15:45 Punchestown

Saturday 2 May 2026

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

Palmerstown House Estate Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (0-150) (Listed)

Off time: 15:49 | Winning time: 6m 25.30s

High Class Hero²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Anna McGuinness⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| C| D

20/1

Course winner who returned to form when creditable fifth of 34 in Grand National at Aintree last month. Remains fairly treated if over exertions of that contest.

Form: 23-2PP5

Captain Cody²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149

20/1

Landed Scottish Grand National last season and ran with credit on first 2 starts this term. Still in touch when unseating 4 out in Grand National 3 weeks ago and could be a player here.

Form: 1-37F5U

Perceval Legallois²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 148| D

40/1

Came of age last season with valuable handicap chase and hurdle wins around 3m at Leopardstown. However, below that level in light 2025/26 campaign, seemingly making no impression when unseating 4 out in Grand National latest.

Form: 11F-P4U

Your Darling³³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Kennedy| T: B Pauling| OR: 144| D

22/1

Well supported and duly returned to winning ways in 6-runner handicap chase at Ludlow (3m, good to soft, 9/4) 33 days ago by 14 lengths from Beachcomber. 5 lb higher and in much deeper contest here, though.

Form: P/1-4231

Argento Boy²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143| CD

10/1

Produced a smart effort to win a 3m Naas Grade 3 in January. Not matched that form in either start since, making mistakes when fourth in Irish Grand National latest, but he remains relatively low mileage.

Form: 5-F1184

Joystick^p1,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| D

28/1

Left his first 2 efforts over fences behind when winning 3m Navan maiden chase in January and backed that up with creditable seventh to stablemate Kitzbuhel at Cheltenham Festival next time. Needs to bounce back from poor effort at Fairyhouse, however. Cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 7-4617P

The Doyen Chief⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 141| D

14/1

Strong-travelling sort who bagged his third win over fences at Kempton in January. However, seemed to find Ultima at Cheltenham too competitive last time and may well be a similar story here.

Form: 2P5129

Goraibhmaithagat²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Simon Torrens| T: Colm Murphy| OR: 137

12/1

Confirmed promise of previous run when opening chase account in listed novice handicap at Naas (2½m, heavy) in February and improved again when narrowly denied in the Leinster National at same course since. May have found longer trip beyond him in Irish National latest and better expected here.

Form: 883129

Bill Baxter^p²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 135| CD

33/1

Returned from 3-month absence to land this event (off 9 lb lower) last year. Been a mixed bag since, though, and others appeal more.

Form: 1-2652P

Kinturk Kalanisi^p1⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: James Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: T Gibney| OR: 135

25/1

Shaped up well over fences last season and third of 28 in listed handicap at Leopardstown (3m) on return. Disappointed twice since, however, and makes limited appeal.

Form: 2UP-307

Montregard^v⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Burke| T: T Lacey| OR: 134| D

9/2

Likeable sort who got back on the up when gaining a third success of the season in 11-runner handicap chase at Ascot (3m) in February. Freshened up since, he still looks on a decent mark and is not taken lightly.

Form: P-11P21

Barry Lyndon^t,p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: J J Slevin| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 132| C

16/1

Useful hurdler who made perfect start in this sphere when landing maiden at Fairyhouse on return in October and back to that sort of form when creditable 15½ lengths third of 17 to Clonmeen in handicap chase (14/1) over similar trip at Fairyhouse 26 days ago. Respected.

Form: 1P-1563

Uhavemeinstitches⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: J Motherway| OR: 132

9/1

Made a successful chase debut at Wexford on reappearance and back to winning ways over similar trip in Limerick Grade 3 novice 6 weeks ago. Returns to handicapping off a handy mark and likely has more to offer yet.

Form: 1233U1

Dartmoor Pirate^t⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Flanagan| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 131| BF| D

16/1

Has struck twice over fences since fitted with a tongue tie, posting career best when taking valuable Great Yorkshire Chase over 3m at Doncaster in January. Would have finished in frame but for last-fence unseat at same course since but others look better treated here.

Form: 50-511U

Beckett Rock⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 130

9/2

Useful hurdler who produced easily his most encouraging effort over fences when runner-up over shorter trip at Gowran in February. Shaped well back over the smaller obstacles at Cheltenham since and may have more to offer in this sphere.

Form: 0-05425

Invictus Machin^h⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: H Cobden| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 130

16/1

Ran right up to best form, back from 6 months off, when close second of 16 in listed handicap at Leopardstown (2¾m, soft) 61 days ago. 2 lb rise fair and another bold bid looks on the cards.

Form: 62-F922

Iceberg Theory^p⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: P Nolan| OR: 129

10/1

A useful winning hurdler who has made a very promising start over fences, landing maiden at Limerick in May before returning from 6 months off with an emphatic win in Cork handicap in November. Shaped better than distance beaten in National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham since and must enter calculations.

Form: 6P2-115

As The Fella Says⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Paul O'Brien| T: N J Henderson| OR: 126| D

12/1

Winning pointer who opened his Rules account at the fourth attempt in this sphere in handicap at Newbury in February getting the better of a last-time-out winner. Improved again when good second of 6 in handicap chase at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) since and remains on a workable mark.

Form: F-23412

Beachcomber^p³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126| D

20/1

Produced a career best when winning 3m Kempton handicap last winter and posted creditable third in this event 12 months ago. Not been in same form since, however, and was well held behind Your Darling at Ludlow latest.

Form: PP5352

No Time To Wait^v,t⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Michael Kenneally⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 124

25/1

Error-prone sort who hasn't scored since 2023 and application of blinkers had little effect at Cheltenham last time. Visor back on. Hard to recommend.

Form: 22U04P

Clonmeen^b²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Daniel King| T: William P Murphy| OR: 112| CD

66/1

Posted best effort for some time when winning 17-runner handicap chase (40/1) over similar trip at Fairyhouse 26 days ago, easily. However, finds himself 12 lb out of the weights in a stronger contest here.

Form: 8P6941

Non-Runners

Kish Bank¹

Weight: 10-4| Age: 7

T: G Elliott J: Ethan O'Sullivan

Lucky Lyreen²⁸

Weight: 10-1| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: Josh Williamson

Forecasts

Montregard (9/2), Beckett Rock (9/2), Uhavemeinstitches (9/1), Argento Boy (10/1), Iceberg Theory (10/1), Goraibhmaithagat (12/1), As The Fella Says (12/1), The Doyen Chief (14/1), Barry Lyndon (16/1), Invictus Machin (16/1), Dartmoor Pirate (16/1), Kish Bank (16/1), Captain Cody (20/1), Beachcomber (20/1), High Class Hero (20/1), Your Darling (22/1), Lucky Lyreen (25/1), Kinturk Kalanisi (25/1), No Time To Wait (25/1), Joystick (28/1), Bill Baxter (33/1), Perceval Legallois (40/1), Clonmeen (66/1)

UHAVEMEINSTITCHES looks to have a bright future over fences and it's likely we haven't seen the best of her yet. She gets the nod in an open-looking renewal of this event. Montregard boasts a good strike rate over fences and may provide the chief threat, whilst Invictus Machin and Kish Bank are also of interest.