14:30 Punchestown

Saturday 2 May 2026

All14:3015:0515:4516:1516:5517:3018:0518:35

Howden Cross Country Chase

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 6m 30.10s

Fountain House^p,t⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-7| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian McCarthy| CD

11/8

Won 3 on the bounce between the flags in February/March and enhanced good record round here when bolting up in a C&D hunter on Tuesday. However, that wide-margin win owed much to the failings of his main market rivals and this is much tougher.

Form: 301111

Quornofamonday^p⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-3| J: Jordan Gainford| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 107

200/1

Back to form with a career-best win in a 16-runner handicap chase at Thurles in February. That success has been followed by 2 non-completions and, most recently, a heavy defeat at Kilbeggan, though.

Form: P61PU8

I A Connect³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Caragh Monaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 113| C

16/1

In good form for new yard during the winter, placed twice in handicap hurdles before striking back over fences at Down Royal on Boxing Day. Returned to form when third at Downpatrick last time but was pulled up in this race 12 months ago, which was his sole previous run on this cross-country course.

Form: 331703

Lisnamult Lad^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 135| D

17/2

Winner of a novice handicap at Cheltenham last season and capped that campaign with a fine second in the Topham at the Aintree Grand National meeting. Safely held in this year's renewal of that major handicap but he has to be feared now pitched into a cross-country chase.

Form: P52-FP9

Olympic Man^p⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Alex Harvey| T: J C McConnell| OR: 132

14/1

Useful hurdler at best and though regressive in this sphere after winning a Naas maiden chase for Willie Mullins last spring, he took a step back in the right direction when fifth of 23 in first-time cheekpieces (retained) in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival (3¼m, good). Possibilities.

Form: 7P-P6P5

The Folkes Tiara^t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 123| D

25/1

Winner of listed handicap chase at Fairyhouse in November but has been operating well below that level this season and hopes now pinned on the switch to this cross-country course sparking a return to form.

Form: P-86770

Vaureal^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 114

16/1

Successful at Fairyhouse (21f, soft) in November and went close over the same C&D last month. However, he was safely held when trying his hand round here for the first time in the cross-country race won by Vanillier in February.

Form: 017542

Broken Ice^p,t⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Dylan Kidd⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 99| D

150/1

Resumed winning ways over hurdles at Perth last summer and by no means disgraced on his next 2 starts. However, he was beaten a long way back hurdling following a break at Newcastle in March and is readily passed over on his cross-country debut.

Form: 751444

Call The Tune²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr J Ahern⁽⁷⁾| T: G Ahern| OR: 120| D

33/1

Trailed in last of 11 in a handicap hurdle here on latest start under Rules back in October 2024 and 0-7 between the flags since.

Form: 5-P5224

Chemical Energy^p,t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 138| D

16/1

Wasn't beaten far when fifth to Vital Island in this race 12 months ago and won twice between the flags in October/November. Well below par in a couple of hunters since but he's capable of smart form when at his best.

Form: 5-0110P

Escaria Ten^v⁴¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: James Best| T: M Keighley| OR: 124| D

14/1

Not the force of old and while he posted his best effort for a while when third in 16-runner cross-country event at Cheltenham in January, this 12-y-o was beaten fair and square in a handicap chase at Exeter next time.

Form: 80-PP34

Fakir D'Oudairies^t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Flanagan| T: E Bolger| OR: 137

4/1

Very smart chaser in his pomp, winning 4 Grade 1s, including back-to-back renewals of the Marsh Chase at Aintree in 2021 and 2022. Clearly not the force of old, running no sort of a race in a handicap chase at Wexford last time, but it would be unwise to write this 11-y-o off.

Form: 0-23460

Gentleman De Reve^t1¹⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: P Maher| OR: 106

80/1

Fairly useful chaser in France for Emmanuel Clayeux but well beaten over C&D on debut for new yard in November and now has plenty to prove.

Form: 46/2260

What Path^t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Ross Sugrue⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian O'Connor| OR: 129| D

25/1

In good heart on the point circuit in recent months, winning 3 of his last 4 starts in that sphere, but it remains to be seen if that will translate into a positive display now back under Rules.

Form: 431211

The Goffer^p,t²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| C| D

5/1

Hasn't won under Rules since November 2023 but runner-up all 3 starts round here this season, including when third behind Busselton in the La Touche Cup on Thursday. However, as in the case of that rival, it would be a stretch for him to go and do it all again just 2 days later. RESERVE.

Form: 127203

Non-Runners

Galon De Vauzelle²⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 10

T: P J Rothwell J: Miss P Elvin

Vital Island²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 14

T: R P O'Keeffe J: Mr B T Stone

Vanillier⁵²

Weight: 12-3| Age: 11

T: G P Cromwell J: Reserve 1

Busselton²

Weight: 12-3| Age: 9

T: E Bolger J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Fountain House (11/8), Fakir D'Oudairies (4/1), The Goffer (5/1), Vanillier (7/1), Lisnamult Lad (17/2), Busselton (10/1), Escaria Ten (14/1), Olympic Man (14/1), Vaureal (16/1), Chemical Energy (16/1), Vital Island (16/1), I A Connect (16/1), The Folkes Tiara (25/1), What Path (25/1), Call The Tune (33/1), Galon De Vauzelle (66/1), Gentleman De Reve (80/1), Broken Ice (150/1), Quornofamonday (200/1)

Though by no means certain to build on his commendable Kim Muir fifth at the Cheltenham Festival, OLYMPIC MAN will have a serious chance if able to do so. The 9-y-o jumped with far greater fluency that day than has often been the case with him over fences, which augurs well ahead of this test. Lisnamult Lad will be a threat if he takes to this idiosyncratic track, while Chemical Energy and Fakir d'Oudairies merit respect. If Vanillier makes the cut he will be a strong candidate, too.