13:40 Punchestown

Wednesday 18 February 2026

All13:4014:1014:4515:1515:4516:1516:45

Matchbook 50:50 Graduation Series Maiden Hurdle

  • 5YO plus  |   2m 157y  |   Soft (Soft to Heavy in places)  |   16 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 13:40  |   Winning time: 4m 24.40s
The word Sky in blue and Bet in white with a red background.
The word Betfair in black.
The words Paddy Power in green.
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
1
Horse silk
En Ort53
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-12| J: Daniel King| T: A J Martin| OR:  110| D
8/1
Fair hurdler. Remains a maiden after 8 hurdle runs. Twelfth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, good, 6/1) 53 days ago.
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Timeform
2
Horse silk
50/1
Fair Flat winner. Once-raced maiden over hurdles. Fourth of 14 in novice hurdle at this course (16f, heavy, 50/1) on NH debut 23 days ago. Open to progress.
|
Timeform
3
Horse silk
Sylkie23
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-5| J: Cian Quirke| T: D Howard
125/1
Fair Flat winner. Twice-raced maiden over hurdles. 200/1, ninth of 14 in novice hurdle at this course (16f, heavy) 23 days ago.
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Timeform
4
Horse silk
250/1
Twice-raced maiden. Fifteenth of 18 in novice hurdle (200/1) at Thurles (15.8f, heavy) 20 days ago.
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Timeform
5
Horse silk
Bulgaden Castle60
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-4| J: Simon Torrens| T: P J Rothwell| OR:  116
10/3
Thrice-raced maiden. Best effort when second of 13 in novice hurdle (20/1) at Thurles (16.1f, soft) 60 days ago. Player.
|
Timeform
6
Horse silk
12/1
Showed plenty to work on amidst inexperience when third of 19 in maiden hurdle on debut at Punchestown in November 2023. Probably needed the outing on first run since when well held in bumper at Naas last month. This outing should reveal more back hurdling.
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Timeform
7
Horse silk
20/1
Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 25/1, good seventh of 18 in novice hurdle at Thurles (15.8f, heavy) 20 days ago.
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Timeform
9
Horse silk
Poppycon20
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-4| J: Phillip Enright| T: E Doyle
66/1
Twice-raced maiden. 66/1, sixteenth of 18 in novice hurdle at Thurles (15.8f, heavy) 20 days ago.
|
Timeform
Thrice-raced maiden under NH rules. 16/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time cheekpieces on for 1st time, ninth of 14 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (20.2f, heavy) 15 days ago.
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Timeform
11
Horse silk
30/100
Promising individual. 3/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, second of 14 in novice hurdle at this course (16f, heavy) 23 days ago. Form pick.
|
Timeform
12
Horse silk
150/1
Fair maiden on the Flat. Twice-raced maiden. 200/1 and hooded for 1st time, eleventh of 15 in novice hurdle at this course (16f, heavy) 14 days ago, not knocked about.
|
Timeform
Once-raced maiden. 33/1, fifth of 17 in novice hurdle at Listowel (16f, good to soft) on NH debut 144 days ago.
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Timeform
14
Horse silk
250/1
Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 300/1, unseated rider in novice hurdle at this course (16f, heavy) 14 days ago.
|
Timeform
15
Horse silk
250/1
Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Thirteenth of 18 in novice hurdle at Thurles (15.8f, heavy, 200/1) 20 days ago.
|
Timeform
16
Horse silk
100/1
Thrice-raced maiden. 200/1, fifth of 10 in novice hurdle at this course (19.3f, heavy) 37 days ago.
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Timeform
Modest hurdler. Thirteenth of 15 in novice hurdle (150/1) at Fairyhouse (16f, heavy) 15 days ago. RESERVE.
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Timeform

Non-Runners

8
Horse silk
Market Ready108
Weight: 11-4|  Age: 5
T: S Aherne  J: Sean O'Keeffe
NR
18
Horse silk
Dictionary Corner83
Weight: 10-11|  Age: 5
T: E McCarthy  J: Reserve 2
NR
19
Horse silk
Salvador Peps
Weight: 11-4|  Age: 6
T: G M Doyle  J: Reserve 3
NR

Forecasts

Straight John (30/100), Bulgaden Castle (10/3), En Or (8/1), Market Ready (8/1), Doctor Elvis (12/1), Lord Of The Locke (20/1), Salvador Peps (25/1), Zam Bobbler (40/1), Cherry Pink (50/1), Poppycon (66/1), Silver Salute (80/1), Let It Settle (100/1), Thecouncillorswife (100/1), Dictionary Corner (100/1), Sylkie (125/1), Your Out Of Line (150/1), Ballinaboola Gold (250/1), Ode To Joy (250/1), Ballyhasty (250/1)

Verdict

An excellent chance for STRAIGHT JOHN to open his account with his stablemate still having to prove he retains ability after a long absence. Bulgaden Castle is going the right way so may emerge as the main threat.

Previous Winners

2025
Adela Icon
Weight: 10-11  |Age: 7
9/2

Prize Money

1st: €6,000.002nd: €2,000.003rd: €999.004th: €500.005th: €300.006th: €200.00

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