16:15 Punchestown

Wednesday 18 February 2026

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

Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Hurdle (0-100)

Off time: 16:17 | Winning time: 5m 31.40s

James The Brave¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Michael Kenneally⁽⁵⁾| T: Padraig Butler| OR: 97| C

15/8

Two wins from 5 runs this season. 6/4, career best when winning 7-runner handicap hurdle at this course (19.1f, heavy) 14 days ago, always holding on. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 5/012P1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Gangster Granny¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: C A McBratney| OR: 96

100/1

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles. 100/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, sixth of 7 in handicap at Dundalk (16f) 12 days ago, very slowly away. Switches from Flat to hurdles.

Form: 9708

What's It To Ya^t1⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Kieren Buckley| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 92

80/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Fifteenth of 16 in novice hurdle at Naas (19f, heavy, 125/1) 65 days ago. Tongue strap on for 1st time. Makes handicap debut for a good stable. Check the betting.

Form: 000

Laska Du Breuil⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 91

16/1

28/1, creditable ninth of 18 in handicap hurdle at this course (16.5f, good to soft) 49 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 060769

Driveonwill^t1³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Donagh Meyler| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 89

11/2

6/1, respectable fourth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, heavy) 34 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 44/6864

Walkmethroughit^p1¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Abbie Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: J Motherway| OR: 88

33/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Below form seventh of 17 in handicap hurdle (40/1) at Thurles (22.9f, heavy) 13 days ago, finishing tired. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 8/09877

Bruno From Mars^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Eoghan Finegan⁽⁷⁾| T: Conor Maxwell| OR: 85

16/1

Creditable third of 15 in handicap hurdle (11/2) at Gowran (16f, heavy) 27 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 0PP/F43

The Cobblers Wife⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Michael J Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: G M Doyle| OR: 80

100/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 300/1, ninth of 13 in novice hurdle at Tramore (16.8f, soft) 48 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 079

Rebel Cowgirl¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Cian Quirke| T: M A Cahill| OR: 79

11/1

Below-form fifth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Thurles (22.9f, heavy, 15/2) 13 days ago.

Form: 0/P0435

Poets Oath²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 77

11/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 18/1, sixth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Gowran (16f, heavy) 27 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 00706

The Son Of Brega⁹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: P Downey| OR: 77

11/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Seventeenth of 24 in handicap hurdle (50/1) at Navan (16f, heavy) 94 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 000P/0

Ellies Rock²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: John Shinnick⁽³⁾| T: T O'Brien| OR: 76

11/4

Very good second of 10 in handicap hurdle at this course (19f, heavy, 7/2) 23 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 0785/62

Sonny Fella^b1⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Conor Lamon⁽⁷⁾| T: A Sexton| OR: 74

66/1

Pulled up in handicap hurdle (125/1) at this course (23.9f, heavy) 69 days ago, pulled up before last. Blinkered for 1st time.

Form: P58P/0P

Fortunate Outcome¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Josh Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: B McMahon| OR: 72

9/1

Poor maiden. Well-held fourth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Thurles (22.9f, heavy, 12/1) 13 days ago.

Form: 9/7PP64

Quietrunsthedon²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: R Deegan| T: L P Cusack| OR: 92

50/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 200/1, tenth of 18 in novice hurdle at Thurles (15.8f, heavy) 20 days ago. Back up in trip. Makes handicap hurdle debut. RESERVE.

Form: P/070

Masons Apron²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Brian Hayes| T: L P Cusack| OR: 88

50/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 200/1, fourteenth of 18 in novice hurdle at Thurles (15.8f, heavy) 20 days ago. Up in trip. Makes handicap hurdle debut. RESERVE.

Form: 070

Non-Runners

Diamond Dollar²⁹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: C Byrnes J: Philip Byrnes

Johnny Cakes³²

Weight: 11-3| Age: 7

T: P J Rothwell J: Tiernan Power Roche

Jaynemax²⁰

Weight: 11-8| Age: 5

T: Thomas Dowling J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

James The Brave (15/8), Ellies Rock (11/4), Diamond Dollar (4/1), Driveonwill (11/2), Fortunate Outcome (9/1), Rebel Cowgirl (11/1), Poets Oath (11/1), The Son Of Brega (11/1), Johnny Cakes (14/1), Laska Du Breuil (16/1), Bruno From Mars (16/1), Jaynemax (16/1), Walkmethroughit (33/1), Quietrunsthedon (50/1), Masons Apron (50/1), Sonny Fella (66/1), What's It To Ya (80/1), Gangster Granny (100/1), The Cobblers Wife (100/1)

ELLIES ROCK rather bumped into one when an improved second here last month and might be able to go one better if showing up in similar form. Recent course scorer James The Brave heads the dangers along with Diamond Dollar and Johnny Cakes.