17:30 Punchestown

Wednesday 1 May 2019

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

Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 6m 2.0s

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Selected odds by:

Allaho⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144| D

11/4

Once-raced over hurdles in France for Guy Cherel, and landed a Grade 3 novice at Clonmel in February from Minella Indo. Improved when third to that rival in Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, and remains largely unexposed.

Form: 2-413

Cap York^b1²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D F O'Regan| T: N Meade| OR: 139| CD

66/1

Not disgraced when stepping in to Grade 1 company when ninth to Minella Indo in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, but that seems to expose his limitations, and he was well held dropped to 2½m at Fairyhouse recently.

Form: 6/14199

Carefully Selected⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

9/2

Placed in Grade 1 bumpers at Cheltenham and at this fixture last spring, and absent until making a winning hurdles debut at Limerick (2¾m) in March. Open to stacks of improvement, and this trip should be within his compass.

Form: 1/1123-1

Castlebawn West²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135

25/1

Showed likeable attitude to win at Leopardstown at Christmas before pulling up after blundering at the third last in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. Back on track when fourth in Grade 1 at Fairyhouse last time, but more needed now.

Form: 41-21P4

Commander Of Fleet⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 149| BF| C| D

3/1

Improved for step up in trip when winning 2¾m Grade 1 at Leopardstow in February, and progressed again when 2 lengths second of 20 to Minella Indo in Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last time. Remains likely to progress again.

Form: 11-1412

Defi Bleu⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 140

12/1

Likeable sort who produced his best effort when 5¼L third of 24 to Early Doors in Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last time. Stays further, and not dismissed lightly.

Form: 213203

First Approach^p⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: S W Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 136| D

33/1

Left clear at the final flight when recording a second win over hurdles in January at Thurles, and then put firmly in his place at Cheltenham behind Minella Indo. Plenty on his plate here,

Form: 146140

Go Another One^t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R Johnson| T: J C McConnell| OR: 140| D

18/1

Has enjoyed a very productive campaign so far with five victories to his name, most recently in a Listed race at Perth. Has been well placed to gain those wins below the highest level, and his task is much stiffer here.

Form: 112211

Minella Indo⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 152| D

5/1

Made his debut at this meeting last year, and has improved in leaps and bounds since. Finished second to Allaho in a Grade 2 at Clonmel before turning the tables on that rival by winning the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. Sure to take the beating.

Form: 13-321

School Boy Hours⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: M P Walsh| T: N Meade| OR: 135

25/1

Off the mark at the fifth time of asking in a Cork maiden over 2½m last time. Didn't need to improve to post that success, and has plenty to find on the bare form, but unexposed as a stayer.

Form: 3-F2F1

Walk Away²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 140| D

12/1

Won his only start in point-to-points before justifying favouritism on hurdles bow at Thurles (2¾m) in March. Not seen to best effect when fourth to Champ in a slowly-run Grade 1 at Aintree last time, and remains an exciting prospect.

Form: 114

Salsaretta^h1¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135

33/1

Best performance when beating Felix Desjy by 3½L at Limerick (2m4f, soft) in December, but she has come up well short in Grade 1 company subsequently, and is now tried in a hood for the first time.

Form: 5-11U79

Non-Runners

Gallant John Joe²⁴

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: O McKiernan J: B Browne

Forecasts

Allaho (11/4), Commander Of Fleet (3/1), Carefully Selected (9/2), Minella Indo (5/1), Walk Away (12/1), Defi Bleu (12/1), Go Another One (18/1), Castlebawn West (25/1), School Boy Hours (25/1), First Approach (33/1), Salsaretta (33/1), Gallant John Joe (50/1), Cap York (66/1)

MINELLA INDO was a big price when winning the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, but there was no fluke at all about his success, and he is taken to confirm form with third-placed Allaho., who had beaten him at Clonmel in February. Commander of Fleet split that pair at Cheltenham, and should again have a say in the outcome.