18:30 Punchestown

Wednesday 28 April 2021

All15:4016:1516:5017:2017:5518:3019:0019:35

ITM - Supporting Irish Store Sales Champion I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 1)

Off time: 18:31 | Winning time: 3m 59.8s

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Selected odds by:

Ardla²¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr J J Codd| T: M Halford| C

80/1

C&D winner on debut in September but limitations seemingly exposed when only fourth at Listowel 17 days later. Been off 7 months.

Form: 14

Eric Bloodaxe⁴⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr T Hamilton| T: J P O'Brien| D

25/1

Looked smart when winning first 2 starts last term. Something can't have been right when 29½ lengths seventh in Leopardstown Grade 2 in February 2020 and he's been off since. Retains potential.

Form: 117-

Kilcruit⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139| BF| D

11/8

Looked out of top drawer when easy winner of Leopardstown Grade 2 in February. New stablemate Sir Gerhard got first run on him when beating him by ½ length at Cheltenham. Can take his revenge.

Form: 2-112

O'Toole⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr B G Crawford| T: S R B Crawford| D

33/1

Looked useful when belying odds of 25/1 to make a winning start to his career at Fairyhouse (heavy) in February. Well worth his place at this higher level.

Form: 1

Ramillies^t1⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127| D

25/1

Successful return after a year off in Leopardstown bumper over Christmas but limitations seemingly exposed behind Kilcruit (twice) and Sir Gerhard since. Tongue tie needs to make difference.

Form: 1/4-158

Sir Gerhard⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132| D

5/6

£400,000 point recruit who is 3-3 in bumpers (first 2 for Gordon Elliott), making all and just holding the late challenge of Kilcruit in Champion Bumper at Cheltenham Festival. Sure to go well again.

Form: 1-111

Sundrenched^t1²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr D G Lavery| T: J J Lambe| D

150/1

Navan winner in September. Stepped up on that form fourth of 8 at Fairyhouse on return 25 days ago but another chunk of improvement needed to get seriously competitive here. Tongue tie added.

Form: 8-14

Lake Winnipesaukee⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr A P Fahey| T: P G Fahey

20/1

25/1, shaped with encouragement on Leopardstown debut (2m, good) in March, well ahead and still on the bridle when his rider took the wrong course approaching the home turn.

Form: R

Forecasts

Sir Gerhard (5/6), Kilcruit (11/8), Lake Winnipesaukee (20/1), Eric Bloodaxe (25/1), Ramillies (25/1), O'Toole (33/1), Ardla (80/1), Sundrenched (150/1)

KILCRUIT and Sir Gerhard look set to dominate another Grade 1 bumper for the Mullins stable, with the former taken to turn around Cheltenham form and come out on top this time. Fairyhouse debut scorer O'Toole may prove best of the remainder.