20:15 Punchestown

Wednesday 16 May 2018

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

punchestown.com Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 20:19 | Winning time: 5m 47.5s

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Selected odds by:

Spring Watch³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: M F Morris| OR: 100

16/1

Lightly-raced gelding by Mahler out of a Shemazar mare. No improvement on seasonal return / fourth start over similar trip at Ballinrobe last month in first handicap (tailed off). Plenty to prove.

Form: 87/80-

Kalamkan²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: C D Maxwell| T: T G McCourt| OR: 99

33/1

Modest 48-rated handicapper on the Flat, well held first three starts in maidens over timber, marginal improvement last month at Fairyhouse (2m7f, soft), needs to come forward again going handicapping.

Form: 6465-

Running In Heels^t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: A E Lynch| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 98

9/2

Filly has been around the houses already, she delivered a nice performance on debut for this trainer when scoring at Kilbeggan (3m½f, yielding to soft) recently and warrants consideration despite a 9lb hike.

Form: 61623-1

Arch Stanton³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 97

14/1

Best of five efforts over hurdles came at Down Royal in March (2m5½f, heavy) when beaten around 10L into fourth of six. Since been pulled up at Limerick over 3m and more questions than answers at the moment.

Form: 30984P-

The Brig¹⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: R A Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: J G Coogan| OR: 97

20/1

Hasn't been a viable threat in nine starts over hurdles (supported in betting on occasion), including when last spotted at Leopardstown over Christmas. Needs this longer trip to spark something new.

Form: 306P00-

October Revolution²¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr D T McGrath⁽⁷⁾| T: D J McGrath| OR: 95

33/1

Remains a maiden under rules, with closest call so far coming over fences at Tramore (2m6f, soft) in August. Well beaten here over timber (2m4f) in October and returns from break rated 4lb lower.

Form: 653460-

Caerleon Kate⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: C A McBratney| OR: 94

40/1

Placed three times over hurdles last summer in maidens but disappointed on soft ground at Down Royal (3m) in November and poor in Flat run at Dundalk in March. Needs more relief from the assessor seemingly.

Form: 0223U0-

Milestone Prince²⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P D Kennedy⁽³⁾| T: M McCullagh| OR: 94

12/1

Developed into a consistent performer at his level last summer, with figures of 22214 in handicap hurdles at 2m5½f-3m1f. Not ruled out that he can progress again this term, market may guide on reappearance.

Form: 222148-

Misdflight¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: J F Gleeson| OR: 94

8/1

Sole win came in November 2015, and failed to cut any ice in three runs for Paul Nolan last season. Shaped with some purpose on debut for this handler at Cork (3m, soft to heavy) 12 days ago and interesting if coming on for that run.

Form: 35/009-6

Yes Pat^t²¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: I J McCarthy| T: James King| OR: 94

33/1

Bumper winner at Kilbeggan in June last year, failed to really make an impact in three hurdles starts afterwards, including handicap debut at Thurles over similar trip to this (beaten 22L). Handicapper yet to take any risks with him.

Form: 0/31700-

Crown Of Thorns¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: S W Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 93

7/1

Poor form in all four maiden hurdles, took a marked step forward on handicap debut at Kilbeggan (3m½f, yielding to soft) 16 days ago, making the fame. Raised 1lb for that, yard going well (8-29) and may be more to come.

Form: 007P-3

Dukes Avenue^p1⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R Loughran| T: R Tyner| OR: 93

25/1

Tailed off in three of four starts over timber so far, including handicap debut at Clonmel (2m2½f, heavy) in February. Goes up significantly in trip now, hard to make any case for. Cheekpieces tried here.

Form: 0900-

Dazzling Sarah^b1¹⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: D J Mullins| T: P A Fahy| OR: 90

11/1

Down Royal (yielding-to-soft) bumper winner in March 2017, has really struggled in six hurdles starts either side of that run, including two in handicaps late last year. Blinkers added for return.

Form: 01/8088-

Seanathair⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: D E Mullins| T: I Madden| OR: 89

33/1

Unsuccessful trio of runs over fences after joining this yard, again proved incapable of a challenge returned to hurdles at Thurles over similar trip in March (heavy). Dropped 3lb since, likely to require a bit more assistance.

Form: P0/PP79-

The Same Again¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: M P Walsh| T: E P Harty| OR: 89

8/1

Finished 23L fifth of seven at Sligo (2m, good to yielding) on handicap hurdle debut, staying on at the end. First time running beyond the minimum trip now. Worth a second look in the betting.

Form: 900-5

Authorative^p,t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: R M Power| T: A McCann| OR: 87

16/1

Sole success over hurdles (from 27) came at Gowran Park (2m4f, good) back in October 2015. Has toiled in two AW starts this spring and something of a questionable stayer. Booking of Robbie Power is eye-catching however.

Form: F7/2503-

Cher Why Not⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: M P Burke⁽⁵⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 87

10/1

Anything but consistent, but certainly can be given claims here on pick of form over hurdles so far. Runner-up over similar test at Thurles in October (off a break) and comes here rated 1lb lower. Chance.

Form: 6P2447-

Lady Mona Lisa^b1¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: E Sheehy| OR: 85

50/1

Never a factor in six starts over hurdles, routinely going off at big prices. Tailed off on the Flat at Clonmel (2m1f, heavy) already this month. Sports first-time blinkers, much easier to look elsewhere.

Form: 80/0P60-

Vellutato^h1¹³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: M J Bolger| T: W J Martin| OR: 85

16/1

Briefly got into a challenging position at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day over this sort of trip, that was an improvement, but once again faded out and beaten 36L in the end. Eased 3lb and hood going on for return to action.

Form: 040P87-

Western Goose²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: R C Colgan| T: V C Ward| OR: 85

33/1

Failed to build on a promising second of 10 at Fairyhouse (2m4f, heavy) in February when tackling same trip here a week later. Pulled up last month over 3m at Limerick. Has run well here from higher marks before, but most unreliable.

Form: 37029P-

Coole Craft¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: R Donohoe| OR: 84

25/1

Just the lone success from 26 starts over timber, coming at Thurles over 2m last year, best efforts this year have come over shorter trips and suspicion that will remain the case.

Form: 22P68-5

Naughty Molly²⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: J W Kennedy| T: J R Barry| OR: 83

20/1

0-17 over timber so far in career, much the best of her form has come over fences and that seems unlikely to change now aged 11-years-old. Back from a layoff and may need this.

Form: 46/332F-

Allez Amour^p1⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Mr C L Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: E Sheehy| OR: 81

22/1

Unplaced in five starts over hurdles, including twice in handicaps, and in truth there haven't been any positives so far. Cheekpieces go on now back from a short break.

Form: 00898-

Forecasts

Running In Heels (9/2), Crown Of Thorns (7/1), The Same Again (8/1), Misdflight (8/1), Cher Why Not (10/1), Dazzling Sarah (11/1), Milestone Prince (12/1), Arch Stanton (14/1), Spring Watch (16/1), Authorative (16/1), Vellutato (16/1), The Brig (20/1), Naughty Molly (20/1), Allez Amour (22/1), Dukes Avenue (25/1), Coole Craft (25/1), Yes Pat (33/1), Kalamkan (33/1), Seanathair (33/1), October Revolution (33/1), Western Goose (33/1), Caerleon Kate (40/1), Lady Mona Lisa (50/1)

A fairly motley crew assembled here on form and it might be worth chancing RUNNING IN HEELS to follow up her recent Kilbeggan success on debut for Gavin Cromwell. She's lightly-raced and did that well enough to suggest a 9lb hike may not prove beyond her. Milestone Prince was quite consistent at this sort of level last summer and should have a chance if ready to roll while Misdflight shaped nicely on first start for connections at Cork and could go well if building on that. Crown Of Thorns upped his game on handicap debut and represents a trainer in form while Cher Why Not is on a workable mark based on his best efforts.