16:40 Punchestown

Sunday 16 February 2025

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:10

David Trundley Artist At Punchestown Novice Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | 2m 6f 211y | Yielding to Soft (Soft in places) | 12 Runners | Turf

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Alex Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 113

Winner in hurdle at Kilbeggan in September (won with bit to spare) but pulled up next start in handicap hurdle at Navan (25f, good to soft) 63 days ago, possibly not suited by step up in trip. Should run creditably back down in distance.

Form: 54-321P

Must Go Now^h²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Kieren Buckley| T: E Cawley| OR: 113

Unsuited by the sharper trip when third of 14 in handicap hurdle at Naas (18.7f, heavy, 13/2) 21 days ago, running on. That performance bodes well for his return to a more suitable trip. Player.

Form: 3F-5013

Prophet's Corner¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr D Allen⁽⁷⁾| T: Sean Allen| OR: 112

Thrice-raced maiden. Third of 11 in novice hurdle at this course (23.3f, soft, 11/2) 13 days ago and one to be interested in on handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 13-1333

Duffys Hodey^p¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 111| C

Winner of 3 of his last 5 starts over hurdles (placed on the other 2 occasions) and better than ever when winning 7-runner handicap hurdle at this course (19.4f, soft, 7/2) 13 days ago. Unexposed at this longer distance and could be open to further improvement.

Form: 5-21311

Portnacoo⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 111| BF

3 wins from 7 runs this season. Hit usual flat spot when 8¾ lengths fourth of 20 to Must Go Now in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, soft) 46 days ago and return to longer trip could see an improved performance. One for the shortlist.

Form: 511134

Rue Taylor⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Nolan| OR: 110

Promising victory on hurdles bow and backed it up when 12/1, fifth of 17 in novice hurdle at Limerick (20f, soft) 51 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut and remains open to progress.

Form: 125

Folly Beach¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: L A McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: M A Molloy| OR: 108

Respectable fifth of 14 in novice hurdle at this course (19.4f, soft) 13 days ago but may find a couple too good in here.

Form: 244065

Beggars Rock^b³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Kevin Sexton| T: D Queally| OR: 105| BF

Winner in first-time blinkers at Limerick in December but not in same form when twelfth of 16 in handicap hurdle at this course (20.6f, heavy, 4/1) 35 days ago. Capable of bouncing back. Engaged 2.30 Gowran Park Saturday.

Form: 4U3310

I Ballyadam Moon^b,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: John Shinnick⁽⁵⁾| T: T O'Brien| OR: 104

Lightly-raced maiden produced better effort when 18/1 and blinkered for 1st time, finishing second of 13 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (20.4f, soft) 22 days ago. Still has a bit to find.

Form: 2-96002

Look Dont Touch^t¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr I Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: Conor Maxwell| OR: 101

Below his best in both spheres of late, modest sixth of 12 in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (21.2f, good to soft) and hard to fancy strongly on return to smaller obstacles.

Form: 712506

Apples In Winter^p¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: D King| T: L Casey| OR: 91

Step in the right direction when 28/1, seventh of 12 in handicap hurdle at this course (23.3f, soft) 13 days ago. Must improve again to trouble the best of these.

Form: 25-5407

Misty Milan³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁵⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 90

Promising sort was well-backed and showed more than previous when fifth of 11 in handicap hurdle (9/2) at Clonmel (20f, soft) 32 days ago. May do better still.

Form: 90070-5

Forecasts

Duffys Hodey (9/4), Prophet's Corner (5/1), Must Go Now (5/1), Portnacoo (15/2), I Ballyadam Moon (8/1), Rue Taylor (10/1), Folly Beach (12/1), Beggars Rock (12/1), Misty Milan (12/1), Apples In Winter (20/1), Churchwarden (20/1), Look Dont Touch (25/1)

DUFFYS HODEY is in the form of his life, and he may find enough improvement over this longer trip to defy the handicapper once again. Misty Milan was well backed when a promising fifth on her reappearance and it would be no surprise to see her go close. Beggars Rock could well bounce back to form if taking up this engagement, while Must Go Now deserves an honourable mention in a competitive novice handicap.