14:30 Punchestown

Sunday 15 February 2026

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3216:0216:3217:02

1xbet.ie Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Listed)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 8m 9.40s

Prends Garde A Toi^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Carl Millar⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 133

20/1

Came good over fences in maiden at Naas in December. Bit laboured next time and fell heavily in first-time cheekpieces at Leopardstown latest. Should stay but bit to prove now.

Form: 4/2P14F

Patter Merchant^p1²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Josh Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 131

13/2

Useful hurdler. Mixed record in maiden chases this season but no surprise if he fared better now switched to a handicap with headgear applied.

Form: 95/3253

Born Braver^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Eoin Staples⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 128

12/1

Fared much better than previously in this sphere when excellent neck second of 8 to Lucky Lyreen in handicap chase at Down Royal (24f, heavy) 26 days ago. Longer trip looks well worth a try.

Form: 5/90962

Lucky Lyreen^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 127| C

15/2

Useful winner over hurdles. 4/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, career best when winning 8-runner handicap chase at Down Royal (24f, heavy) 26 days ago by neck from Born Braver, just holding on. Should remain competitive now he's found his feet in this sphere.

Form: 05/9051

Fortunedefortunata^b⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: James Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 126| CD

18/1

Winner of this race a year ago off 6 lb lower but has struggled since, often let down by jumping.

Form: 15B/P0U

My Immortal⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr F Maguire| T: B Connell| OR: 125| C

40/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2022. Pulled up in handicap chase at Leopardstown (24.4f, good to soft, 20/1) 48 days ago. Uphill task.

Form: 4570/7P

The Lovely Man^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 124

9/2

11/2, career best when winning 15-runner handicap hurdle at Gowran (23.5f, heavy) 24 days ago. Remains with potential over fences and good shout in hat-trick bid.

Form: 43P/311

Uncle Pat¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 123

17/2

Fairly useful chaser. Shaped to run out when unseated rider in handicap chase (12/1) at Leopardstown (21.5f, soft) 14 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 28462U

Binge Worthy^p1⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 121| C

9/1

Fairly useful winner at 19f over hurdles. 5/1, very good third of 11 in handicap chase at Navan (20.6f, heavy) 63 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time upped in trip.

Form: 9P73/53

Ney^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Kieren Buckley| T: E Buckley| OR: 121| C

11/1

Course winner. Cheekpieces on for 1st time in this code, good second of 13 in handicap chase at this course (22.6f, heavy, 11/1) 35 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 11/5562

Built By Ballymore^b1,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M Brassil| OR: 120| C

9/1

Useful winner at 21f over hurdles. Ninth of 11 in handicap chase (8/1) at Naas (20f, heavy) 21 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Blinkers on 1st time. Plenty to find on form.

Form: P749/49

Koori Star^p1²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Mark Walsh| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 118

6/1

Fairly useful winner at 18f over hurdles. Fifth of 7 in novice chase (9/1) at Down Royal (16.5f, heavy) 26 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Makes handicap chase debut and could do better.

Form: 454245

Evies Vladimir^p⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 116

40/1

Runner-up at Navan 3 starts back but that very much a standout effort on recent form.

Form: PP/P299

May Call You Back¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 112

10/1

Healthy strike rate and was a decent second in hat-trick bid at Navan but well held back over hurdles latest. Stamina to prove.

Form: 421120

Non-Runners

Positive Thinker²⁴

Weight: 11-3| Age: 9

T: M J McDonagh J: Sean O'Keeffe

Beaufort Scale⁵⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: G Elliott J: Jordan Gainford

Forecasts

The Lovely Man (9/2), Koori Star (6/1), Patter Merchant (13/2), Lucky Lyreen (15/2), Uncle Pat (17/2), Built By Ballymore (9/1), Binge Worthy (9/1), May Call You Back (10/1), Ney (11/1), Born Braver (12/1), Fortunedefortunata (18/1), Prends Garde A Toi (20/1), Positive Thinker (20/1), Beaufort Scale (25/1), My Immortal (40/1), Evies Vladimir (40/1)

THE LOVELY MAN is a progressive type who completed a double when following up his December Navan chase success in a Gowran handicap hurdle 24 days ago. Open to further improvement over fences, he can take this listed handicap. Born Braver fared much better at Down Royal last time, rallying well for second behind Lucky Lyreen, and that pair can feature again.