17:25 Punchestown

Friday 3 May 2024

All15:4016:1516:5017:2518:0018:3519:0519:40

Event Power Champion Hunters Chase

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 6m 48.80s

Billaway^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| C| D

10/1

Useful chaser. 11/2, respectable fifth of 12 in minor event chase at Cheltenham (26.3f, heavy) 49 days ago. Should typically give a good account if his jumping holds up.

Form: F2U-125

Boss Robin³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr C J Shine⁽⁷⁾| T: J F Gleeson| D

33/1

Fairly useful chaser. Two wins from 6 runs last season. 4/1, career best when winning 4-runner hunter chase at Fairyhouse (25.2f, heavy) 34 days ago by 7½ lengths from Ferns Lock. Going the right way and a litereal reading of that form would give him a chance.

Form: 355111

Famous Clermont^t⁶⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J King⁽³⁾| T: C R Barber| OR: 139| BF| D

15/2

Useful chaser. 10/11, respectable second of 7 in hunter chase at Wincanton (20.2f, heavy) 65 days ago. Up in trip. Enters calculations.

Form: 161-312

Ferns Lock^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J W Hendrick⁽⁷⁾| T: D M Christie| OR: 142| BF| D

6/1

Useful chaser. 2/7 and hooded for 1st time, 7½ lengths second of 4 to Boss Robin in hunter chase at Fairyhouse (25.2f, heavy) 34 days ago, finishing tired. Has the ability to feature if he can get back on track.

Form: 3-121P2

Gorthill⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁷⁾| T: Caroline Mccaldin

80/1

Won a hunter last spring and has been in good form in points. Plenty to find in this company, however.

Form: 216-141

Hardline^b²²

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Josh Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 124| C

150/1

Fair chaser. Twenty five runs since last win in 2018. Creditable 29¾ lengths seventh of 22 to Its On The Line in hunter chase (125/1) at Aintree (21.1f, soft) 22 days ago. Tough ask.

Form: 8-21427

Its On The Line²²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: E Mullins| OR: 137| C| D

6/4

Useful chaser. Three wins from 4 runs last season. Didn't need to improve to win 22-runner hunter chase (3/1) at Aintree (21.1f, soft) 22 days ago, staying on well. Has enjoyed a terrific campaign and he's fancied to add another big prize here.

Form: 211121

Jay Bee Why^p,t1¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B Finn⁽⁷⁾| T: Warren Ewing| OR: 132

100/1

Useful chaser. Winning pointer, again runner-up last time (Apr 21). Capable of getting involved if he's back under Rules as good as ever.

Form: F22322

Lifetime Ambition³²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss S Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: P M J Doyle| OR: 152| C| D

11/4

Useful hurdler. One win from 3 runs last season. First run since leaving Mrs J. Harrington when 8/15, won 9-runner hunter chase at Cork (20f, heavy) 32 days ago. Up in trip. Definite player.

Form: 1121U1

Lonesome Boatman⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Allen⁽⁷⁾| T: D G Murphy

50/1

Fair in bumpers/over hurdles for Martin Brassil and has done well between the flags since, winning 3 of his last 4 starts. One to note if the market speaks in his favour on hunter debut.

Form: 27/F111

Royal Rendezvous^h,t1⁴¹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B Dunleavy⁽⁷⁾| T: Caroline Mccaldin| OR: 155| C

66/1

Second of 9 in handicap chase (18/1) at this course (21.2f, good to soft), doing better under change of tactics. That was his final outing for Willie Mullins and, while he's won a point since, he wasn't at his best in that sphere last time.

Form: 1/7522-4

Ryehill³²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T Power Roche⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Sullivan

22/1

Won 9-runner hunter chase (evens) at Cork (24f, heavy) 32 days ago. Not fully exposed but more required here.

Form: 21-2121

Samcro^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T Hamilton| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| C

50/1

Ten wins from 28 NH runs. 20/1, pulled up in minor event chase at Cheltenham (26.3f, heavy) 49 days ago.

Form: 111-13P

Vaucelet¹²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Harvey⁽⁷⁾| T: D M Christie| OR: 137| D

16/1

Useful chaser. 10/3, below form 29¼ lengths fifth of 10 to Its On The Line in hunter chase at Down Royal (24f, soft) 129 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 2-22335

Forecasts

Its On The Line (6/4), Lifetime Ambition (11/4), Ferns Lock (6/1), Famous Clermont (15/2), Billaway (10/1), Vaucelet (16/1), Ryehill (22/1), Boss Robin (33/1), Lonesome Boatman (50/1), Samcro (50/1), Royal Rendezvous (66/1), Gorthill (80/1), Jay Bee Why (100/1), Hardline (150/1)

ITS ON THE LINE has held his form superbly throughout a busy campaign and, having gained his reward at Aintree last time, he looks the one to beat as he bids to pick up another notable accolade. Lifetime Ambition has plenty of class and looks a big danger on the back of a winning stable debut, while Famous Clermont remains a formidable force at this level.