15:40 Punchestown

Wednesday 18 October 2017

All14:0514:3515:1015:4016:1016:4517:20

Coral.ie Exclusive Blogs By Tom Scudamore Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 5m 13.0s

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Selected odds by:

State Of Origin^t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: M A Enright| T: E P Harty| OR: 102

12/1

Below par for a while until posting an improved effort at Navan last month (2m6f yielding) when 6¾L fourth to Let's Twist Again.

Form: PP04-84

Finding Touch^p⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: D J McInerney⁽⁷⁾| T: C Roche| OR: 101

20/1

Successful from a 10lb lower mark at Clonmel on his last hurdles start in September 2016 (2m3f+ good to yielding). Hasn't really developed as a chaser in four starts, so no surprise to see him back over the smaller obstacles.

Form: 0157-4P

Nobody Home⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: C D Timmons⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 101| BF| C| D

6/1

Not a frequent winner, but was successful here over hurdles in May (3m) from a 3lb lower mark. Has won over fences at Kilbeggan since then, and not beaten all that far when fourth to Thanks For Tea over hurdles at Bellewstown (3m) latest.

Form: 106414

Sparky Stowaway¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 100

10/1

Lightly raced after just seven career starts, but improved on his second start in a handicap when finishing 5L third to Ballymadun (Ash Rowe second) over 2m4f (heavy) at Gowran Park last month.

Form: 445303

Ash Rowe¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: S Slevin| OR: 98| D

12/1

A winner over 2m4f at Wexford in July (good) from a 6lb lower mark. Beaten ¾L by Ballymadun (Sparky Stowaway third) over 2m4f at Gowran Park last month, and now 3lb better off at the weights.

Form: U/14U7-2

October Revolution¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr D T McGrath⁽⁷⁾| T: David J McGrath| OR: 98

33/1

A maiden under rules after ten starts, and plenty to find with Ballymadun, Ash Rowe and Sparky Stowaway on last month's Gowran Park form (sixth).

Form: 865346

Mickey Shea²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: D Cullen| OR: 97

20/1

Winner of a 3m soft ground maiden point-to-point at Kildorrey in February, but not able to get competitive in three starts over hurdles so far. Back up in trip for handicap debut with improvement a possibility.

Form: 431-008

Bronco Bill¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Reynolds⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 94

6/1

Yet to score in 13 starts, but often on the premises and continues to climb the weights as a result. Runner up to Kilganer Queen at Sligo in August (2m5f) and also to Dromore Lad on his most recent start at Fairyhouse (2m4f).

Form: 0/52372

Artic Pearl^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Loughran| T: M Brassil| OR: 90| BF

5/2

Well backed and unfortunate not to score (saddle slipped and unseated rider) when upsides Dromore Lad at the last at Fairyhouse recently (Bronco Bill also involved). 3lb higher as he seeks to make amends.

Form: 066/6-8U

Ballymadun¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: C D Maxwell| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 89| D

9/1

Accounted for both Ash Rowe and Sparky Stowaway when winning at Gowran Park last month (2m4f heavy). However, up 5lb, and meets the ¾L runner up on 3lb worse terms.

Form: 809-801

Calipso Collonges¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Cooper| T: T Cooper| OR: 89

16/1

A ten-race maiden who could only keep on one paced to finish a fairly distant fifth of 13 to High School Days at Gowran Park (2m soft to heavy) last month. A longer trip could be helpful.

Form: 6/7-7075

Euro So Brave^t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: M P Burke⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Austin| OR: 89| D

10/1

Off the mark at the ninth attempt over hurdles when winning by 1¾L at Fairyhouse just under a fortnight ago (2m4f good to yielding). Up 6b, and this is slightly more competitive, but respected.

Form: 208331

Fly Round The Bend¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Flanagan| T: J J Walsh| OR: 89

16/1

Has some bits and pieces of fairly decent form over hurdles, and goes particularly well at Clonmel. However, yet to break her duck over timber, but was involved when unseating her rider late on at Gowran Park latest in the race won by Ballymadun.

Form: 200-20U

Pack Your Bags¹⁹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Mark Walsh| T: R Tyner| OR: 85| BF

10/1

Dungarvan point-to-point winner (3m) in January 2015, but barren since despite tackling both hurdles and fences. Far from disgraced on his penultimate start at Clonmel in March (2m2½f) and could have more to offer if ready to roll on seasonal bow.

Form: 006837-

Royal Roslea²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: C D Meehan⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 84

25/1

A dual Flat scorer (1m2f and 1m4f), but not overly convincing over hurdles so far. Her best effort came at Sligo in July (promoted to second), but overall more is required.

Form: 99-4537

Ballygill Countess¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Phillip Enright| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 80

50/1

An 11 race career maiden (0 from 8 over hurdles) and hasn't offered any real encouragement to suggest that she's capable of striking at any point, let alone soon.

Form: 0-90090

Forecasts

Artic Pearl (5/2), Nobody Home (6/1), Bronco Bill (6/1), Ballymadun (9/1), Euro So Brave (10/1), Sparky Stowaway (10/1), Pack Your Bags (10/1), Ash Rowe (12/1), State Of Origin (12/1), Calipso Collonges (16/1), Fly Round The Bend (16/1), Finding Touch (20/1), Mickey Shea (20/1), Royal Roslea (25/1), October Revolution (33/1), Ballygill Countess (50/1)

The 2m4f Handicap Hurdle at Gowran Park on Friday September 29th is the best lead into this contest. Fly Round The Bend was upsides the eventual winner Ballymadun when unseating her rider at the second last, with both Ash Rowe and Sparky Stowaway making late progress from off the pace to finish ¾L second and a further 4¼L back in third respectively. The revised terms clearly favour Ash Rowe the most, and he can be expected to come out best of that bunch today. Of the others, Arctic Pearl looked an unfortunate 'loser' when his saddle slipped at Fairyhouse latest, and he should have the measure of Bronco Bill, but preference is for the consistent NOBODY HOME. Edward Cawley's course winner (3m) is an improved performer who is fairly well treated over hurdles compared to over fences. His August Bellewstown fourth to Thanks For Tea was respectable, and he should cope with this drop in trip today.