18:40 Punchestown

Friday 27 April 2018

All15:4016:2016:5517:3018:0518:4019:1019:45

Star Best For Racing Coverage Champion Hunters Chase

Off time: 18:42 | Winning time: 6m 46.9s

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Selected odds by:

Balnaslow¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: G J McKeever| OR: 135| CD

7/2

Tends to deliver on the big occasions and showed resolution in spades to edge out Mendip Express by a neck in this contest last year. Arrives at the top of his game following victory in the Aintree Foxhunters' (2m5f soft).

Form: 21-2P71

Caid Du Berlais^t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr William Biddick⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Loxton| OR: 134| D

9/2

Classy rules performer for Paul Nicholls (2014 Paddy Power Gold Cup winner). Been pointing this season, but on the premises (fifth) in the Cheltenham Foxhunters' last month (3m2f soft) and this slight drop in trip looks likely to suit.

Form: F8-1115

Ground Invasion^t²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: G J McKeever

50/1

Stablemate of Balnaslow, and a useful sort in bumpers for Stuart Crawford in 2014. Hasn't run under rules for a number of years, but did win a 3m point-to-point at Kirkistown last month (beat the veteran Felix Yonger).

Form: 4/P41P6

Jimmy The Jetplane^b,t1²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J Jackson-Stops⁽⁷⁾| T: Francesca Nimmo| OR: 131| BF

33/1

Left Kim Bailey for £32,000 in May 2017, and picked up a Carlisle Hunters' Chase in March (2m5f heavy) which this trainer tends to target. Not so good next time at Newbury and first-time tongue-tie applied. Pace angle.

Form: 3-32142

On The Fringe^b1¹⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Ms N Carberry| T: E Bolger| OR: 136| CD

10/1

A legend over the years and a deserved part of Aintree and Cheltenham Foxhunters' folklore. However, this has always been his race; winner in 2010/12/14/15 & 16. Lacked the legs for Balnaslow last year (fifth) and another year older. Blinkers added.

Form: P5-P295

Ourmanmassini^t¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr A J Fox⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 107

33/1

Won just once in 29 starts under rules, but with a much stronger record in point-to-points (nine from 22). Runner up at Stradbally latest (3m), but that's not good enough form for this valuable contest.

Form: 14F1P2

Peckhamecho^t⁴⁵⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R O Harding⁽³⁾| T: Peter Maher| OR: 109| D

66/1

A six-time winner in England for the likes of Rebecca Curtis and Sophie Leech. Sold for just £3,000 in May 2017, and hasn't set the world alight in point-to-points despite a better effort at Loughanmore (3m heavy) latest.

Form: 705/U01-

Rue Hill³⁵⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr S F O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hickey

40/1

Won just once in 10 starts under rules (2m4f Limerick Handicap Hurdle in December 2014), but has appreciated the switch to points more latterly (1,2,1). Beat Morning Assembly by 1½L at Dungarvan latest (3m soft).

Form: 3/0243-P

Sambremont⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: D M Christie| OR: 134

40/1

Not won anywhere since his days with Willie Mullins, but did record a Grade 2 success over fences (Flyingbolt) as a novice at Navan in February 2016. Not the force of old and a beaten favourite on various occasions in point-to-points.

Form: 22F25P

Sizing Coal¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: J T R Dreaper| OR: 132| D

11/2

Thorough stayer with a fairly impressive back-catalogue. In good form for the majority of this season, even more so latterly, and rocks up seeking a four-timer following point (Oldcastle) and Hunters Chase (Fairyhouse) victories.

Form: 133111

Timewaitsfornoone³³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M J O'Hare⁽⁵⁾| T: A Fleming

25/1

Six-year-old son of Oscar who fetched a staggering £225,000 at Cheltenham in March 2016. Back from 23-months off with victory at Aghabulloge in early January, and a winner of a 3m Downpatrick maiden hunters' latest. Still unexposed.

Form: 21/131

Top Wood^t,v⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Ms G Andrews⁽³⁾| T: Miss Kelly Morgan| OR: 137

5/1

Formerly trained by David Pipe, he won both point-to-points for this trainer (£15,000 buy in March 2017) prior to lining up in the Cheltenham Foxhunters last month. Ran a blinder at odds of 50/1 to be beaten a neck by Pacha Du Polder.

Form: 542-112

Uxizandre²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: P Roche| OR: 157| D

3/1

Winner of the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in 2015 for Alan King, he was beset by problems thereafter and didn't show up all that well after a two year absence. Moved on with sights lowered and back with an all out success in a 3m point recently.

Form: U1/278-1

Forecasts

Uxizandre (3/1), Balnaslow (7/2), Caid Du Berlais (9/2), Top Wood (5/1), Sizing Coal (11/2), On The Fringe (10/1), Timewaitsfornoone (25/1), Jimmy The Jetplane (33/1), Ourmanmassini (33/1), Sambremont (40/1), Rue Hill (40/1), Ground Invasion (50/1), Peckhamecho (66/1)

A race which could bring the curtain down on the racing career of a Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown legend in the shape of the first-time blinkered On The Fringe. Historically this has been his race, but there's a 'younger' generation around nowadays, and he couldn't live with BALNASLOW in this race in 2017. The Graham McKeever trained eleven-year-old defends his crown on the back of an Aintree Foxhunters success, and should figure prominently. Both Top Wood and Caid De Berlais ran well at Cheltenham, with the latter certain to relish this lesser test of stamina. Timewaitsfornoone also sports an intriguing profile, so rates as a horse worthy of note.