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15:20 Punchestown
Sunday 13 January 2019
All12:4013:1513:4514:2014:5015:2015:50
pbc88.org Maiden Hurdle
- 5YO plus | 2m | Good | 21 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 4m 12.7s
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Followed a third to top class novice hurdler Battleoverdoyen here with a win at Limerick in last two bumpers. Showed ample ability there to suggest hurdles wins should follow and this £165,000 former point-to-point winner has strong claims.
Made little impression in first two hurdles and unseated and fell in two more recently. Hard to see him playing a part and a completion now would be a positive step.
Never sighted in a bumper before pulling up in a point-to-point. Signs of some ability when eighth of 18 latest over hurdles but huge step up required here nevertheless.
79-rated four time flat winner for David O'Meara made a fair start over hurdles finishing ninth of 18 beaten 40L. Handicaps further on will be his best hope.
Soundly beaten in lone bumper of 2017 and similar tale on more recent hurdles bow when a remote 15th of 18 at Leopardstown. Can only be watched.
52-rated flat performer won just two of 59 career starts. Belated hurdles debut and very surprising if he makes his presence felt.
Placed point-to-pointer met smart winners in all three hurdle starts to date but still the fact that he's been tailed off in all of them makes confidence hard to find.
74-rated dual flat winner over 1m3f and 1m6f for Ger Lyons made belated switch to hurdles when seventh of 18 at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. Can improve for that but handicaps may be better in the future.
1m6f Listed winner last year rated 95 on the flat (peak 102) but was easy to back when finishing seventh of 16 on hurdles bow at Newbury. Surprise if he's not good enough to win such a contest eventually and has each-way potential here.
72-rated three time flat winner for Johnny Murtagh makes his debut here over hurdles. Enough ability to win races over hurdles but unlikely to be involved in this.
French bumper winner at Lyon Parilly as a three-year-old makes stable debut here after an absence of 14 months. Given connections no surprise if he proves smart and makes a bold bid here.
Fell and unseated in lone two point-to-points. Smaller obstacles therefore a positive here but can only recommend a watching brief on rules debut.
Beaten 38L and 30L respectively in hurdle races at Wexford and Down Royal. Clear stable second string here and will have better chance in handicaps after this.
Rated 74 on the flat for Ed Walker in 2017. Showed some ability when seventh of 18 on hurdles/stable bow at Limerick where he made late headway. Can improve plenty for that so one with place potential here.
78-rated flat performer in good form late in the season and made a decent start over hurdles finishing sixth of 20 at Leopardstown. Jumping can improve as can he so place possibilities here.
Newcomer by Malinas is a half-brother to four winners over obstacles in as many foals by his chase winning dam. Worth watching with the future in mind but tough place to start.
Won lone French Flat start (1m5f) and bought subsequently for €350,000 by these connections. Effort levelled out on debut as he finished fourth of 20 but that still positive for the future and capable of big step forward here.
Signs of progress in second start as he finished eighth of 16 at Leopardstown beaten 12½L. Wouldn't need huge amount of improvement to make the frame here but Mark Walsh prefers Elixir D'Ainay.
Beaten 69L and 36L in two hurdle starts to date, finishing eighth of 11 most recently. Unlikely to play any significant role until handicapping.
Unplaced on the flat and behind several of these on hurdles bow including fourth placed Vision D'Honneur when 19th of 20 at 100/1 at Leopardstown. Impossible to fancy.
Fair form over hurdles so far but latest ninth of 20 saw here well behind the less experienced Vision D'Honneur so major part unlikely.
Non-Runners
11
Cray83
Weight: 11-10| Age: 5
T: G P Cromwell J: G N Fox
NR
23
Luis Van Zandt18
Weight: 11-10| Age: 5
T: A J Martin J: Reserve 1
NR
24
Blackyellowred7
Weight: 11-12| Age: 6
T: D J Barry J: Reserve 2
NR
25
Fianchetto36
Weight: 11-5| Age: 6
T: Mrs D Foster J: Reserve 3
NR
Forecasts
Vision D'Honneur (5/4), Elixir D'Ainay (2/1), Active Force (5/1), The Tartan Spartan (14/1), Prosecution (16/1), Song Of Namibia (20/1), Cray (20/1), Write It Down (25/1), Poseidon (33/1), Maddenstown (50/1), Circling Moon (66/1), Upgraded (66/1), Mutadaffeq (66/1), Stephenstown (66/1), Luis Van Zandt (66/1), Kearney (100/1), No Way Jack (100/1), No Admission (100/1), Robbies Magic (100/1), Mollyella (100/1), Classic Concorde (100/1), Darling Days (100/1), Humble Beginings (100/1), Blackyellowred (100/1), Fianchetto (100/1)
As is often the case in such races there aren't too may appealing contenders despite the huge field. Noel Meade's ACTIVE FORCE gets the nod after two good runs in bumpers this term including a win latest which should set him up nicely for this and as a point-to-point winner the obstacles shouldn't hold any fears. Vision D'Honneur had several rivals behind on Boxing Day when fourth and this expensive purchase is a big danger as is Elixir D'Ainay, winner of his last bumper in France albeit 14 months ago.
- Active Force
- Vision D'Honneur
- Elixir D'Ainay
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: €8,168.002nd: €2,533.003rd: €1,207.004th: €544.005th: €212.00
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