Racecards
15:45 Punchestown (IRE)
Three Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (0-150) (Grade B)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 3m 1f
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €45,000 added
- Winner: €29,249
- 2nd: €8,550
- 3rd: €4,050
- 4th: €1,351
- Form 1/B1F-1F
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
prominent, 5th into straight, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace
- Form 1F2-110
- Age 9
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey Mark Walsh
soon tracked leaders, beaten when mistake 2 out, kept on same pace
- Form 522027
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer D T Hughes
- Jockey D N Russell
chased leaders, 5th approaching 7th, no extra 4 out and pulled up before 3 out
- Form 313P01
- Age 10
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer Mrs D A Love
- Jockey P D Kennedy
close up, on terms 4 out, collided with rival in jumping next, soon headed, lost place into straight, soon no impression
- Form P-4PP0P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey Paul Carberry
soon tracked leaders, 7th approaching 7th, no extra 4 out and pulled up before 3 out
- Form 6PF744
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer M Hourigan
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
chased leaders, reminders 4th, pulled up after next, rider reported mount lost action
- Form 5P621/0
- Age 10
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey N P Madden
waited with, 7th after 4 out, 8th after next, soon no extra and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 14-434F
- Age 7
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer W J Burke
- Jockey B J Cooper
never really jumped or travelled with any fluency, always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 6-33415
- Age 8
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer M Cullen
- Jockey Ms K Walsh
waited with, 8th after 4 out, 6th after next, 4th into straight, challenged and on terms 2 out, soon led and stayed on well run-in
- Form 0P7310
- Age 9
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer F Flood
- Jockey M A Enright
soon mid-division, closed to track leaders after 4 out, on terms when collided with rival in jumping 3 out, soon led, joined 2 out, soon headed, no impression and kept on same pace run-in
- Form 373P0P
- Age 9
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer F Flood
- Jockey Phillip Enright
led, a bit slow 7 out, joined 4 out, headed before straight, no extra and kept on same pace from before last
- Form 796551
- Age 7
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 111
pulled up after 3rd, slipped saddle
- Form 545956
- Age 9
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer D E Fitzgerald
- Jockey D E Mullins
waited with early, soon tracked leaders, 7th after 3 out, soon no impression
- Form 01P503
- Age 8
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 104
soon towards rear, no extra from 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Liberty Counsel produced the performance of his career to land the Irish National and though hit with a 10lb rise Paddy Kennedy's claim is a bonus and he should again take care of Magnanimity and Cross Appeal. ON HIS OWN had been trained specifically for the Grand National where he was very well supported and though up with the pace for much of the way he was fading when falling at Valentines the second time around. He can run from a 5lb lower mark here and is taken to gain compensation. Wyck Hill looked a very progressive chaser when landing a Listed event at Ascot in December but struggled on much quicker ground in a Grade 3 at Kempton subsequently, though that didn't look his form. Sword Fish gained his first success over fences at Fairyhouse earlier this month but a 9lb rise won't aid his cause.
Formwatch
On His Own (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) In touch, under pressure when fell 25th (valentines), in a race won by Auroras Encore (10-3) at Aintree 4m 3f Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (7yo+) (1) gs, 40 ran.
Wyck Hill (IRE) 3-1fav (10-7) Chased leaders, slightly hampered 1st, mistake 10th, pushed along before 12th, weakened approaching next, blundered 2 out, eased, 11th of 13, 41l behind Opening Batsman (10-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Feb.
Magnanimity (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, 7th halfway, ridden approaching straight and no impression in 8th 2 out, kept on one pace, 7th of 28, 22l behind Liberty Counsel (9-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch.
Liberty Counsel (IRE) 50-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, 8th 5 out, good headway to lead after 3 out, ridden early straight and strongly pressed last, kept on gamely under pressure run-in, won at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch beating Away We Go (10-2) by 1/2l, 28 ran.
Cross Appeal (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Prominent and disputed early, 6th halfway, ridden and lost place after 5 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Liberty Counsel (9-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch, 28 ran.
Crash (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Led to 4th, with leaders, led again 9th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, 1 length down in 2nd when blundered last, no extra in 4th flat, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Sweet My Lord (11-10) at Tramore 2m 6f chs sft.
Fisher Bridge (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Mid-division, 7th 4 out, weakened from next, 14th of 20, well behind Bob Lingo (10-3) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Aug.
My Murphy (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 5th when fell 5 out, in a race won by Panther Claw (11-6) at Navan 3m nov chs hvy in Mar, 16 ran.
Carrig Millie (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Waited with, closer in 7th after 3 out, 6th approaching straight, soon 5th, no extra when jumped left 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 8, 29l behind Charlie's Vic (10-11) at Limerick 2m 6f Mares Novice Chase (Grade 3) (5yo+) (1) hvy in Mar.
Wicklow Lad 8-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and weakened 4 out, 12th of 14, well behind Barneys Honour (11-5) at Wexford 2m 4f hcp hdl 8Evens23 sft.
Miss Pepperpot (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) In rear, weakened 6 out, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Sword Fish (9-11) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135, 16 ran.
Sword Fish (IRE) 5-1fav (9-11) Mid-division, headway into close 4th 3 out, 2nd travelling well next, ridden to lead before last, jumped right at last, kept on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 beating Good Fella (10-5) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Bangonform (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Mid-division, struggling 11th, hampered 5 out, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 12, 13l behind Qhilimar (11-11) at Tramore 2m 6f Conditional Handicap Chase (0-123) (5yo+) sft.
Weslife (IRE) 20-1 (9-12) A bit slow to set-off, waited with towards rear, progress 3 out, 5th before straight, no impression 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Caheronaun (10-10) at Limerick 2m 3f hcp chs gd.