Punchestown Premiere Weekend November 21st & 22nd Race

3YO plus | 1m 1f 30y | Good (Good to Yielding in places) | 6 Runners | Turf

(6)

Puppet Master^p1,t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Reese Holohan⁽⁷⁾| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 97

16/1

Winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial for Aidan O'Brien last year. Didn't go with much promise in a couple of Flat outings for this yard earlier in the summer but has opened his account over hurdles since and it's reasonable to expect a better showing now returning to this sphere.

Form: 4194-85

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(5)

Golden Splendour⁵⁰¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J M Sheridan| T: J P O'Brien

5/1

Made a successful debut in 9-runner minor event (83/10) at Chantilly (1¼m, good) in May 2025. Acquired out of Francis-Henri Graffard's yard for 42,000 gns and the market should be revealing now setting out for another quality yard after 16 months off.

Form: 1-

(1)

Queen Of The Bogs⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Shane Foley| T: J J Murphy| OR: 89| D

3/1

Much improved from debut to land 9f maiden at the Curragh in July last year. Wasn't up to listed company at Killarney the following month but shaped well after 10 months off when second of 6 in 7f minor event at Fairyhouse in June. Of interest back up in trip.

Form: 718-2

(2)

Dial Me In^t¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 86

7/2

Debut winner who gave his running back under a positive ride when third of 5 in minor event (7/2) at Roscommon (10.3f, good to soft) 15 days ago, despite being slowly away. Should remain competitive.

Form: 4-42083

(3)

Minella Rockett²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: J Nallen| OR: 88| D

6/5

Completed a cross-code hat-trick when winning 9-runner handicap at Naas (11f, good to firm, 7/2) 23 days ago, showing a terrific attitude once more. Back down in trip but seems sure to go well again.

Form: 32-4511

(4)

Testaverde¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: J J Murphy

25/1

£20,000 Time Test gelding who offered something to work on when sixth of 13 in 1m maiden at Navan (good) on debut 13 days ago, keeping on after being slowly away. Likely to improve but does need a sizeable step forward to make a serious impact.

Form: 6

Forecasts

Puppet Master (9/4), Queen Of The Bogs (3/1), Dial Me In (4/1), Minella Rockett (4/1), Golden Splendour (13/2), Testaverde (14/1)

MINELLA ROCKETT is thriving at present and is taken to extend his winning sequence to 4, perhaps at the expense of lightly-raced 4-y-o Queen of The Bogs, who shaped well on her reappearance at Fairyhouse in June. Puppet Master has opened his account over hurdles since last seen on the Flat, so it's reasonable to expect a better showing on return to this code.