15:35 Punchestown

Wednesday 21 February 2018

All13:5514:3015:0515:3516:1016:4517:15

Festival Free Upgrade Offer Ends Soon Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 15:38 | Winning time: 5m 36.0s

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Selected odds by:

Glenabo Bridge^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 94

10/1

Can be a bit keen at times but did little wrong when beating a big field at Naas in December and only 4lb higher here. Has stamina to burn for this and with ground no issue, chances if on best behaviour.

Form: 321556

Time And Times³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr J C Barry⁽⁵⁾| T: D McNamara| OR: 94| D

20/1

Did win a Cork handicap hurdle over this trip and similar ground last March but some dreadful efforts over fences recently mean that he can't be backed with any great confidence here. Still high enough in the handicap too.

Form: 700UPP

Fr Gilligansvoyge^h1¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: D J Hand⁽⁷⁾| T: John G Carr| OR: 95

25/1

Slowly getting the hang of things over hurdles not disgraced when fifth at Naas in a maiden hurdle last time and goes into handicaps on a low mark, and a hood fitted for the first time. Open to improvement and one of the more interesting ones.

Form: 50995

Goodthynemilan^t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 92| C

5/2

In cracking form at present, winning a chase and then a handicap hurdle at Thurles earlier in the month, but the issue may be the drop back in trip as she's seemed to need every yard over further to date. Chances if that's not a problem.

Form: 689711

Littlestickarubarb^h²⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr F Maguire⁽³⁾| T: A Maguire| OR: 90

6/1

First run for new yard, best form to date has come over shorter trips and on much quicker ground than she's likely to encounter today, so others readily preferred.

Form: 73-7245

Urbanist^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: S Nolan| OR: 89| BF| C

7/2

Winner here from a 9lb lower mark in December, and although that was over 2m, seemed to get this longer trip when a staying-on fourth at Down Royal last time. May have a bit more to offer and e/w claims here.

Form: 606124

Western Goose⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: R C Colgan| T: V C Ward| OR: 88| D

6/1

Into the veteran stage and a little inconsistent these days, but capable when the mood takes her and she turned in a good effort over this trip at Fairyhouse last time. Ground no issue and if she's in the mood, can get among the medals.

Form: 753702

Loughnavalley^b⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D P Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: M L Fagan| OR: 87

20/1

Close third a Tramore (2m) in December is his only piece of form worth a mention among a sea of otherwise moderate efforts. Hard to make a solid case for.

Form: 9-00030

Hackets Folly^b⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: N M Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: William P Murphy| OR: 85

25/1

Only seen on a racecourse once in the last three years, that coming at Limerick in December. On a very good mark if he can be coaxed back to form and will strip fitter here, so not totally discounted.

Form: 5P540/7

Spancil Hill^v¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: L Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 85

5/1

Threw in a good effort when staying on to take third in a similar event at Thurles last time, but bottom line is that he's just 1-24 under Rules and this trip probably short enough too. Others make more appeal.

Form: 44P673

Mlily²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: M Hassett| OR: 86

12/1

Ran well on handicap debut when second at Tramore in similar conditions to today, but took a backwards step when well beaten at Punchestown last time. Too soon to write her off and if repeating earlier run, has solid chances here.

Form: 58025

Quay Witness²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Martin| OR: 81

33/1

Well beaten on all starts so far and although there was a glimmer of promise in her run here in November, not enough to make her of interest here.

Form: 0UP000

Forecasts

Goodthynemilan (5/2), Urbanist (7/2), Spancil Hill (5/1), Western Goose (6/1), Littlestickarubarb (6/1), Glenabo Bridge (10/1), Mlily (12/1), Time And Times (20/1), Loughnavalley (20/1), Hackets Folly (25/1), Fr Gilligansvoyge (25/1), Quay Witness (33/1)

Goodthynemilan looks the obvious one after winning his last two, but this drop back in trip may not be in his favour and URBANIST is worth a try to upset the applecart. He too is in good form and seemed to stay this trip on his latest start. He can improve again and win here. Frgilliagansvoyage is worth a look in the market, with possible improvement to come now he steps into handicaps, and at a bigger price, don't totally dismiss Hackett's Folly either.