17:25 Punchestown

Friday 1 May 2026

All15:4016:1516:5017:2518:0018:4019:1019:40

QuinnBet Novice Handicap Chase (Listed)

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 5m 15.60s

Ol Man Dingle^t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Ricky Doyle| T: E Griffin| OR: 142| D

33/1

Matched useful hurdling form when winning a Galway maiden and Grade 3 novice at Cork on first 2 starts over fences, but has been below that level in 2 runs since, with his jumping letting him down in a valuable Cheltenham handicap last time. A good-value conditional booked but needs to bounce back.

Form: 45-1150

Funiculi Funicula²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

7/2

Lightly-raced sort who confirmed the promise of his 2 outings in maiden chases when landing the odds at Cork (by ¾ length from Wingmen) earlier this month. Remains open to improvement on handicap debut and another bold show looks likely. The choice of Paul Townend.

Form: 934-321

Port Joulain⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| C

33/1

Stepped up markedly from chasing debut when seeing off 7 rivals in a Fairyhouse maiden (17f, soft) in January and backed that up when 5¾ lengths third of 5 to Jacob's Ladder in the Flyingbolt at Navan 62 days ago. Step back up in trip will suit, but more needed on handicap debut.

Form: 310-713

Kiss Will²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: John Shinnick| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139

14/1

Has quickly developed into a smart maiden chaser and looked the main threat to Soldier in Milan when departing at the third-last in the Irish Grand National 25 days ago. Marked drop in trip shouldn't be a problem and obvious claims if none the worse for that fall, but Townend prefers stablemate.

Form: 1-3225F

Spread Boss Ted⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139| D

14/1

Matched the pick of his hurdling form when winning a 7-runner novice chase at Naas (2½m, soft) 54 days ago by ½ length from Ballygunner Castle, looking suited by the strong pace. Lacks the experience of the hustle and bustle of a large-field handicap, but remains unexposed over fences.

Form: 14/6-F41

You Oughta Know^t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Daniel King| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139| C

100/1

Off the mark in this sphere at Wexford last summer and posted his best effort yet when finding only Ol Man Dingle too good in a Cork Grade 3 novice in November. Below that level in valuable handicaps and Grade 3 novice at Limerick (½-length second of 4 to Uhavemeinstitches) since, however.

Form: FP20P2

Ballygunner Castle⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138| BF

8/1

Useful hurdler who has run to a similar level when runner-up on both completed starts in maiden chases, latterly beaten ½ length by Spread Boss Ted at Naas in March. Will need to step up on that form if he is to make an impact on handicap debut.

Form: 230-2F2

Wingmen²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Josh Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 138| C| D

14/1

Useful chaser placed all 4 starts in maidens but well held in the Golden Miller at Cheltenham in March on sole handicap outing. Chased home Funiculi Funicula at Cork on latest outing 26 days ago.

Form: 6-23292

Anyway^p,t⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: D Budds| OR: 137| D

28/1

Useful handicap hurdler who bettered that form over fences when second in the Golden Miller at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024/25, before winning a Kilbeggan maiden in June. Stretched by 3m trip since, including back over hurdles. Tongue tie back on with Kennedy in the saddle but progress needed.

Form: 2-1U848

Shuffle The Deck²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 134| BF| D

9/4

Promising type who again caught the eye over fences when 11-length third of 12 to Come Walk With Me in a handicap chase at Fairyhouse earlier this month. The second has won off a similar mark since, and any further progress is likely to see him involved at the finish.

Form: P1-4333

Jet To Vegas^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 132

25/1

Useful sort who ran creditably when sixth of 22 to Wellington Arch in a valuable handicap hurdle at Aintree last time. Yet to win in 3 chase starts, finishing second in small-field maidens on his first 2 attempts before running down the field in a Musselburgh handicap. Progress required.

Form: 4-22686

Karamoja^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Cleary-Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132

18/1

Left her first 2 chase runs behind when easily winning a 9-runner maiden at Thurles in March and caught the eye with how smoothly she travelled when fourth of 12 to Come Walk With Me in a listed novice handicap at Fairyhouse last time. This is tougher, though, and others are preferred back at 2½m.

Form: 34-6714

Noble Park⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132| D

11/1

Progressive novice who jumps well and has won 3 of his 5 starts over fences, including an 8-runner handicap chase at Newbury by 4¼ lengths from Rodney. Up 9 lb, but that form has worked out extremely well and could play a leading role if taking to the environment of a large-field handicap.

Form: 0-11631

Yoradreamer⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Anna McGuinness⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132

40/1

Took his form up another notch when making the most of a good opportunity in a 4-runner novice chase at Wexford (25f, heavy) 45 days ago, but faces a completely different test back down in trip and switched to a handicap of this nature. Up against it.

Form: 1P4621

Norn Iron^t⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 131| D

12/1

Has improved of late, winning handicap chases at Sandown in January (novice event) and March, the latter by 4½ lengths from Toothless. Clearly open to further progress, and his yard has successfully raided this meeting in the past, though he has yet to face anything like this large-field scenario.

Form: 21-2311

He's Gorgeous⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Donagh Meyler| T: P A Fahy| OR: 130

20/1

Won a Clonmel maiden chase in December and has held his form in varied events since, including when a creditable fifth of 12 in a handicap chase at Naas (2½m, heavy) 68 days ago. This is likely too competitive, however.

Form: 4-21425

I Am Lorenzo⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Nolan| OR: 129| BF

40/1

Lightly-raced chaser who made a perfect start over fences when winning a Fairyhouse maiden in January, but has failed to build on that in 2 small-field novices since (beaten by Raglan Road in latter). Needs to produce more than he has shown so far to get involved.

Form: 8-23133

Raglan Road⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: H Cobden| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 129| D

18/1

Belatedly matched his fairly useful hurdling form over fences when winning a 7-runner novice chase at Down Royal 45 days ago by ½ length from Slanagaibhgoleir. Harry Cobden now takes the ride and, now up and running, he may have more to offer, with any market support worth serious note.

Form: 3P-7671

Kish Bank^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Kevin Healy⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 128| C

28/1

Won a conditional handicap chase at Leopardstown in December and got back on track when a 1¾-length second of 12 to Showurappreciation under this rider in a novice handicap at Navan (3m, soft) 41 days ago. The winner has advertised the form since, but the drop back in trip is a slight concern.

Form: 0-431P2

Al Kalila^p1⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 124| D

66/1

Has taken fairly well to chasing this season, getting off the mark at the fourth attempt when winning 4-runner handicap at Kelso by 2 lengths from Scarlet Jet. Only 2 lb higher here but faces a much more competitive scenario. Cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 14-2331

Soldierofthestorm¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124| BF| D

66/1

Landed gamble in Catterick handicap hurdle on return and then advanced his form over fences, off the mark at the second attempt when dictating at Sandown last month. Let down by jumping last time, though, and will find it difficult to dominate this much larger field.

Form: 40-1214

Park Of Kings^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: P Nolan| OR: 123| C| D

50/1

Yet to come close to matching hurdles form over fences and, while he's shaped as if having a bigger performance in him as chaser, his jumping left a lost to be desired last time. Difficult to make a case for. RESERVE.

Form: 0-0059U

Non-Runners

Da Capo Glory¹

Weight: 10-10| Age: 9

T: Padraig Butler J: Phillip Enright

The Busy Fool⁶⁸

Weight: 10-7| Age: 8

T: P J Rothwell J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Shuffle The Deck (9/4), Funiculi Funicula (7/2), Ballygunner Castle (8/1), Noble Park (11/1), Norn Iron (12/1), Spread Boss Ted (14/1), Kiss Will (14/1), Wingmen (14/1), Raglan Road (18/1), Karamoja (18/1), He's Gorgeous (20/1), Jet To Vegas (25/1), Da Capo Glory (25/1), The Busy Fool (25/1), Kish Bank (28/1), Anyway (28/1), Ol Man Dingle (33/1), Port Joulain (33/1), I Am Lorenzo (40/1), Yoradreamer (40/1), Park Of Kings (50/1), Soldierofthestorm (66/1), Al Kalila (66/1), You Oughta Know (100/1)

FUNICULI FUNICULA is one of 8 for Willie Mullins, but unlike some of his stablemates he arrives unexposed and on the back of a light campaign. Paul Townend’s decision to ride him over the yard’s other runners looks significant and a bold bid is expected. Shuffle The Deck is another open to improvement and may prove the main danger, while Noble Park, Kiss Will, Spread Boss Ted and Raglan Road are also respected in an ultra-competitive handicap.