19:05 Punchestown

Wednesday 26 April 2023

All15:4016:1516:4517:2017:5518:3019:0519:45

HSS Hire Handicap Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 19:05 | Winning time: 5m 33.9s

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Selected odds by:

Royal Rendezvous^h¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| CD

18/1

C&D winner. Nine wins from 20 NH runs. 7/1, tailed-off second of 4 to Easy Game in Fairyhouse Chase at Fairyhouse (19.9f, soft) 16 days ago. Won this last year off 5 lb higher so could bounce back.

Form: 2P1-752

Andy Dufresne^t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 150| C

5/1

Five wins from 16 NH runs. Tongue strap on for 1st time, below form eighth of 19 in handicap chase at Cheltenham (15.9f, good to soft, 9/2) 42 days ago, finding little. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 2F-3788

Lieutenant Command^p⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: L A McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 141| D

18/1

18/1, won 9-runner handicap chase at Leopardstown (21.4f, good) 52 days ago. Remains to be seen if able to back that up.

Form: UF-F5P1

Ha D'Or^h⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| D

11/10

Respectable 28½ lengths fifth of 9 to El Fabiolo in Arkle Chase (66/1) at Cheltenham (15.9f, good to soft) 43 days ago. Makes handicap chase debut. Has good chance on pick of form.

Form: 22-1425

Gallant John Joe^b,t⁶⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: P T Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 136| C

15/2

Fourteen runs since last win in 2019. Good second of 17 in handicap hurdle at this course (23.5f, good to soft, 25/1) 66 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Others more persuasive.

Form: 42-2302

Ilikedwayurthinkin^b⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: M P Walsh| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 135| D

7/1

Blinkered for 1st time, creditable 4½ lengths third of 9 to Lieutenant Command in handicap chase at Leopardstown (21.4f, good, 6/1) 52 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Enters calculations.

Form: 2P9PU3

Egality Mans⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: S F O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 130

10/1

Failed to complete last 3 starts. fell in handicap chase (33/1) at Leopardstown (21.2f, good to soft) 80 days ago.

Form: 4-30PPF

Hereditary Rule^t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: S O'Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 128| D

14/1

3 wins from 9 runs this season. Well held in handicaps at Cheltenham/Aintree Festivals last 2 starts.

Form: 211300

The Little Yank¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: J P Ryan| OR: 127| D

22/1

16/1, running well fell in Imperial Call Chase at Cork (24f, good to soft) 17 days ago won by Bachasson. Something to find on form.

Form: F0735F

Forecasts

Ha D'Or (11/10), Andy Dufresne (5/1), Ilikedwayurthinkin (7/1), Gallant John Joe (15/2), Egality Mans (10/1), Hereditary Rule (14/1), Royal Rendezvous (18/1), Lieutenant Command (18/1), The Little Yank (22/1)

HA D'OR was out of his depth in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival but his opening mark is a fair one on the pick of his form so he could be the answer. Ilikedwayurthinkin took a step back in the right direction in this headgear when third at Leopardstown and rates the main threat ahead of Andy Dufresne, who failed to meet expectations in the Grand Annual.