14:10 Punchestown

Saturday 23 November 2024

All11:3012:0012:3013:0013:3514:1014:5015:25

Unibet Morgiana Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 4m 12.0s

Daddy Long Legs²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149| CD

14/1

Smart hurdler. C&D winner. 2 wins from 5 runs this season. Bit below form 9¼ lengths third of 6 to Brighterdaysahead in Jezki Hurdle at Down Royal (16.9f, good to soft, 7/4) 22 days ago.

Form: 11-5013

No Looking Back^t¹⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: O McKiernan| OR: 132

200/1

Useful hurdler. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, pulled up in Grimes Hurdle (20/1) at Tipperary (16f, good to soft) 142 days ago won by Winter Fog, pulled up before 2 out. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 203/P-2P

Sir Gerhard²⁰⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| C

18/1

Smart hurdler/chaser but no match for State Man in Punchestown when last seen in May.

Form: F10134-

Smooth Tom^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Cian Quirke| T: A Slattery| OR: 130

150/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Cheekpieces on for 1st time in this code, unseated rider in Jezki Hurdle at Down Royal (16.9f, good to soft, 33/1) 22 days ago won by Brighterdaysahead. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 1150-2U

State Man²⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 169| CD

4/9

Couldn't live with Constitution Hill in the 2023 Champion Hurdle but that's his only defeat in 13 completed starts since joining Willie Mullins, including the last 2 runnings of this. Lossiemouth is a tough opponent but he's still very much the one to beat.

Form: 1/11111-

Winter Fog⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150

28/1

Smart hurdler. Latest win in hurdle at Tipperary in July. 9/4, 16½ lengths third of 5 to Daddy Long Legs in Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Tipperary (16.2f, good to soft) 48 days ago.

Form: 41-4143

Brighterdaysahead²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 153| D

9/4

Beaten at odds on in the Dawn Run at Cheltenham in March but that's her only defeat, taking her form up another notch with a 3¾-length defeat of stablemate King of Kingsfield in the Grade 3 Jezki Hurdle on her Down Royal reappearance. This mare is likely capable of even better.

Form: 11121-1

Non-Runners

Lossiemouth²⁰³

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: W P Mullins J: Mr P W Mullins

Forecasts

State Man (4/9), Brighterdaysahead (9/4), Lossiemouth (9/4), Daddy Long Legs (14/1), Sir Gerhard (18/1), Winter Fog (28/1), Smooth Tom (150/1), No Looking Back (200/1)

STATE MAN has to be considered the one to beat as he goes in search of a third successive Morgiana but his stablemate Lossiemouth looks potentially top class herself and should ensure the Champion Hurdle winner doesn't have things all his own way. Progressive Jezki Hurdle winner Brighterdaysahead looks clear best of the remainder.