16:15 Punchestown

Thursday 29 April 2021

All15:4016:1516:5017:2518:0018:3519:0519:35

Pigsback.com Handicap Chase (Grade B)

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 4m 15.2s

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Selected odds by:

Voix Du Reve^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: J C Gainford⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 149| CD

20/1

Smart chaser at best for Willie Mullins and good efforts from the front in 2m Musselburgh handicap hurdles first 2 starts this year. Excellent third of 6 back over fences at Ayr (20.5f) 13 days ago.

Form: 042203

Paloma Blue^t⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: H Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 148| BF| D

50/1

Unreliable individual. Won at Wexford in August. Held on Flat debut last week but that should have blown the cobwebs away ahead of this return to chasing.

Form: 20-3130

Unexcepted⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: J S McGarvey| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| D

9/1

Successful chase debut at Tipperary (17f, good form) in October. Down the field behind Energumene in Irish Arkle Novices' Chase at Leopardstown only run since but unexposed now handicapping.

Form: 3/12P-16

Entoucas⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 145| D

4/1

Has taken to chasing - and handicaps - with aplomb and would have won the Grand Annual 43 days ago but for blowing the second last. Good chance if that hasn't taken too much out of him.

Form: 222442

Epson Du Houx^h,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 140| D

14/1

12/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, creditable 4 lengths third of 15 to Jungle Junction in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (16.7f, good to soft) 25 days ago. Should continue to give a good account.

Form: F110F3

Aramax^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 140| D

25/1

10/1, creditable 9½ lengths fourth of 15 to Jungle Junction in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (16.7f, good to soft) 25 days ago.

Form: 080104

Sully D'Oc Aa^p1,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: S D Torrens⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 137| D

6/1

Good second of 18 in Red Rum Handicap Chase (12/1) at Aintree (15.8f, good to soft) 21 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Conditional takes off 3 lb and he can go well again.

Form: 56-1382

Jungle Junction²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 136| D

6/1

Career best when winning 15-runner handicap chase at Fairyhouse (16.7f, good to soft, 10/1) 25 days ago by 1¾ lengths from Brawler. Wouldn't rule out again up 8 lb.

Form: 33F311

Harrie²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| D

16/1

33/1, creditable 12¾ lengths fifth of 15 to Jungle Junction in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (16.7f, good to soft) 25 days ago, faring best of those ridden prominently.

Form: 50-F145

Top Moon^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 135| D

18/1

Pulled up in Irish National at Fairyhouse (29.2f, good to soft, 28/1) 24 days ago. Significantly back down in trip. Very interesting on his second in the Matheson Handicap in February.

Form: 60022P

Dinny Lacey^p⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: J Motherway| OR: 133| BF| CD

16/1

Latest win in chase at Limerick in December. Well-backed 10/3 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, disappointing when pulled up in handicap chase at Gowran (18f, heavy) 48 days ago.

Form: 46132P

Polished Steel^p,t²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: D E Mullins| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 133| CD

40/1

Two wins from 6 runs last season. Twenty second of 24 in handicap hurdle (33/1) at this course (16.4f, good to soft) 2 days ago, bad blunder 3 out when not beaten.

Form: 142P0-0

Capuccimix⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 131| D

16/1

Respectable sixth of 19 in Grand Annual (40/1) at Cheltenham (15.9f, good to soft) 43 days ago, doing too much too soon. More needed on balance of form.

Form: 5-86776

Andalusa^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 130| D

25/1

Latest win in chase at Listowel in September. Below form 30¾ lengths eighth of 15 to Jungle Junction in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (16.7f, good to soft, 33/1) 25 days ago.

Form: 113398

Raya Time^h¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 127| BF

8/1

Creditable third of 14 in novice chase at Fairyhouse (16.7f, 9/4) 16 days ago. Had caught the eye of the stewards on previous run and could have a bigger performance in him now handicapping.

Form: 15-F733

Kildorrery¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: S O'Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: T M Walsh| OR: 126| CD

40/1

Twenty two runs since sole win over fences (in C&D maiden) in 2018. Fourth of 5 (14/1) at Tramore (21.6f, good to soft) 11 days ago. Back down in trip. Plenty to do.

Form: 380354

Shumaker⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: J M Moore| T: Paul Traynor| OR: 124| CD

80/1

Fine dual-purpose performer, won on chase debut here. Eleventh of 12 in Flat handicap at Navan (13f, good to soft, 33/1) 4 days ago. Handicap debut in this sphere.

Form: 5-68105

Grand Partner^p²⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 9-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: T Mullins| OR: 123| CD

80/1

66/1, respectable tenth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, good to soft) 26 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase.

Form: 1-12750

Brawler^t,v1²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: C J Orr⁽³⁾| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 122

14/1

18/1, very good 1¾ lengths second of 15 to Jungle Junction on handicap debut over fences at Fairyhouse (16.7f, good to soft) 25 days ago. Visor now on. Surely can't remain a maiden chaser for long.

Form: 332222

Non-Runners

Exit Poll²

Weight: 10-9| Age: 7

T: Mrs J Harrington J: P D Kennedy

Or Jaune De Somoza¹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 9

T: Mrs D Foster J: K C Sexton

Forecasts

Entoucas (4/1), Sully D'Oc Aa (6/1), Jungle Junction (6/1), Raya Time (8/1), Unexcepted (9/1), Epson Du Houx (14/1), Brawler (14/1), Capuccimix (16/1), Dinny Lacey (16/1), Harrie (16/1), Exit Poll (16/1), Top Moon (18/1), Voix Du Reve (20/1), Or Jaune De Somoza (20/1), Andalusa (25/1), Aramax (25/1), Kildorrery (40/1), Polished Steel (40/1), Paloma Blue (50/1), Grand Partner (80/1), Shumaker (80/1)

RAYA TIME is interesting on his handicap debut and a big run could be forthcoming. Jungle Junction saw off plenty of these when winning at Fairyhouse, relishing the cut and thrust of such an event, and he can go well again. Entoucas was unlucky not to win the Grand Annual and will rightly be popular. Top Moon is interesting for the same connections.