13:18 Punchestown

Monday 12 January 2026

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

John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:18 | Winning time: 4m 22.20s

Black Soul¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr B T Stone| T: Conor Houlihan| OR: 110

33/1

Winner of maiden hurdle at Down Royal in May but ran poorly on first run since leaving P. Kiely when eighth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Tramore (16.8f, soft, 40/1) 11 days ago. Needs to leave that form well behind.

Form: 031/198

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Trebizond^t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Ross Sugrue⁽²⁾| T: M K Flannery| OR: 105| D

12/1

Finished respectable fourth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Galway (16.7f, soft) on final start for R. Mike Smith in August 2023 but unsurprisingly needed the run (50/1) on reappearance/stable debut. Market can guide on second start for new yard.

Form: F1144/9

Mo Ghille Mar^t⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ms K M Ryan⁽⁴⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 104

20/1

Useful handicapper on Flat (stays 13.5f) but offered little on first run for yard after leaving Mrs J. Harrington with tongue strap on first time (retained). On a workable mark in this sphere but has questions to answer.

Form: 937/0

Be Fierce^t¹⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr L P Shanahan⁽²⁾| T: T M Walsh| OR: 102| D

10/1

Won twice over 2m at Tramore (hurdles/fences) last season but added to a patchy record when ninth of 10 in handicap chase at Killarney (17f, good, 12/1) 144 days ago. Worth a market check off lower hurdles mark following a break.

Form: 171/F49

Metamorpheus¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr C A Bowman⁽⁴⁾| T: A McNamara| OR: 102| CD

28/1

On long losing run and disappointing on both starts for new trainer. Returned to this course (scene of sole win) needs to spark a revival.

Form: F40480

Walk On Annilog^h¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr D Doyle| T: R Dunne| OR: 100

4/1

At long odds, showed improved form on handicap debut (race not ideally run to suit) when sixth of 18 in handicap hurdle (100/1) at Leopardstown (16f, good) 17 days ago. Claims if she can build on that.

Form: 982/576

Couldntmakeitup^t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Alan O'Sullivan| T: J Nash| OR: 98

4/1

Maiden hasn't been well placed in either handicap start, shaped better than result when ninth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (20.2f, soft, 10/1) 30 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Down in trip but could be in better heart than recent form figures suggest.

Form: 26U349

Jumble Light²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr J Dunne| T: M M McNiff| OR: 95

5/1

Some promise in maidens but didn't improve on handicap bow when fourth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Navan (16f, heavy) 29 days ago, left in frame last. Needs to take a step forward.

Form: 448/574

Where Are You Now³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Joshua Halford| T: E Bolger| OR: 94

15/8

Has been brought along gradually in maidens, sixth of 19 at Cork (16.9f, soft) 36 days ago, not knocked about. Makes handicap hurdle debut and may well do better (full brother to one who improved for handicaps).

Form: 846

Non-Runners

Zuzukel⁶⁰

Weight: 12-1| Age: 6

T: A J Martin J: Mr J Costello

Hereditary Rule⁹⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 11

T: J C McConnell J: Mr F R Buckley

Eco Pete¹¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 9

T: P J Rothwell J: Miss P Elvin

Kilt³⁰

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: P J Rothwell J: Mr B J Walsh

Forecasts

Zuzukel (7/4), Where Are You Now (15/8), Couldntmakeitup (4/1), Walk On Annilog (4/1), Jumble Light (5/1), Be Fierce (10/1), Kilt (10/1), Trebizond (12/1), Mo Ghille Mar (20/1), Metamorpheus (28/1), Black Soul (33/1), Eco Pete (33/1), Hereditary Rule (100/1)

ZUZUKEL was much improved when runner-up at this course last time and may be able to go one better, while Where Are You Now looks a likely improver now handicapping. Both should be noted in the market, along with Be Fierce who returns in a winnable handicap hurdle.