16:15 Punchestown

Saturday 3 May 2025

All14:3015:0515:4216:1516:5017:2518:0018:35

Palmerstown House Estate Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (0-150) (Listed)

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 6m 23.09s

Grandero Bello¹⁰⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Ricky Doyle| T: E & P Harty| OR: 143| C| D

16/1

One win from 3 runs last season. Latest win in chase at Galway in October. 14/1, below form tenth of 18 in handicap chase at Gowran (25f, soft) 100 days ago. Something to find on form.

Form: /8-180

Minella Crooner^p⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| CD

22/1

Winner of this race 12 months ago. Six wins from 22 NH runs. 50/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Cheltenham (29.2f, good to soft) 52 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 1-P65P

Amirite²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 140| D

10/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2022. 18/1, creditable fourth of 30 in handicap chase at Aintree (21.1f, good) 29 days ago, barely adequate test. Majestic Force appears to be the stable No 1.

Form: 290744

Tullybeg^t²⁵²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 138| D

40/1

Unreliable sort. Nine wins from 31 NH runs. 12/1, ninth of 14 in handicap chase at Killarney (20.8f, good to soft), soon off bridle. Off 8 months.

Form: -53039

Beachcomber^b⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 133| D

8/1

Latest win in chase at Kempton in December. 7/1, below form sixth of 13 in handicap chase at Kempton (24f, soft) 70 days ago. 3 lb lower now and he's one to consider.

Form: -32P16

Big Debates³²

Age: 12| Weight: 10-5| J: John Shinnick⁽⁵⁾| T: R Tyner| OR: 129

28/1

Latest win in chase at Limerick in December. Second of 16 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (19f, good, 4/1) 32 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Back up in trip. Others more persuasive.

Form: 041P32

Canal End⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 129

5/2

4/1, career best when winning 14-runner handicap chase at Navan (23.6f, soft) 42 days ago, well on top finish. 9 lb rise tolerable and he's a must for the shortlist.

Form: 575821

Bill Baxter⁹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 126

12/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2023. Fourth of 6 in handicap chase (6/1) at Wincanton (25.1f, heavy) 93 days ago. Trainer going well but this 9-y-o will need to improve if he's to take this.

Form: P-25U4

Majestic Force⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 126| C| D

5/1

Lightly-raced winner under Rules. 10/11, didn't need to be at best when winning 9-runner novice chase at Wexford (25.4f, good to soft) 47 days ago, bit in hand. Mark for this handicap debut looks fair and she's a key player.

Form: 15-261

Now Where Or When^p,t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 125| D

33/1

Latest win in chase at Down Royal in January. Pulled up in handicap hurdle (22/1) at Fairyhouse (24f, good) 27 days ago, pulled up before last. Switches from hurdles to chase. Must improve.

Form: 6-71PP

Jasmin De Grugy^t⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Simon Torrens| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 124| BF

7/2

Five wins from 6 runs last season. Third of 5 in handicap chase at Newbury (23.4f, good to soft, 15/8) 63 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 111113

True Testimony¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Conor Stone-Walsh⁽³⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 124

11/1

Good second of 11 in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (21f, soft, 11/1) 11 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 2-5462

Non-Runners

Sam Brown²⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 13

T: A J Honeyball J: Rex Dingle

Monbeg Park²

Weight: 11-11| Age: 8

T: S Doyle J: Mr J L Scallan

Battle It Out¹²

Weight: 10-7| Age: 7

T: C O'Dwyer J: C G O'Dwyer

Will Do¹²

Weight: 10-7| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: Non Runner

Cuta Des As¹¹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 8

T: W P Mullins J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Canal End (5/2), Jasmin De Grugy (7/2), Majestic Force (5/1), Battle It Out (7/1), Beachcomber (8/1), Amirite (10/1), True Testimony (11/1), Bill Baxter (12/1), Sam Brown (12/1), Monbeg Park (12/1), Will Do (16/1), Grandero Bello (16/1), Minella Crooner (22/1), Cuta Des As (25/1), Big Debates (28/1), Now Where Or When (33/1), Tullybeg (40/1)

MAJESTIC FORCE proved her stamina when landing the odds in a Wexford maiden chase upped to 25.4f in March and, with the promise of better to come from this lightly-raced mare now switched to handicap company, she could be the answer. There are some interesting British raiders in the line-up, with Beachcomber and Jasmin de Grugy both in with a chance, while the selection's stablemate Amirite and Canal End, who did the job well at Navan last time, are others to consider.