18:05 Punchestown

Friday 3 May 2019

All15:4016:2016:5517:3018:0518:3519:1019:45

Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 18:08 | Winning time: 4m 50.7s

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Selected odds by:

All For Joy²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: S W Flanagan| T: O McKiernan| OR: 131

50/1

Series of good efforts before landing a Naas maiden hurdle. Well held in Grade 2 company at Fairyhouse last month and a similar scenario looks on the cards at this level.

Form: 22-2214

City Island^t⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: M Brassil| OR: 152| C

11/10

Confirmed himself one of the best novice hurdlers around when landing the Ballymore Hurdle at Cheltenham. The runner-up confirmed the form at Aintree so he will take plenty of beating if still at the top of his game.

Form: 2-1D111

Come To Me^h⁹⁰

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

28/1

Easy winner of a Cork maiden hurdle in December, but has been disappointing on last two starts. Returns to action with plenty to prove, but leading trainer's runners can never be discounted.

Form: 1/617P

Dommage Pour Toi²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: J W Kennedy| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 139| D

20/1

Sprang a 33-1 surprise when overturning Zero Ten at Fairyhouse last month. The runner-up underlined the value of that form when winning at this meeting earlier in the week so he should not be underestimated.

Form: P321

Easy Game²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: B Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| D

14/1

Mid-division behind City Island at Cheltenham and third to Dommage Pour Toi at Fairyhouse last month. Plenty to find on those displays, but earlier form was solid.

Form: 231183

Gallant John Joe^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: B Browne| T: O McKiernan| OR: 138| C

33/1

Only seventh, beaten more than 20L, behind Dommage Pour Toi, at Fairyhouse last time. Previous form was quite impressive so it is too soon to be writing him off.

Form: 212317

Reserve Tank²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 150| D

13/2

English challenger who is progressive and produced his best display so far when winning in good style at Aintree. Much more to do against some smart novices, but may not have reached the ceiling of his ability.

Form: 37111

Royal Rendezvous^h¹⁸⁸

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

12/1

Won two bumpers before making an impressive debut over timber at Galway in October. Not seen since and hard to know how good he is, but clearly has to be respected under his in-form jockey.

Form: F1/5111

Sams Profile⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: M F Morris| OR: 138| D

6/1

Talented novice who ran well to be second to Battleoverdoyen at Naas in January and when fifth to City Island at Cheltenham. Needs to find more, but is a reliable sort who is likely to be thereabouts.

Form: 13-1225

Tornado Flyer¹¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| CD

6/1

Won a Punchestown maiden hurdle in December and was clearly not at his best when pulled up behind Battleoverdoyen at Naas in January. Plenty to prove in a race of this nature.

Form: 131-1P

Eglantine Du Seuil¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136

14/1

Shock 50-1 winner of the mares' novices hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Not so good at Fairyhouse last time, but receives weight from her rivals and is not ruled out.

Form: 1-1313

Non-Runners

Battleoverdoyen⁵¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: J W Kennedy

Forecasts

City Island (11/10), Battleoverdoyen (11/2), Sams Profile (6/1), Tornado Flyer (6/1), Reserve Tank (13/2), Royal Rendezvous (12/1), Eglantine Du Seuil (14/1), Easy Game (14/1), Dommage Pour Toi (20/1), Come To Me (28/1), Gallant John Joe (33/1), All For Joy (50/1)

Willie Mullins saddles five of the 12 runners and jockey bookings suggest the unexposed Royal Rendezvous may be the best of them. However, he will have to be high-class to get the better of CITY ISLAND, who was a good winner of the Ballymore Hurdle at Cheltenham and is the one to beat if in the same form. Battleoverdoyen was not at his best in that race and is a big threat on his earlier displays, while it could be dangerous to underestimate Dommage Pour Toi, who saw off a talented rival on his latest outing and looks on the upgrade. English challenger Reserve Tank is another to consider.