16:25 Punchestown

Thursday 20 February 2025

All13:2513:5514:2514:5515:2515:5516:2517:00

David Trundley Artist At Punchestown Novice Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 6m 26.7s

Churchwarden⁶⁷

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

16/1

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) 67 days ago, possibly not suited by step up in trip. Should run creditably back down in distance.

Form: 54-321P

Prophet's Corner¹⁷

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

5/2

Thrice-raced maiden. Third of 11 in novice hurdle at this course (23.3f, soft, 11/2) 17 days ago and one to be interested in on handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 13-1333

Duffys Hodey^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 111| C

5/2

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) 17 days ago. Unexposed at this longer distance and could be open to further improvement.

Form: 5-21311

Rue Taylor⁵⁵

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

7/1

Promising victory on hurdles bow and backed it up when 12/1, fifth of 17 in novice hurdle at Limerick (20f, soft) 55 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut and remains open to progress.

Form: 125

Folly Beach¹⁷

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

16/1

Respectable fifth of 14 in novice hurdle at this course (19.4f, soft) 17 days ago but may find a couple too good in here.

Form: 244065

I Ballyadam Moon^b,t²⁶

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

12/1

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) 26 days ago. Still has a bit to find.

Form: 2-96002

Look Dont Touch^t¹⁵

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

22/1

Below his best in both spheres of late, modest sixth of 12 in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (21.2f, good to soft) 15 days ago and hard to fancy strongly on return to smaller obstacles.

Form: 712506

Apples In Winter^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: L Casey| OR: 91

16/1

Step in the right direction when 28/1, seventh of 12 in handicap hurdle at this course (23.3f, soft) 17 days ago. Must improve again to trouble the best of these.

Form: 25-5407

Misty Milan³⁶

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

4/1

Promising sort was well-backed and showed more than previous when fifth of 11 in handicap hurdle (9/2) at Clonmel (20f, soft) 36 days ago. Open to further improvement.

Form: 90070-5

Forecasts

Prophet's Corner (5/2), Duffys Hodey (5/2), Misty Milan (4/1), Rue Taylor (7/1), I Ballyadam Moon (12/1), Apples In Winter (16/1), Churchwarden (16/1), Folly Beach (16/1), Look Dont Touch (22/1)

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, while Rue Taylor looks interesting on her handicap hurdle debut.