12:48 Punchestown

Monday 12 January 2026

All12:4813:1813:4814:1814:4815:1815:48

Matchbook 50:50 Graduation Series Maiden Hurdle

4YO only | 2m 35y | 16 Runners | Turf

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Brian Hayes| T: A McNamara

Fair maiden on the Flat. 50/1, first run since leaving David Marnane when fifth of 12 in juvenile hurdle at this C&D (soft) on NH debut 28 days ago, not given hard time. Type to do better in handicaps.

Form: 5

Deep Water Bay¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

11/4

Useful, progressive stayer on Flat for Sir Mark Prescott. Showed plenty to work with on hurdle/stable debut when fifth of 19 in juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, good, 14/1) 16 days ago. Entitled to improve.

Form: 5

Direct Approach¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott

66/1

Fair maiden on the Flat for Donnacha O'Brien but produced a laboured effort (following 3 months off) when ninth of 13 in juvenile hurdle (20/1) at this course (16.5f, good to soft) on NH debut 12 days ago. Likely a longer-term project for top yard.

Form: 9

Granlahan

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: A McGuinness

66/1

Equiano gelding. Dam 9.5f winner. Newcomer doesn't look an obvious hurdling type.

Kilmeaden¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Slevin| T: Donnacha O'Brien

6/1

Useful stayer on Flat winner. Gelded prior to hurdles debut but unable to justify strong support, 7 lengths fifth and beaten when brought down after 2 out on hurdle debut at Limerick (16f, heavy, 2/1) 17 days ago. Likely to do better at some point and worth a market check.

Form: B

Kizlyar^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Phillip Enright| T: J P O'Brien

33/1

Promising ex-French 1m4f Flat winner for M. Delzangles. Started life for new yard with a promising hurdle debut fifth at Cork but easy-to-back when ninth of 19 in juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, good, 25/1) 16 days ago. Remains with potential but we may see best of him in handicaps.

Form: 59

Madness D'elle²⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

11/10

Finished third of 10 in juvenile hurdle at Auteuil on debut for Mlle D. Mele in May last year. That form looks to have plenty of substance and highly encouraging that he gets the vote of confidence from Paul Townend. Could be the one to beat on U.K. debut.

Form: 3-

Mino Des Mottes¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

4/1

Won 8-runner bumper in France in July (runner-up a subsequent winner on hurdle debut). Not knocked about on first start for top connections when fourth of 13 in juvenile hurdle at this course (16.5f, good to soft, 7/4) on IRE NH debut 12 days ago. Improvement expected.

Form: U1-4

Nile Star

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Donagh Meyler| T: R O'Sullivan

22/1

Cloth of Stars gelding. Half-brother to French hurdler Lou Princess. Dam, ran twice over hurdles in France, half-sister to French hurdler/chaser (19f winner) Scarlet Row. Runner-up on first of 2 starts in points, last of 8 finishers last time (Nov 2025). Market can guide on Rules debut.

Ray Gun⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Alex Harvey| T: J P Flavin

80/1

Fair middle-distance Flat winner. Step backwards from hurdle debut when thirteenth of 17 in novice hurdle at Cork (16.9f, good to soft, 20/1) 9 days ago. Hard to fancy this side of handicaps.

Form: 80

Royal Belief¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Harvey| T: C Collins

100/1

Modest maiden on the Flat. First run since leaving John S. O'Donoghue when fifth of 11 in juvenile hurdle (125/1) at Limerick (16f, heavy) on NH debut 17 days ago, merely making late gains. Likely to need more time.

Form: 5

Starword¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Alix Balfe⁽⁷⁾| T: Francis Casey

100/1

Hails from a family his yard know well and shaped like one for the longer-term when eleventh of 15 in juvenile hurdle (80/1) at Leopardstown (18f, good to soft) on NH debut 14 days ago.

Form: 0

Stone Rulya¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Paddy Cody⁽⁷⁾| T: E Doyle

100/1

Fair maiden on the Flat for Ger Lyons and offered little on hurdle debut (200/1). Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 0

Wolfpack¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott

12/1

Fair 1m Flat winner for James Ferguson. Unfancied in the market on hurdle debut, behind when unseated rider last in juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, good, 50/1) on NH debut 16 days ago. May prove more of a handicap project.

Form: U

Concert Party¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Daniel King| T: D Hogan

100/1

Fairly useful Flat winner for Richard Hannon but no impact on hurdle debut (150/1) and is probably one for later on.

Form: 0

Simple Things^h1³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P Dempsey

12/1

Promising third of 14 in juvenile hurdle on debut and best forgiven latest run at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 22 days ago, when refusing to settle. Hood on first time and remains open to progress.

Form: 37

Forecasts

Madness D'elle (6/5), Deep Water Bay (5/2), Mino Des Mottes (4/1), Kilmeaden (6/1), Wolfpack (12/1), Simple Things (12/1), Nile Star (25/1), Kizlyar (33/1), Direct Approach (50/1), Granlahan (50/1), Ray Gun (66/1), Berto Ramirez (66/1), Concert Party (100/1), Starword (100/1), Stone Rulya (100/1), Royal Belief (100/1)

A promising third on hurdles debut in France (form looks solid), MADNESS D'ELLE is fancied to make a winning start for Willie Mullins. Stablemate Mino des Mottes can prove best of the rest, with useful Flat performer Deep Water Bay entitled to improve from his hurdling bow.