Racecards
16:25 Punchestown (IRE)
AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- €80,001 added
- Winner: €49,600
- 2nd: €15,199
- 3rd: €7,200
- 4th: €2,400
- Form 52113B-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
tracked leaders racing keenly, 3rd halfway, challenged entering straight, led travelling best approaching last, soon drew clear and stayed on well run-in, easily
- Form 13322-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
tracked leader in 2nd, led after 3 out, strongly pressed entering straight, headed under pressure approaching last, soon no chance with winner, kept on one pace
- Form 14U-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer T Stack
- Jockey D J Condon
chased leaders, 5th halfway, fell 4 out
- Form 125513-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
led, strongly pressed and headed after 3 out, soon no extra, weakened early straight, tailed off
- Form F3-2
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
never a factor, ridden along in rear halfway, no threat from 2 out
- Form 72P3P-1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
settled in mid-division, 4th halfway, good headway to challenge approaching straight, ridden and no impression in 3rd before last, kept on same pace
- Form 112-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer D K Weld
- Jockey Paul Carberry
held up in rear, closer in 5th before 3 out, pushed along approaching straight, no extra before last, eased when beaten run-in
In depth
Verdict
UNACCOMPANIED should add to her blossoming reputation here and further rain would greatly enhance her chances. Dermot Weld's filly would have been unbeaten over timber but for running into the brilliant Zarkandar in the Triumph Hurdle and could hardly have better advertised her prowess when landing a Listed contest on the Flat at the Curragh subsequently. Grandouet looks the main threat as he wasn't far behind in the Triumph before being unluckily brought down when still travelling well in the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle won by Zarkandar at Aintree. He would have given the winner a fright that day but wasn't certain to have finished in front of eventual runner-up Kumbeshwar, who continues to make progress and should again get competitive. Willie Mullins' French recruit Twinlight made a promising start in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse but like the remainder will need to improve.
Formwatch
Grandouet (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 5th, went 4th next, close up behind leading trio and still going well when brought down 2 out, in a race won by Zarkandar (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Apr, 9 ran.
Kumbeshwar 11-1 (11-0) Tracked leader who soon went clear, closed 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, challenging when left disputing lead 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, held by winner, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Zarkandar (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Apr.
Mister Carter (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division, close up on outside when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Zarkandar (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar, 23 ran.
Pullyourfingerout (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Led at good pace, narrowly headed approaching 4 out, stayed pressing leader, every chance on outside when hit 2 out and slightly hampered soon after, weakened between last 2, 3rd of 8, 25l behind Ultravox (10-5) at Ascot 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Rocky Wednesday (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Mid-division early, 6th halfway, mistake 4 out, soon lost place, no impression in 9th entering straight, left moderate 6th 2 out, ridden into 4th last, kept on to 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Twinlight (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Twinlight (FR) 5-4fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along in 7th entering straight, ridden into 5th 2 out, left 2nd and soon led, clear before last, kept on strongly, won at Fairyhouse 2m hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Apr beating Rocky Wednesday (11-0) by 3l, 11 ran.
Unaccompanied (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Mid-division, steady headway when not much room approaching 2 out, tracked leaders going well between last 2, not much room again and switched left to challenge last, soon ridden and chased winner, kept on flat, always held, 2nd of 23, 2 1/4l behind Zarkandar (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.