13:53 Down Royal

Tuesday 17 March 2026

All13:1813:5314:2815:0315:3816:1316:4817:22

Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series At Punchestown Festival 2026 Qualifier Novice Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:57 | Winning time: 5m 6.30s

Long Branch⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Cleary-Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: S Neville| OR: 120

9/1

Winner over hurdles at Thurles in December. 11/1, very good third of 6 in novice hurdle at Thurles (good to soft) 58 days ago. Drops back in trip and ideally wants further than this.

Form: 345413

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Welluknow⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: M A Molloy| OR: 120| D

14/1

2 wins from 5 runs this season. Career best when winning 5-runner novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (heavy, 18/5) 61 days ago, soon clear. Needs considering.

Form: 6-33101

Chichester Park^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Daniel King| T: A J Martin| OR: 117

17/2

Tongue strap on for 1st time, creditable third of 6 in novice hurdle (6/1) at Leopardstown (soft) 15 days ago. Step up in trip will suit so enters calculations.

Form: 1-34153

Needs Must⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 117| D

10/1

Made most of a good opportunity at Fairyhouse before falling 2 out in handicap hurdle (7/1) at Punchestown (19.1f, heavy) 41 days ago, still yet to be asked for effort and looking sure to play hand in finish. Big shout off 1 lb lower.

Form: 77-71F

Campbell Black²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Ms L A Byrne⁽⁷⁾| T: William Harvey| OR: 114

12/1

Career best when winning 17-runner hurdle on handicap bow at Thurles (heavy, 11/2) 26 days ago, always holding on. Should prove as effective back at this longer trip and remains unexposed.

Form: 35341

Jerrari¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Simon Torrens| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 112

80/1

Won back-to-back handicap hurdles in July but below par last 2 starts 6 months apart.

Form: 21147P

Good Option⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 111

7/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Excellent second of 7 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (19.1f, heavy, 16/5) 41 days ago. Can do better again now handicapping.

Form: 2-9972

Pat's Legacy³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: James Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 111

11/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 8/1, creditable fourth of 15 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (19.5f, heavy) 30 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 7524

Ready For Road^t⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 111

25/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 18/1, not seen to best effect when creditable fifth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (heavy) 42 days ago, left poorly placed. Up in trip.

Form: 4795

Irish Champ^h,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr S Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 110

14/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Second of 5 in novice hurdle (11/4) at Ayr (heavy) 22 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut. 3m+ will likely prove his optimum trip.

Form: 1432

Mavetherave⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Flanagan| T: W R Crawford| OR: 107

14/1

Fair maiden hurdler. Fifth of 8 in novice hurdle at this course (17.2f, heavy, 5/1) 56 days ago, unsuited by drop in trip. Should be competitive.

Form: 6-34205

Youlita⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Philip Byrnes| T: C Byrnes| OR: 107

7/1

Downpatrick maiden hurdle winner last May but below par both starts since after 8 months off.

Form: 363-153

High Notions⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Kevin Healy⁽⁷⁾| T: S G Carey| OR: 105| D

18/1

Confirmed debut promise when landing 10-runner novice hurdle at Fairyhouse in October but struggled next 2 starts, including on handicap bow last time.

Form: 318P

Coco Masterpiece^h¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 102

33/1

Useful winner in bumpers. Fifteenth of 20 in novice hurdle at Naas (soft, 20/1) 13 days ago. Back up in trip. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Should have more to offer.

Form: 13/P040

Cola Blaze⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Paddy Cleary⁽⁷⁾| T: N Slevin| OR: 102

28/1

Little show in 3 starts over hurdles this season (out of depth on latest). Capable of better now sent handicapping.

Form: 50/4-775

Accustomed^p1³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Harry Sexton⁽⁷⁾| T: E D Delany| OR: 97

5/1

Returned to form away from heavy ground when sixth of 23 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (25/1) 79 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: F42006

Fairlander⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 97

9/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 9/2, very good fourth of 16 in novice hurdle at Naas (19f, heavy) 92 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 3-5964

Hey Babbs^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Alix Balfe⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 95| D

33/1

Pulled up in handicap chase at Thurles (21.5f, heavy, 22/1) on debut over fences 12 days ago. Switches to hurdles. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 60PP5P

Mr Devlin¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Mike O'Connor| T: Conor Maxwell| OR: 94

66/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 25/1, thirteenth of 18 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown 15 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 90080

Non-Runners

Speakasyoufind⁶¹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: P J Rothwell J: Josh Williamson

Forecasts

Accustomed (5/1), Good Option (7/1), Youlita (7/1), Chichester Park (17/2), Fairlander (9/1), Long Branch (9/1), Needs Must (10/1), Pat's Legacy (11/1), Campbell Black (12/1), Irish Champ (14/1), Mavetherave (14/1), Welluknow (14/1), High Notions (18/1), Ready For Road (25/1), Cola Blaze (28/1), Hey Babbs (33/1), Coco Masterpiece (33/1), Mr Devlin (66/1), Speakasyoufind (66/1), Jerrari (80/1)

NEEDS MUST looked sure to play a hand in the finish when departing 2 out at Punchestown 6 weeks ago so must be considered off 1 lb lower. Welluknow and Campbell Black are also shortlisted in a competitive affair.