15:05 Punchestown

Monday 3 February 2025

All13:0013:3014:0014:3015:0515:4016:1016:40

Ladbrokes Play '1-2-Free' On Football Novice Handicap Hurdle

  • 4YO plus  |   2m 3f 92y  |   Heavy  |   7 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:05  |   Winning time: 5m 17.08s
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The word Betfair in black.
The words Paddy Power in green.
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
1
Horse silk
Balko D'ange36
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-12| J: Niall Moore(7)| T: P Fenton| OR:  122
9/4
13/8, career best when winning 9-runner listed handicap at Limerick (16f, soft) 36 days ago by 1½ lengths from Bright Legend. Up in trip for this handicap hurdle debut and looks competitive on form.
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Timeform
3
Horse silk
The Story So Farv17
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-10| J: Philip Byrnes| T: C Byrnes| OR:  120
7/1
Career best when winning 11-runner novice hurdle at Cork (24f, soft, 11/10) 17 days ago, always holding on. Should give another good account.
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Timeform
4
Horse silk
Butcher Hollowt310
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Flanagan| T: T Cooper| OR:  118| BF
15/2
Lightly-raced winner under Rules. Tongue strap on for 1st time, creditable third of 18 in novice hurdle (5/2) at Fairyhouse (19.6f, heavy). Off 10 months ahead of this handicap debut.
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Timeform
5
Horse silk
Jacovec Cavernh38
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: P Hennessy| OR:  117
11/1
6/1, respectable eighth of 19 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, good) 38 days ago. Up in trip on this first run since rejoining yard after a stint with Emmet Mullins.
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Timeform
6
Horse silk
Birmingham Alabama21
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-3| J: Jordan Gainford| T: E D Delany| OR:  113| C
5/1
Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Career best when winning 10-runner handicap hurdle at this course (19.6f, soft, 9/4) 21 days ago, always holding on. Shortlist material.
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Timeform
7
Horse silk
Duke Silver39
Age: 5|  Weight: 10-10| J: R Deegan| T: J P O'Brien| OR:  106
11/2
Creditable fifth of 19 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, good, 12/1) 39 days ago, finishing with running left. Back up in trip and likely to be in the thick of things.
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Timeform
9
Horse silk
Duffys Hodeyp18
Age: 8|  Weight: 10-7| J: Tiernan Power Roche(5)| T: P J Rothwell| OR:  103| D
7/2
Two wins from 4 runs this season. 5/2, career best when winning 15-runner handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, soft) 18 days ago, driven out. This is more demanding.
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Timeform

Non-Runners

2
Horse silk
Jacob's Ladder16
Weight: 11-12|  Age: 6
T: G Elliott  J: Sam Ewing
NR
8
Horse silk
Dumb Love17
Weight: 10-10|  Age: 5
T: Gerard O'Leary  J: M J M O'Sullivan
NR

Forecasts

Balko D'ange (9/4), Duffys Hodey (7/2), Jacob's Ladder (9/2), Birmingham Alabama (5/1), Duke Silver (11/2), The Story So Far (7/1), Butcher Hollow (15/2), Jacovec Cavern (11/1), Dumb Love (12/1)

Verdict

Cases can be made for several of these, with BALKO D'ANGE the pick on the back of his breakthrough success at Limerick where he shaped as though stepping up to this trip would be no bad thing. The 5-y-o has been handed a fair-looking mark for this handicap debut and he is preferred to Duke Silver, who shaped well in a big-field Leopardstown handicap on Boxing Day. Birmingham Alabama and likely improver Jacob's Ladder are also accorded respect.

Previous Winners

2024
Morricone
Weight: 10-0  |Age: 7
2/1

Prize Money

1st: €9,600.002nd: €3,200.003rd: €1,600.004th: €800.005th: €480.006th: €319.00

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