14:20 Punchestown

Wednesday 16 October 2024

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5517:30

Punchestown Premiere Weekend 23rd & 24th November Mares Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 3m 57.0s

First Dare²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T P Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: Liz Doyle| OR: 119| D

5/2

Steadily progressive mare who posted a career best when winning 13-runner handicap hurdle at Tramore (16.6f, good) 28 days ago, by 5 lengths from Ta Na La. Assessor applies further pressure but she could yet have more to offer.

Form: 2122-51

Saddle Her Up^h1²²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: D Queally| OR: 114

12/1

Fair hurdles winner, off the mark in mares' maiden at Fairyhouse (18.2f, soft) in January. Struggled at listed/Grade 3 level thereafter but switch to handicaps a definite plus now starting out for new yard/after 7 months off. Market can guide.

Form: 8/24168-

Timeless Piece¹³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 115

25/1

Winner in hurdle at Down Royal (17f, heavy) in January. 12/1, last of 11 in handicap hurdle at Tramore (2m) in May, beaten early final circuit. Needs to hit the ground running back from a break.

Form: 4514F-0

Hasten Slowly⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Alex Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 113| D

10/1

Fair Flat winner who displayed similar form when off the mark in a Tramore maiden hurdle (2m) in August. Below best on the level at Naas later that month but she remains open to improvement now handicapping in this sphere.

Form: 621

Optional Mix⁶⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: H Morgan| T: E Doyle| OR: 110

22/1

Latest win in chase at Kilbeggan in June. 12/1, sixth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Downpatrick (21.8f, good) 66 days ago. Down in trip.

Form: U-62186

Ta Na La^t⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: T M Walsh| OR: 109| BF

5/2

Winner in hurdle at Bellewstown in July. Creditable fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Tramore (20.3f, good to soft, 5/2) 6 days ago, paying for a big move into contention. Not taken lightly back down in trip.

Form: 5-31824

Vischio¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Mullins| T: R Donohoe| OR: 109| BF| D

13/2

Unreliable sort. 3/1, pulled up in handicap hurdle at Tipperary (16.2f, good to soft) 10 days ago, racing well off pace and pulled up soon after the second (saddle slipped). Far from the easiest to predict.

Form: 44-384P

Cash The Cheque¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: Brendan Walsh| OR: 108

8/1

Latest win in hurdle at Tipperary in May. 8/1, respectable fifth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Clonmel (19.9f, good) 13 days ago. Drop back in her favour on that evidence.

Form: 60-1545

Betty Dutton⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: M M McDonagh| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 100

13/2

22/1, fourth of 6 in maiden at Killarney (11.2f, heavy) 9 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles now but her losing run now stretches back over 2 years.

Form: 7-64265

Forecasts

Ta Na La (5/2), First Dare (5/2), Vischio (13/2), Betty Dutton (13/2), Cash The Cheque (8/1), Hasten Slowly (10/1), Saddle Her Up (12/1), Optional Mix (22/1), Timeless Piece (25/1)

FIRST DARE took another step forward on the back of a break when a ready winner at Tramore 4 weeks ago and she may well be up to defying the assessor again on that evidence. Ta Na La, who chased home the selection that day is a threat once more on these revised terms. Hasten Slowly and Cash The Cheque are others fancied to be in the mix.