Racecards
15:15 Punchestown (IRE)
Entire Cheltenham Festival On Racing UK Handicap Hurdle (80-109)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €12,500 added
- Winner: €7,700
- 2nd: €2,388
- 3rd: €1,138
- 4th: €513
- Form P-03P50
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer M Hourigan
- Jockey T Ryan
rear of mid-division, not fluent 1st, reminders after 7th, ridden after 4 out and some headway 2 out, moderate 6th approaching last, kept on one pace
- Form 1-5P483
- Age 9
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer K Thornton
- Jockey D J Hand
towards rear, headway on outer 5 out, 6th 2 out and ridden to go 4th approaching last, no impression run-in
- Form 4PP092
- Age 10
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 105
mid-division, pushed along and no impression after 4 out, no extra approaching 2 out, weakened
- Form 246323
- Age 10
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
tracked leaders, headway 3 out and travelled well to lead after next, pushed along and strongly pressed last, soon headed, ridden and no impression on winner
- Form 67UUP9
- Age 11
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer S G Walsh
- Jockey D P Holden
led, headed 5 out, led briefly 3 out, pushed along and no extra after next, weakened
- Form 789502
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer T J Nagle-Jr
- Jockey D E Splaine
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 4 out, pushed along in 5th 2 out, ridden and no impression approaching last, no extra
- Form 313P59
- Age 11
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer J J Hanlon
- Jockey Brian Hayes
rear of mid-division, never a factor, pushed along and no impression after 3 out, kept on one pace in straight
- Form 8500-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer A Fleming
- Jockey D F O'Regan
tracked leaders on inner, slight mistake 1st, 6th halfway, headway into 2nd approaching straight, switched left to challenge last and soon led, ridden and kept on well closing stages
- Form 752421
- Age 8
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 85
mid-division, ridden after 2 out and headway in 3rd approaching last, no impression run-in, kept on one pace
- Form 0890P3
- Age 6
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer M Phelan
- Jockey D J Mullins
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, headway to dispute 5 out and led briefly before 2 out, ridden entering straight and soon no extra, weakened
- Form 574808
- Age 5
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 84
always towards rear, never a factor, pushed along and no impression after 3 out, weakened
- Form 480-8PP
- Age 10
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer P M Mooney
- Jockey D Robinson
prominent, slight mistake 7th, 2nd halfway, disputed 5 out and headed after next, lost place before 2 out, weakened
In depth
Verdict
Paper Lantern, three times a winner over fences, is 0-10 over hurdles which is why he's on a 12lb lower mark. Georges Conn hasn't run over hurdles since August 2015 and is 0-26 over fences but Swingbridge looks to have a more obvious chance. Gordon Elliott's charge ran well when placed at Fairyhouse and Navan and looked to have a fair chance here last time but a bad blunder put paid to his chances. Winning point-to-pointer Danse Away did well to finish runner-up over hurdles here last time and makes his debut over the bigger obstacles but this can go to BENARTY HILL (NAP). Liam Lennon's charge, a winner between the flags, gave notice of an imminent victory when runner-up at Tramore and duly obliged in comfortable fashion at Down Royal.
Formwatch
Undressed (FR) 20-1 (11-8) In touch, reminders after 2nd, 6th after 8th, weakened in 9th after 3 out, 12th of 18, dist behind Allez Kal (10-2) at Limerick 3m hcp hvy in Dec.
Paper Lantern (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Towards rear, 5th halfway, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and no impression in 4th approaching last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 14l behind Gun Digger (11-9) at Down Royal 2m 4f hvy in Jan.
Georges Conn (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 4th, slight mistake 8th and went 3rd at halfway, mistake 12th, close 3rd when slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden, no impression on leaders in 3rd 2 out, mistake and left 2nd at last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Dinnie's Vinnie (11-3) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
Swingbridge (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, 3rd from 6th, on terms on outer at 8th, soon led, went on when bad mistake 2 out and headed and dropped to 4th, no extra when left 3rd and jumped left last, 3rd of 9, 24 3/4l behind Oscar Lantern (10-11) at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp hvy in Jan.
Lisclogher Lad (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Soon tracked leaders, slight mistake 3rd, 3rd before 4th, pushed along after 5th, weakened from before straight, tailed off, 9th of 17, dist behind Wee Small Hours (11-0) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hvy in Jan.
Danse Away (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Prominent, 2nd after 6th, on terms before 3 out where slight mistake, headed approaching 2 out, soon 3rd and no impression, left 2nd and impeded last, kept on without reaching winner, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Sir Carno (11-7) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hvy in Jan.
Rare Legend (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, ridden in 6th 3 out, weakened, 9th of 14, dist behind Mystic Embarr (9-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f hcp hvy in Jan.
Wood Emery (FR) 50-1 (11-11) Mid-division, no extra before 3 out, weakened, tailed off, 20th of 24, dist behind Midnight Escape (11-11) at Naas 2m 3f mdn sft in Feb.
Benarty Hill (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway 3 out and 3rd next, ridden to lead before last, soon drew clear run-in and stayed on well, won at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp hvy in Jan beating Goldmineinthesky (11-5) by 11l, 9 ran.
Heather Moth (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) In rear, pushed along approaching 8th, under pressure 9th, no impression before 2 out until headway from before straight, soon chased leaders and kept on well without threatening run-in into 3rd near finish, 3rd of 13, 10l behind Poormans Hill (11-13) at Punchestown 2m 6f hcp hvy in Jan.
Maureen's Star (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd halfway, ridden in 4th 3 out, weakened, 8th of 11, dist behind Poormans Hill (11-2) at Fairyhouse 3m hcp hvy in Jan.
Take A Chance On R (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Chased leader, joined for 2nd from 7th, ridden from 4 out, weakened from next, pulled up before 2 out, at Sligo 2m 4f hcp gd in Jul.