Racecards
16:50 Punchestown (IRE)
Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 4m 2f
- Going: Good (Good to Yielding in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €30,000 added
- Winner: €18,000
- 2nd: €6,000
- 3rd: €3,000
- 4th: €1,500
- Form 7P2-110
- Age 8
- Weight 12-3
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey Mr H C Swan
tracked leaders, slow 5th, soon mid-division, 5th halfway, challenged 6 out, ridden and disputed 2 out, under pressure in 2nd before last, stayed on to press winner close home
- Form 42-1100
- Age 12
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Peter Maher
- Jockey Mr T Power Roche
disputed briefly, soon tracked leaders, 4th halfway, dropped to mid-division 8 out, ridden and no extra 6 out
- Form 505249
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey A Harvey
mid-division early, towards rear from 11th, no impression before 6 out, kept on one pace
- Form P47555
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Ciaran Murphy
- Jockey E Walsh
tracked leaders, led and disputed from 11th, led 25th, pressed 6 out, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra in 3rd before last, kept on one pace
- Form P-006FP
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey Mr D O'Connor
mid-division for most, mistake 18th, closer in 4th 4 out, ridden and no impression 2 out, kept on one pace
- Form 533112
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer R P O'Keeffe
- Jockey Mr B O Walsh
settled behind leaders, closer in 3rd at 24th, challenge 6 out, ridden to dispute 2 out, soon led, asserted before last, reduced advantage run-in, strongly pressed close home
- Form 87-636P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer Peter Maher
- Jockey J J Slevin
held up early, progress 9th, close up and disputed from 11th, slight mistake 13th, headed 25th, no extra in 4th 6 out, weakened from 3 out
- Form 37-94PP
- Age 12
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer Peter Maher
- Jockey Phillip Enright
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden in 5th and no impression 2 out, kept on one pace
- Form 948-45P
- Age 11
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey J S McGarvey
held up, behind and no extra before 6 out, pulled up 4 out
- Form 3242U3
- Age 13
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer G O'Loughlin
- Jockey Mr J C Barry
held up, towards rear for most, ridden and no impression before 6 out
- Form P39U23
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer Ciaran Murphy
- Jockey Mr A Murphy
led and disputed, pecked 4th, mistake 11th and headed, 2nd when fell 18th
- Form 3P-8088
- Age 10
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer R O'Sullivan
- Jockey Mr L P Shanahan
held up, no impression in moderate 7th 3 out, never a danger
- Form 56047P
- Age 11
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey B W Harvey
NonRunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Vital Island was beaten three lengths over these obstacles on Tuesday in a race he won a year ago. He then unseated in this race but should go well if none the worse for his exertions. He had Space Cadet a neck behind over similar obstacles at Knockanard in February. STEALTHY TOM had more downs than ups in his earlier days on this course but has improved markedly. Runner-up to Hurricane Darwin over 3m1f at last year's fixture he then won a handicap at Killarney and beat a big field here in February. A run over hurdles earlier this month will have blown the cobwebs away and he looks the one to beat. Peter Maher, a regular winner of this, has three entries. Alpha Male has plenty of experience over the obstacles and may prove best of them while Midnight Maestro, a stablemate of the selection, has won over this track and Derek O'Connor takes over from a conditional rider.
Formwatch
Stealthy Tom (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Rear, 17th before 5th, modest headway after 2 out, no impression before last, 11th of 20, 19 1/2l behind Skinnider (10-11) at Cork 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Alpha Male (FR) 50-1 (12-0) Tracked leader, a little keen, led briefly after 2nd, soon headed and in touch, 5th after 8th, dropped towards rear before 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 13th of 18, dist behind Kings Halo (11-9) at Limerick 2m 5f hcp sft in Mar.
Clonguile Way (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Prominent, weakened after 7th, soon struggling, very modest headway after last, 9th of 10, dist behind Elvis Mail (11-5) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Michael's Pick (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, closer in 7th at 23rd, ridden in 5th after 3 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 12, 31 3/4l behind Three By Two (11-0) at Punchestown 3m 1f Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Midnight Maestro 18-1 (10-10) Mid-division, slight mistake 1st, reminder 7th and dropped to rear, trailing 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out, at Navan 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Mar.
Vital Island (IRE) 11-10fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, led from 18th, joined 4 out, led and ridden 2 out, headed at last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Three By Two (11-0) at Punchestown 3m 1f Yielding - Soft in Apr.
An Droichead Eile (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Always behind, bad mistakes 4th and 5th, slight mistake 14th, pulled up before 5 out, at Punchestown 3m 1f Yielding in Feb.
Blast Of Koeman (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, in rear at halfway, weakened, pulled up before 6 out, at Punchestown 3m 1f Yielding in Feb.
Mortal (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Rear of mid-division, 8th 4 out, soon ridden and no extra, pulled up before 3 out, at Downpatrick 3m 5f hcp sft in Apr.
Space Cadet (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Always prominent, slight mistake 8th, disputed 4 out, pushed along and headed next, 3rd before 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 13, 6 1/2l behind Malina Girl (11-3) at Downpatrick 3m 5f hcp sft in Apr.
The Red Menace (IRE) 4-1 (12-2) Tr ldr in 2nd, 2l 2nd 1/2way, prog to ld 5out, jnd agn 3out, drpd to 5l 2nd 2out, qckly wknd & drpd to 3rd bef last, last of 3, 15l behind Bold Enough (12-2) at Castletown-Geoghegan 3m sft in Apr.
Western Sea (IRE) 100-1 (11-11) Rear of mid-division, moderate 10th 4 out, soon no impression, never a factor, 8th of 20, dist behind Stealthy Tom (12-0) at Punchestown 3m 1f Yielding in Feb.
Nick Lost (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Held up, struggling from 3 out, pulled up before last, at Hexham 3m hcp (4) hvy in Mar.