Racecards
16:20 Punchestown (IRE)
BoyleSports Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Grade B)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 3m 4f 150y
- Going: Good to Yielding (Yielding in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €100,000 added
- Winner: €59,000
- 2nd: €19,000
- 3rd: €9,000
- 4th: €4,000
- Form 11182-0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Keith Donoghue
mid-division, reminder at 1st, closer in 5th at halfway, ridden 7 out, weakened from 4 out
- Form PPP-07F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
tracked leaders, close 2nd 4 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, 3rd entering straight, improved to dispute lead at last, led after last, stayed on well
- Form 14U-61F
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
rear of mid-division, slight mistake 7th, 9th 4 out, ridden and no impression from next
- Form 116-273
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 143
in rear, slightly hampered at 10th and mistake 12th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
- Form 461-095
- Age 10
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Jack Kennedy
tracked leaders, dropped to mid-division at 5th, improved into 3rd 5 out, 3rd 2 out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, disputed lead at last, headed after last and no impression in winner, dropped to 3rd close home
- Form PP222-P
- Age 12
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D J Mullins
always behind, no impression from 4 out, pulled up before last
- Form P6-1009
- Age 8
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D F O'Regan
mid-division on outer, no impression from 5 out, never a factor
- Form 076-3P0
- Age 9
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
tracked leaders on outer, bad mistake and unseated rider at 10th
- Form 2291-24
- Age 9
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey T Scudamore
towards rear, bad mistake 6th, headway into 6th at 14th, 5th 4 out, ridden from next, no impression
- Form 212-633
- Age 7
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P Nolan
- Jockey Mark Walsh
mid-division, slight mistake 4 out, closer in 4th 3 out, soon ridden, kept on one pace straight
- Form 4-531P0
- Age 6
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Paul Townend
tracked leaders, slight mistake 5th, headway into 2nd at 8th, weakened quickly at 11th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 342PP-0
- Age 9
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey M A Enright
mid-division, not fluent at 9th and pushed along, reminder 10th, behind and pulled up after 11th
- Form 11-F086
- Age 9
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey Andrew Ring
disputed lead early, led from 3rd, hampered by loose horse approaching 5 out, ridden after 2 out, joined at last, dropped to 3rd inside final furlong, kept on to regain 2nd close home
- Form 634P31
- Age 9
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer J J Hanlon
- Jockey S Bowen
rear of mid-division, slight mistake 2nd, closer in mid-division on inner and mistake 11th, ridden in 7th 4 out, no impression
- Form 10-4602
- Age 8
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 129
rear of mid-division, slightly hampered 10th, ridden 12th, no impression and pulled up before 4 out
- Form 84-1615
- Age 11
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer J P Dempsey
- Jockey L P Dempsey
disputed lead early, headed 3rd, 4th 4 out, soon ridden and weakened
- Form 3P23/PP
- Age 10
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 157
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Gordon Elliott trained last year’s winner and runs six today with Davy Russell partnering Dounikos, though he's struggled since landing a Grade 2 at Limerick back in 2017 while stable companions Don Poli and Monbeg Notorious have the past form to figure if back to their best. Five of Elliott’s runners sport the Gigginstown colours and so do Joseph O’Brien’s duo Arkwrisht and Wishmoor but neither arrive in good form. Willie Mullins has three representatives including last year’s runner-up Isleofhopendreams, who finished well ahead of Space Cadet on that occasion and is preferred to Orion D'Aubrelle, but stablemate SOME NECK makes more appeal with Ruby Walsh doing the steering. The latter came a cropper at Gowran last time but won a Grade 2 novices’ chase over a shorter trip here in November and has plenty of scope for further improvement over fences. Fitzhenry finished just in front of Solomn Grundy when third at Leopardstown last time and that pair are hard to separate but Agent Boru and Kilkishen are upped in class for this.
Formwatch
Monbeg Notorious (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Rear of mid-division, dropped to rear before halfway and soon detached, no extra, tailed off, 14th of 18, dist behind Invitation Only (11-6) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Dounikos (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, 8th halfway, pushed along and no impression 3 out, fell next, at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Some Neck (FR) 15-2 (10-13) Mid-division, fell 8th, at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Youcantcallherthat (IRE) 11-8fav (11-2) Chased leaders, not always fluent jumping, 4th after 6th, 3rd after 4 out, effort straight, one pace last, 3rd of 20, 4 3/4l behind Ronald Pump (11-12) at Cork 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
General Principle (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Rear of mid-division, headway after 4 out and pushed along to go 3rd next, no impression after 2 out and slightly hampered last, no extra run-in, 5th of 18, 22 3/4l behind Invitation Only (11-6) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Isleofhopendreams 18-1 (10-12) Mid-division on inner, dropped to rear of mid-division halfway, slight mistake 11th and soon rear, behind and pulled up after 4 out, at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Woods Well (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 4 out, headway into 4th 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 9th of 13, 21l behind Agusta Gold (9-10) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Jan.
Arkwrisht (FR) 25-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, 7th after 7th, not fluent 9th, soon no danger, completely tailed off, 19th of 27, dist behind Auvergnat (10-5) at Leopardstown 3m gd in Dec.
Solomn Grundy (IRE) 6-1 (10-3) Mid-division early, 13th after 7th, soon progress, slight mistake 3 out, effort straight, ran on without threatening run-in, 4th of 27, 9 1/2l behind Auvergnat (10-5) at Leopardstown 3m gd in Dec.
Fitzhenry (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Held up, impeded 1st, slight mistake 3rd, 19th after 7th, soon progress to chase leaders, effort straight, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 27, 9l behind Auvergnat (10-5) at Leopardstown 3m gd in Dec.
Orion D'Aubrelle (FR) 40-1 (10-9) Mid-division early, slight mistake 4th, 10th after 7th, soon progress until no extra straight, 13th of 27, 29 1/2l behind Auvergnat (10-5) at Leopardstown 3m gd in Dec.
Space Cadet (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Rear of mid-division, pushed along briefly at 3rd, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 12th of 25, dist behind Tout Est Permis (10-12) at Navan 3m hcp gd in Nov.
Wishmoor (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Prominent, 2nd from 4th, closed up next and on terms 6th, 2nd when not fluent 3 out, 3rd before straight, soon no extra and one pace, 6th of 7, 32 3/4l behind Daybreak Boy (11-9) at Clonmel 2m 4f Yielding in Jan.
Kilkishen (IRE) 17-2 (11-7) Led, headed 3rd, led again from 8th, ridden and joined 2 out, rallied well to regain lead approaching last, went clear inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp gd in Jan beating Se Mo Laoch (11-1) by 7l, 11 ran.
Agent Boru (IRE) 5-1 (11-13) Led or disputed lead, led after 6th, pushed along and headed 2 out, switched left and ridden approaching last where left 2nd, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind R'evelyn Pleasure (11-13) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f gd in Jan.
Dinnie's Vinnie (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along in 5th 5 out, ridden and no impression after 3 out, no extra from 2 out, 5th of 11, 30 1/4l behind Mick The Jiver (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Don Poli (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Disputed lead early, tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along before 5th, reminders after 4 out and soon no extra, behind and pulled up before 2 out, at Gowran Park 3m (1) sft in Jan.