Racecards
15:10 Punchestown (IRE)
30 Winter Warmer Bundle Handicap Hurdle
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good (Good to Firm in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €18,000 added
- Winner: €11,088
- 2nd: €3,437
- 3rd: €1,638
- 4th: €738
- Form 4-2F0PB
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer J P Dempsey
- Jockey L P Dempsey
tracked leaders in 3rd, slight mistake 3rd, ridden in 3rd after 2 out, disputed 2nd from last, no extra in 4th close home
- Form 8211D1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
tracked leaders in 4th, mistake 4 out, progress into 3rd on inner 2 out, soon ridden, weakened before last
- Form 16546-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer E J O'Grady
- Jockey Paul Townend
raced in 2nd early, led from 3rd, made rest, ridden run-in, stayed on well, reduced advantage close home
- Form 4B5463
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up in last, moderate last 3 out, headway into closer 5th entering straight, ridden in moderate 4th at last, disputed 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on well into 2n close home, never nearer
- Form 7-1U614
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey P J McGrath
held up in 5th, slight mistake 4th and not fluent next, ridden in 5th 2 out, no impression
- Form 023160
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer Peter Fahey
- Jockey R Loughran
led early, headed 3rd, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, disputed 2nd from last, kept on run-in and dropped to 3rd close home
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
The four-year-old Kuiper Belt is progressing at a rate of knots having won his first four starts for Gordon Elliott, two of them on the Flat, before disqualified after finishing first past the post in a Grade B handicap hurdle at Listowel. He got back on track at Clonmel a fortnight ago and though up another 6lb will be difficult to beat though Roi De Dubai was beaten less than 2l into fourth and must have a chance of reversing the form. SLIPPERY SERPENT won a Leopardstown maiden on the Flat in July on fast going and was attempting to concede the in-form Brex Drago 10lb when beaten just over a length at Listowel, form that could be good enough for this. Steel Wave had been racing over fences without much luck before failing to take advantage of a lower hurdles mark at Gowran though that was a better race than this. Teacher's Pet is better known as a chaser and ran poorly the last time he ran over hurdles but Court Tycoon has been racing over further since landing a Wexford maiden on fast ground over this trip.
Formwatch
Teacher's Pet (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division when badly hampered and brought down 4th, at Galway 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Kuiper Belt (USA) 11-8fav (11-6) Settled behind leaders in 3rd, improved to challenge after 3 out, disputed before straight, led before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well run-in, won at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct beating Our Rachael (10-0) by 1l, 5 ran.
Slippery Serpent (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Mid-division early, 6th halfway, improved to dispute 4th on outer into straight, challenged from 2 out, kept on without matching winner from last, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Brex Drago (11-5) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Sep.
Steel Wave (IRE) 12-1 (9-10) Towards rear, pushed along and some headway on inner 3 out, progress early straight, ridden to go 3rd and slight mistake last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Pass The Ball (10-0) at Gowran Park 3m hcp gd in Oct.
Roi De Dubai (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Chased leader in 2nd, slight mistake 3 out, soon 3rd and pushed along, ridden to dispute briefly before straight, under pressure in 3rd before 2 out, 2nd and no impression on leader before last, kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 5, 1 3/4l behind Kuiper Belt (11-6) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Court Tycoon (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, pushed along and lost place after 3 out, no extra before next, weakened, 10th of 15, dist behind Oh'herewego (10-5) at Listowel 3m hcp sft in Sep.