15:18 Punchestown

Monday 12 January 2026

All12:4813:1813:4814:1814:4815:1815:48

Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:19 | Winning time: 6m 1.60s

1^st

Lough Nigara

910-10

5/1

T: E GriffinJ: Ricky Doyle

Rear of mid-division early, mid-division halfway and some headway in 5th 3 out, went 2nd early straight, pushed along and headway to lead before last, ridden and kept on well run-in op 6/1

2^nd

5 ½

Folly Master

811-12

7/2

T: Tom DreaperJ: Keith Donoghue

Towards rear early, mid-division halfway, some headway 3 out, 5th and ridden early straight, 3rd before last and kept on into 2nd run-in, no impression on winner tchd 4/1

3^rd

Rocky's Howya

1011-4

14/1

T: D QueallyJ: Kevin Healy (7)

Led, not fluent 5th, asserted to go 3 lengths clear before 2 out, ridden entering straight and headed approaching last, no impression run-in, kept on one pace op 16/1

4^th

1 ¼

Cathryns Ruby

911-5

33/1

T: P T FoleyJ: Sean O'Keeffe

Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd 4 out, 3rd 2 out and pushed along entering straight, 4th and no impression before last, kept on one pace op 40/1

5^th

Nettuno Italia

610-6

3/1f

T: R O'SullivanJ: Shane Markey (7)

Rear of mid-division early, mid-division halfway and 6th 3 out, pushed along after next, ridden early straight and kept on one pace run-in op 11/4

6^th

Money Heist

911-11

25/1

T: Gary McGillJ: Mr D McGill (7)

Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd 3 out, 2nd and ridden entering straight, soon no impression and dropped to 5th before last, no extra op 22/1

7^th

Difficult Decision

1310-11

16/1

T: O McKiernanJ: Phillip Enright

Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 5th and pushed along 2 out, no extra in straight op 18/1

8^th

Cornmarket

711-5

40/1

T: John CullenJ: Alan King (7)

Tracked leaders early, not fluent 5th and reminder, mid-division and slight mistake 5 out, no impression when hampered 2 out, kept on one pace op 50/1

9^th

2 ¼

The Man's Room

611-8

25/1

T: Colm MurphyJ: Brian Hayes

Rear of mid-division, pushed along after 3 out and moderate 8th entering straight, no impression approaching last op 22/1 tchd 28/1

10^th

3 ¼

Siege Ofjadotville

611-3

12/1

T: M HassettJ: Liam McKenna (5)

Towards rear, pushed along after 5 out and no threat from 3 out, kept on one pace

11^th

5 ½

Pictures Of Home

1011-0

28/1

T: T M WalshJ: Jack Kennedy

Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, lost place before 3 out, soon no extra op 20/1

12^th

2 ½

Sock It To Me

510-6

11/1

T: P J RothwellJ: Tiernan Power Roche (3)

Always towards rear, never a factor, no threat from 3 out tchd 12/1

13^th

1 ¼

Dalmatic

610-7

12/1

T: W J O'DohertyJ: Gary Noonan

Mid-division, no extra after 3 out op 11/1

14^th

Mahler Appeal

1010-2

80/1

T: G J PowerJ: Cian Quirke

Tracked leaders early, slight mistake 6th and towards rear halfway, no extra after 3 out op 66/1

Also Ran

Westernersunrise

711-4

9/2

T: J FaheyJ: Mr S Connor (7)

Mid-division, 6th halfway, pushed along after 3 out, 8th when fell next

Fighting Falcon

510-12

20/1

T: J HalleyJ: Ryan Treacy

Rear of mid-division, some headway 4 out, ridden and weakened quickly after next, behind and pulled up before last op 22/1

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Non-Runners

Accustomed¹⁵

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: E D Delany J: Jordan Gainford

Rockstown Girl¹⁵

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: A McCann J: Alex Harvey

Empire Walk²⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: J Motherway J: Eoin Staples

B Da Powders⁷¹

Weight: 10-3| Age: 7

T: D Queally J: Kevin A Murphy

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:€7.40Pl:€1.70, €1.40, €3.00, €3.30EX:€40.30Trifecta:€367.90Tricast:€258.17SF:€25.56

Forecasts

Nettuno Italia (3/1), Folly Master (7/2), Westernersunrise (9/2), Lough Nigara (5/1), Empire Walk (11/2), Sock It To Me (11/1), Siege Ofjadotville (12/1), Dalmatic (12/1), Rocky's Howya (14/1), B Da Powders (14/1), Difficult Decision (16/1), Accustomed (16/1), Fighting Falcon (20/1), Money Heist (25/1), The Man's Room (25/1), Pictures Of Home (28/1), Cathryns Ruby (33/1), Cornmarket (40/1), Mahler Appeal (80/1), Rockstown Girl (100/1)

Having progressed with each of his 3 starts in maiden hurdles at up to 2½m, EMPIRE WALK may well have more to offer now upped in trip for this handicap bow and he earns the vote. Preference for the 5-y-o is only marginal, though, as Folly Master resumes in this sphere on a potentially very handy mark (21 lb below the mark off which he went close in a Fairyhouse handicap chase last spring) and is greatly respected. Westernersunrise is third choice ahead of Lough Nigara and Nettuno Italia.

EMPIRE WALK (IRE)
FOLLY MASTER (IRE)
WESTERNERSUNRISE (IRE)

Previous Winners

2025

Slotty Dotty

Weight: 11-12 |Age: 7

J: Phillip Enright | T: Bernard Crowley

11/2

Prize Money

1st: €6,899.002nd: €2,300.003rd: €1,150.004th: €575.005th: €345.006th: €230.00