soft) 7 days ago won by Theflyingbee. Plenty to find on form.

Form: F8003U

On Lovers Walk^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Kelleher| OR: 105

150/1

Fair hurdler. Respectable second of 9 in novice hurdle (5/2) at Limerick (21f, heavy) 20 days ago. Work to do with principals here, however.

Form: 2P2392

Purse Price^p,t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 112

40/1

Fair hurdler. Winner in hurdle at Thurles in January. 7/2, fifth of 6 in handicap hurdle at Navan (15.7f, heavy) 39 days ago. Back up in trip. Others more persuasive.

Form: U31525

Theflyingbee^t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Mullins| T: F G Hand

18/1

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. 11/8, didn't need to improve to win 10-runner novice hurdle at Bellewstown (20.5f, good to soft) 7 days ago by 3¼ lengths from Drumgill. This is much more competitive.

Form: 23551

Confidential Gosip⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Conor Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington

80/1

Once-raced maiden. 7½ lengths fourth of 10 to Theflyingbee in novice hurdle (12/1) at Bellewstown (20.5f, good to soft) on NH debut 7 days ago. Improvement required to play a part here.

Form: 4

Mi Lucky Cailin²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: J S McGarvey| T: W J McLernon| OR: 109

33/1

Fair hurdler. 7/1, good second of 19 in novice hurdle at Naas (16f, soft) 27 days ago. Back up in trip. Each-way claims.

Form: 9-75222

Ivy Hall^p⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 95

250/1

Modest hurdler. Below form 23½ lengths fifth of 10 to Theflyingbee in novice hurdle at Bellewstown (20.5f, good to soft, 11/1) 7 days ago. Uphill task.

Form: 406F65

Our Girl Sal¹⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Sam Ewing| T: Peter Fahey

80/1

Modest hurdler. Below form 28¼ lengths seventh of 14 to Black Bamboo in novice hurdle (6/1) at Cork (20.4f, good to soft). Off 6 months. Work to do.

Form: 023547

Forecasts

Blizzard Of Oz (13/8), Answer To Kayf (11/4), Black Bamboo (11/2), Backtonormal (7/1), Aeros Luck (11/1), Theflyingbee (18/1), Any Road (20/1), Iceberg Theory (22/1), Mi Lucky Cailin (33/1), Purse Price (40/1), Confidential Gosip (80/1), Our Girl Sal (80/1), My Gaffer (100/1), Drumgill (125/1), On Lovers Walk (150/1), Ivy Hall (250/1), Mont Beuvray (250/1)

AEROS LUCK remains with potential and shaped well on his return from a break at Naas last month. He gets the nod. Answer To Kayf, Blizzard of Oz and Black Bamboo make up the shortlist.