Racecards
16:20 Punchestown (IRE)
Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- €80,000 added
- Winner: €49,600
- 2nd: €15,200
- 3rd: €7,200
- 4th: €2,400
- Form 4-1131
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer D T Hughes
- Jockey B J Cooper
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden from 3 out, no impression on leaders from next, went moderate 4th from last
- Form 1-12311
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
attempted to make all, mistake 5th and 3 out, ridden and headed entering straight, no impression and dropped to 3rd when not fluent at last, weakened run-in
- Form 8-11113
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey B J Geraghty
tracked leaders in 3rd, close 3rd 2 out, improved to lead entering straight, ridden clear before last, stayed on strongly run-in, impressive
- Form 72711F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer T Doyle
- Jockey Andrew J McNamara
tracked leader in close 2nd, slight mistake 3rd, ridden in 2nd from 2 out, weakened entering straight
- Form 1-12112
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer M F Morris
- Jockey D N Russell
tracked leaders in 4th, pulled up injured after 3rd
- Form 319231
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey Paul Carberry
held up in last, went 4th and ridden 2 out, went 2nd at last, kept on without threatening easy winner run-in
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Champagne Fever had just under 3l to spare over JEZKI in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham but there are reasons to believe the latter, who had beaten the winner at Fairyhouse in December, can reverse the form and take this. Jessica Harrington's charge was having his first start since December at The Festival and looked a bit ring-rusty and the winner's strong gallop just saw him come up short. Rule The World couldn't quite match the pace of The New One in the Neptune Investment but had the much touted Pont Alexandre behind. This shorter trip may not quite play to his strengths against a pair of very pacey performers. The remaining trio are all very useful but haven't proved themselves at this level.
Formwatch
Art Of Logistics (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, improved travelling well to lead after 2 out, mistake last, soon pressed, stayed on best run-in to soon assert, won at Fairyhouse 2m hdl sft in Feb beating Midnight Oil (11-11) by 2l, 5 ran.
Champagne Fever (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Made all, driven between last 2, hard pressed last, soon ridden, edged right and stayed on gamely flat, won at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Mar beating My Tent Or Yours (11-7) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Jezki (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway and in touch 3 out, chased leading pair between last 2, every chance when not fluent last, one pace and held flat, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Champagne Fever (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Mallowney (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Settled in rear, fell heavily 4th, in a race won by Pique Sous (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m nov hdl G2 (1), 6 ran.
Rule The World 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent and lost several places 2nd, closed 5th, ridden and every chance when edged left before last, stayed on flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 4l behind The New One (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Ted Veale (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Mid-divisoin, smooth headway after 3 out, went 2nd going well after next, poised to challenge between last 2, led after last, ridden and kept on flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar beating Tennis Cap (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 28 ran.