Racecards
15:05 Punchestown (IRE)
Weatherbys Ireland GSB Handicap Chase
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Soft to Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €23,500 added
- Winner: €15,275
- 2nd: €4,465
- 3rd: €2,115
- 4th: €705
- Form 177832
- Age 11
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer W J Austin
- Jockey B J Geraghty
chased leaders, dropped to rear and trailing halfway, pulled up before 5 out
- Form 3P-1418
- Age 10
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer C A McBratney
- Jockey E J O'connell
chased leaders when blundered and unseated rider 7th
- Form 66-3676
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer S Fahey
- Jockey Paul Carberry
chased leaders, 5th halfway, mistake 6 out, no extra from 4 out, tailed off
- Form 502-435
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer E P Harty
- Jockey Mark Walsh
held up towards rear, 7th halfway, went 4th and closed before 3 out, 2nd after 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure, no impression on winner run-in
- Form 23F11/1
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer T M Walsh
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
tracked leader, mistake 1st, headway to lead approaching 4 out, kept on well in straight, pushed out to maintain advantage run-in
- Form 85/3-304
- Age 9
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer A L T Moore
- Jockey A E Lynch
settled towards rear, headway into 4th before halfway, 3rd 4 out, disputing 2nd and well in touch when fell 2 out
- Form P-0UP7P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer G T Cuthbert
- Jockey I J McCarthy
led, headed approaching 4 out, soon no extra, slow 3 out and pulled up before next
- Form 1114-60
- Age 8
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 101
towards rear, never a factor, 6th 4 out, left poor 4th after 2 out
- Form P81244
- Age 8
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer I Madden
- Jockey A P Heskin
chased leader in 3rd, 2nd 4 out, no extra in 3rd after 2 out, kept on one pace
In depth
Verdict
CONEM found 3m just stretching his stamina at Limerick and, as he's racing from the same mark, he can gain compensation. Seabass looked very progressive early last year but had a long time off until returning to score between the flags at Ballinaboola last month. Drive On Jim was in fine form at the turn of the year and will have come on for his reappearance behind Cloughmile at Gowran last month. Like Your Style is still a maiden over fences and is probably a few pounds high, but Selection Box has been winning over hurdles and can revert to the bigger obstacles on a much lower rating so must be a threat.
Formwatch
Conem (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Prominent, 3rd 3 out, ridden entering straight, led 2 out, strongly pressed at last, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Kilbane River (9-5) at Limerick 3m hcp chs (10yo+) sft in Nov.
Selection Box (IRE) 5-1fav (11-12) Led and disputed, 3rd 6 out, ridden in 2nd 3 out, 5th 2 out, soon no extra, 8th of 18, 27l behind Novarov (10-12) at Navan 2m 7f hcp hdl 80-109 in Nov.
Hidden Crack 14-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, driven along approaching straight, 4th 3 out, no impression from next, kept on one pace under pressure, 6th of 25, 13l behind Down Under (10-8) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109 sft in Nov.
Like Your Style (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, 5th 3 out, no extra after next, 5th of 10, 11l behind The Hard Hat (10-11) at Punchestown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 sft in Nov.
Seabass (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Mid div, prog to 4th at 6th, 2nd 4out, Chall next, ld 2out, sow, won at Ballinaboola 3m ire ptp sft in Nov beating Saddlers Storm (12-0) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Back On The Road (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, 6th entering straight, no impression after 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 25, 9l behind Down Under (10-8) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109 sft in Nov.
Pink Suitcase (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, no extra after 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Cloughmile (10-6) at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp chs 0-116 sft in Nov, 18 ran.
Drive On Jim (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, 14th of 18, well behind Cloughmile (10-6) at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp chs 0-116 sft in Nov.
Dark Vagabond (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, on terms before 3 out, dropped to 3rd before straight, soon no extra, 4th of 13, 41l behind Supreme Builder (11-4) at Thurles 3m cond hcp chs 0-109 hvy in Nov.
Jewel Of The West (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Close up, soon led, headed approaching 7th, remained prominent, 4th approaching straight, soon no impression under pressure, 6th of 15, 28l behind Powerstation (10-9) at Killarney 2m 6f hcp chs gd in May '10.