15:23 Punchestown

Tuesday 9 December 2025

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Matchbook Best Odds On Festive Racing Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (Div 2)

4YO plus | 2m 7f 207y | 16 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Simon Torrens| T: P T Foley| OR: 99

Below form seventh of 12 in handicap hurdle at Thurles (20f, good to soft, 14/1) 19 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 954F-07

Warmer Days Ahead^t³⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: James Duggan⁽⁷⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 98

Winner in hurdle at Roscommon in September 2024. Good third of 14 in handicap hurdle (12/1) at Fairyhouse (23.5f, good), better placed than most. Off 13 months. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 4/23193-

John Storey^p³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Gleeson⁽⁷⁾| T: L P Cusack| OR: 95| D

Below form sixth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (24f, soft, 20/1) 35 days ago. Just 1 lb above last winning mark and will be a threat if on-song.

Form: 70-0876

Rajsalad²⁹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie O'Dwyer⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 95| D

Pulled up in handicap hurdle (33/1) at Fairyhouse (20f, soft), pulled up after next. Off 9 months.

Form: 6047/FP-

Eagle Terrace^p,t⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: N C Kelly| OR: 94

Fifth of 11 in handicap chase at Downpatrick (23.5f, soft, 33/1) 81 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Opposable.

Form: 57-8085

Pebble Bleu¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Michael Kenneally⁽⁷⁾| T: C Motherway| OR: 94| C

Career best when winning 13-runner handicap hurdle at Tramore (21f, soft, 13/2) 14 days ago, having run of race. Up 4 lb.

Form: 8F44F1

Lough Nigara^h¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Ricky Doyle| T: E Griffin| OR: 93

Good second of 10 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (24.5f, heavy, 11/4) 18 days ago, running on late. Strong claims.

Form: 64-7332

Brave Crogha^h⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Josh Younge⁽⁷⁾| T: I Madden| OR: 92

25/1 and hooded for 1st time tongue strap on for 1st time, last of 9 in handicap hurdle at Galway (16f, soft) 44 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 050909

Elusive Prince¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Dylan Whelan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Barcoe| OR: 92| D

Remains a maiden after 16 NH runs. Unseated rider in handicap hurdle (12/1) at Fairyhouse (24.5f, heavy) 18 days ago. Readily passed over.

Form: 8P090U

Smackwater Jack³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Eoin Walsh| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 92| CD

C&D winner. Latest win in hurdle here in June. Below form seventh of 13 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (24f, soft, 16/1) 35 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 52-1477

Comeonarchie^p1,t⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr J R Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: F G Hand| OR: 87

Eighth of 11 in handicap hurdle (15/2) at Downpatrick (21.8f, good to soft) 60 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time and could have a say if he responds well to the new headgear.

Form: 223-478

Volez Vous^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Kennedy⁽⁷⁾| T: D Deacon| OR: 87

Sixth of 18 in handicap chase at Thurles (21.4f, good to soft, 18/1) on debut over fences 40 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: P011-26

Johnny Cakes^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 86| BF| C

Course winner. 3/1, thirteenth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (21f, heavy) 21 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 0613-50

Oogum Boogum¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: D Budds| OR: 86

Remains a maiden after 16 NH runs. Creditable third of 16 in handicap hurdle at Tramore (21f, soft, 11/2) 14 days ago. Live each-way contender.

Form: 625353

Sallap^t⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Eoin Staples⁽⁷⁾| T: S Curling| OR: 85

Winner in hurdle at Clonmel in October. Fell in handicap hurdle at Thurles (22.7f, good to soft, 9/2) 54 days ago probably would have won. Can make presence felt.

Form: 99401F

County Champs^p⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Philip Byrnes| T: B McMahon| OR: 84

Creditable second of 15 in handicap hurdle (9/1) at Tipperary (23.3f, soft) 64 days ago, keeping on well. Record stands at 0-13, but should make his presence felt.

Form: 44-3282

Forecasts

Sallap (7/2), Pebble Bleu (5/1), Lough Nigara (5/1), Warmer Days Ahead (5/1), County Champs (11/2), Oogum Boogum (7/1), Johnny Cakes (14/1), Eagle Terrace (20/1), Volez Vous (20/1), Arctic Piper (25/1), Elusive Prince (25/1), Smackwater Jack (25/1), Comeonarchie (25/1), John Storey (25/1), Brave Crogha (50/1), Rajsalad (66/1)

Though his wellbeing has to be taken on trust following a 13-month absence, WARMER DAYS AHEAD is otherwise pretty appealing. His form figures in handicap hurdles in 2024 read 42313 and he'll have every chance if raring to go. Sallap is unlucky not to be bidding for the hat-trick, as she looked set to follow up her Clonmel succes when falling at the final flight at Thurles two weeks later. She will be a threat granted a clear round, while Comeonarchie is capable of a bold show, too.