15:30 Punchestown

Tuesday 30 January 2018

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Toals.com Casino 500 Welcome Bonus Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 5m 27.4s

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Eagle Lion^t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: P G Kelly

11/10

Placed in a Galway bumper on his debut in October and plenty to like about his recent hurdling debut which saw him finish a runner-up behind Impact Factor over 2m in testing conditions over 2m here. Longer trip should suit.

Form: 32

One Cool Poet⁸³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: M J Smith

50/1

Won on his handicap debut on the Flat at Limerick in 2015 but never really kicked on from that. Never sighted in 2016 or 2017 and clearly has a fitness question mark against him as he switches to hurdles for a new yard.

Form: 5/

Stoneford²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

7/1

Bumper winner on his debut at Fairyhouse two years ago and, following a long absence, showed positive signs on his second run back when third in a 3m maiden hurdle at Cork (heavy). Drop in trip unlikely to inconvenience.

Form: 1/83

The Conditional⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: A E Lynch| T: M Hassett

16/1

Ran out a point-to-point winner (3m, heavy) when last seen in November - his first win from four attempts in that sphere. Market likely to reveal expectations on rules as he drops in trip.

Form: 34-P1

Ask And Answer³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: S Aherne

40/1

Second of 14 when last seen in a 3m Templnacarriga point-to-point in testing conditions when last seen on New Year's Eve. Still a bit of an unknown quantity ahead of his rules debut.

Form: P2

Monition¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

14/1

No real market confidence surrounding him ahead of his debut in a 2m maiden hurdle here earlier this month when beaten 30L behind Impact Factor on heavy ground. Longer trip and previous experience should elicit improvement.

Form: 8

Night Muse¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: P A Fahy

66/1

Unseated rider in two maiden hurdles prior to finishing well held in two heavy ground bumpers at Limerick and on this course. Hard to build a case for as she returns for another tilt at hurdling.

Form: UU99

Redhotfillypeppers^h²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr D H Dunsdon| T: W P Mullins| C

6/5

Point-to-point and bumper winner but looked nothing special in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle earlier in the month when third of 14 beaten 5¼L behind Martello Park on heavy ground. Even so, with improvement expected, she rates a player in this company.

Form: 1164-33

Non-Runners

Asbury Boss³³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: T Cooper J: B J Cooper

Forecasts

Eagle Lion (11/10), Redhotfillypeppers (6/5), Asbury Boss (5/1), Stoneford (7/1), Monition (14/1), The Conditional (16/1), Ask And Answer (40/1), One Cool Poet (50/1), Night Muse (66/1)

There was a lot to like about Eagle Lion's opening hurdle effort over 2m on this track and, if this step up in trip brings about improvement, he could take some stopping. Conversely, the drop in distance could be exactly what ASBURY BOSS needs after 3m appeared to stretch his stamina last time, and he could be worth another chance to fulfil the promise he showed when finishing a runner-up at Down Royal previously. Redhotfillypeppers also holds strong claims with natural improvement.