16:15 Punchestown

Thursday 26 April 2018

All15:4016:1516:5017:3018:0518:4019:1519:45

pigsback.com Handicap Chase (Grade B)

Off time: 16:17 | Winning time: 4m 10.8s

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Selected odds by:

Speredek^p⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 150| D

8/1

Largely in good form this year and has won four of eight career starts over fences. Produced a career best when runner-up to Tuesday's winner Un De Sceaux back in January. Didn't jump well on only subsequent start but he's the type to bounce back.

Form:

Hurricane Ben^t⁸²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: J G Sheehan| OR: 144

50/1

He was in good form throughout most of last season's campaign but he's struggled badly on two starts this term, pulled up on both efforts. Only dropped 1lb in the weights and others preferred.

Form:

Bon Papa^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Geraghty| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143| CD

7/2

A winner on chase debut but couldn't quite cut it at Grade 1 level on two subsequent runs. Produced a better effort when dropped in Grade at Fairyhouse last time but up in the weights here and others preferred.

Form:

American Tom^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| CD

12/1

Made a promising start to his chasing career but he's only disappointed since. A beaten short-priced favourite on two of his five most recent efforts and beaten out of sight in a six-runner contest at Navan last month.

Form:

Townshend^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| CD

12/1

Won three of his four starts last season but has been in very poor form since and failed to finish on two of his last four starts. Jumping has looked sketchy of late and others hold stronger claims.

Form:

Tycoon Prince^t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| CD

16/1

Started life over fences in promising fashion but no doubt he's been disappointing since. Failed to complete on next two runs and showed very little when tailed off at Fairyhouse last time. Drop back in trip a positive at least.

Form:

Three Stars^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: S W Flanagan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 141| C| D

12/1

On a long losing run since last winning in 2016 but has shaped well on his last couple of runs, most recently at the Festival. Not ruled out if he can improve again.

Form:

Mr Fiftyone^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 137| CD

25/1

On a losing streak at present and showed nothing when returned to the Flat last time out. Previously in poor form over fences and hard to fancy on all known form.

Form:

Shadow Catcher^b,t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: B Hayes| T: G Elliott| OR: 137| CD

50/1

Not won since 2015 and got no further than the second fence at Clonmel last time. Barely beaten a rival home in three starts prior to that over the last year and others preferred.

Form:

Powersbomb^h²⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: R C Colgan| T: B McMahon| OR: 134| D

12/1

Better over fences than he is on the Flat but entitled to need this on first jumps start since appearing at this meeting last year.

Form:

Cadmium³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 133

12/1

Justified favouritism at Fairyhouse in February but found Listed company much tougher last time. Still unexposed and with top connections so can't be ruled out if he improves.

Form:

Robin Des Mana^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: M P Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 131| CD

33/1

Won a handicap off a mark of 115 towards the end of last year but he's pulled up on his latest two starts and revised mark looks stiff.

Form:

Balbir Du Mathan^t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: D F O'Regan| T: S J Mahon| OR: 127| D

11/1

Gained his first win over fences in 13 tries last time but he's better than that record suggests and handicap mark looks fair. Not discounted.

Form:

Our Dougal²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 127| D

33/1

Just one win from 11 starts over fences and has kicked on in three starts since that success. Needs to improve.

Form:

Coeur Joyeux^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 125| C

25/1

Has proved to be a better horse over fences than he was hurdles. Not as effective over this sort of trip though and he's ran poor on his last couple of efforts.

Form:

Lake Takapuna⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: A E Lynch| T: J H Culloty| OR: 125| D

25/1

Drop back in trip should be in his favour here, having pulled up on two fo his three starts this year, both over 2m4f. Not won for some time but working his way back down to a nice mark as a result.

Form:

De Benno^t¹³

Age: 13| Weight: 9-12| J: C A Landers⁽⁷⁾| T: J Grace| OR: 124| BF| D

25/1

Running well over hurdles lately but he was below form when last seen over fences and unlikely to improve in is veteran years.

Form:

Sunsetstorise^p,t⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-12| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 124| BF

7/1

Back-to-back winner at Navan a year apart and ran well behind a useful sort at Fairyhouse on latest run. Suspicion this yard will find more improvement in him and he's up there on jockey bookings for a stable who saddle five.

Form:

Eight Till Late³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-11| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: Francis Casey| OR: 123| D

22/1

Rattled off a hat-trick last year but struggled a little off his revised mark since and handicapper has been slow to relent. Well beaten on the Flat on debut for this yard last week but should come on for that run at least.

Form:

Lean And Keen⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: K C Sexton| T: S Byrne| OR: 123| D

50/1

Badly out of form over jumps and on the Flat in recent times and not won in either sphere since 2015. Yet to win over fences and others preferred.

Form:

Timiyan^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: G Elliott| OR: 122| D

40/1

Yet to take to this discipline after four starts over the larger obstacles. On a fair mark given his hurdles form but hard to fancy at present.

Form:

Tisamystery^p¹²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: L Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 122| D

25/1

Has been in the form of his life over fences lately and form of his win last time out has been franked since. Clearly thriving and has to enter calculations.

Form:

Just Get Cracking^t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: P T Enright| T: J Dullea| OR: 122| D

25/1

A winner last time out but not won over a trip this sharp for quite some time and he finds himself on a career high mark. Others preferred.

Form:

Tongie⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: P A Fahy| OR: 122| BF| D

50/1

Has been in fair form of late but has his work cut out up at this level and likely to come up short.

Form:

Forecasts

Bon Papa (7/2), Sunsetstorise (7/1), Speredek (8/1), Balbir Du Mathan (11/1), Cadmium (12/1), American Tom (12/1), Townshend (12/1), Three Stars (12/1), Powersbomb (12/1), Tycoon Prince (16/1), Eight Till Late (22/1), Coeur Joyeux (25/1), Mr Fiftyone (25/1), Just Get Cracking (25/1), Lake Takapuna (25/1), De Benno (25/1), Tisamystery (25/1), Our Dougal (33/1), Robin Des Mana (33/1), Timiyan (40/1), Tongie (50/1), Shadow Catcher (50/1), Hurricane Ben (50/1), Lean And Keen (50/1)

Gordon Elliot runs a quintet over runners here but it's SUNSETSTORISE who is of interest. He's not been with his new yard long and he was beaten far last time out. Tisamystery has been in good form of late and is worth considering while Cadmium is still unexposed and can't be ruled out if taking another step forward.