Racecards
19:00 Punchestown (IRE)
Guinness Handicap Chase (Grade A)
- 24 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Yielding
- Surface: Turf
- €80,000 added
- Winner: €48,000
- 2nd: €16,000
- 3rd: €8,000
- 4th: €4,000
- Form 04P600
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer Mrs D Foster
- Jockey Jack Kennedy
mid-division, closer in 7th halfway, fell 3 out
- Form P1351-2
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Sean O'Keeffe
hampered start and rear, ridden into 11th entering straight, no impression before 2 out
- Form 630-633
- Age 11
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey Sean Flanagan
chased leaders early, jumped left 2nd, mid-division before 4th, ridden and no extra before 3 out
- Form 1-14344
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D E Mullins
chased leaders, 4th halfway, 2nd and pressed leader after 4 out, slight mistake next, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, no extra from last, kept on one pace
- Form 372321
- Age 11
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Brian Hayes
prominent, jumped left 1st, led before 2nd, headed before 4th, remained close up, no extra 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out
- Form F40PF0
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey J J Slevin
hampered 1st, soon mid-division, towards outer when fell 3 out
- Form 3-2244F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey C P McNamara
always towards rear, ridden and no extra before 4 out
- Form 22-4967
- Age 10
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey T Scudamore
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 6 out, pushed along in 5th when fell 4 out
- Form PP-3447
- Age 10
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer E J O'Grady
- Jockey Darragh O'Keeffe
led, headed before 2nd, chased leaders, 6th halfway, progress into 3rd 3 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out, soon no extra
- Form P-45774
- Age 10
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer L P Cusack
- Jockey E Walsh
hampered start and started well behind, pulled up before 4th
- Form 3-50P22
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer J P Dempsey
- Jockey Mark Walsh
whipped around and left at start
- Form 2-4PP36
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer P A Fahy
- Jockey B J Cooper
held up towards rear, progress into 9th 3 out, soon ridden, under pressure in 5th after 2 out, disputed 3rd last, kept on same pace run-in
- Form P-942PP
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey A W Short
mid-division, slight mistake 5th, progress into 6th 3 out, improved to dispute 2 out, soon ridden, narrow lead briefly before last, headed last, kept on same pace run-in
- Form 507030
- Age 9
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P Nolan
- Jockey J S McGarvey
held up, ridden into 10th entering straight, no impression before 2 out
- Form 061PF1
- Age 9
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey T Joseph Kelly
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 6th entering straight, disputed 3rd last, kept on same pace run-in
- Form 8P-1188
- Age 9
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer A L T Moore
- Jockey D F O'Regan
mid-division, ridden in 8th entering straight, no impression 2 out, kept on one pace
- Form P3-7P14
- Age 9
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer Mrs D Foster
- Jockey Jordan Gainford
jumped left 1st, mid-division, towards rear from 4th, ridden and no extra after 5 out, pulled up before next
- Form F09244
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer Ciaran Murphy
- Jockey C J Orr
mid-division, ridden in 7th entering straight, no impression 2 out, kept on one pace
- Form 7437F0
- Age 10
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey S D Torrens
reared at start and rear, still towards rear and hampered 3 out, soon no extra
- Form F67560
- Age 9
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer Mrs D Foster
- Jockey K C Sexton
held up, pulled up quickly before 6th
- Form 340P-P4
- Age 8
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer M J Smith
- Jockey Dillon Maxwell
chased leaders early, 9th halfway, ridden and no extra before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 7-24564
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer Mrs D Foster
- Jockey L P Dempsey
settled behind leaders, hampered 2nd, soon mid-division, towards rear halfway, ridden and no extra before 4 out
- Form P5R766
- Age 7
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer M F Morris
- Jockey J M Moore
chased leaders, led before 4th, mistake 5 out, ridden and joined 2 out, narrowly headed briefly before last, rallied and narrow lead last, kept on well run-in
- Form 00-1F43
- Age 6
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
settled behind leaders, 8th halfway, ridden in 5th entering straight, no impression 2 out, no extra before last
In depth
Verdict
Tom George sends Black Op over from the UK and he's taking a massive drop in class from the Gold Cup and King George. Willie Mullins has five entries and Sean O'Keeffe gets the plum ride on board Royal Rendezvous, narrowly beaten by Early Doors in the Galway Plate but not seen subsequently. The champion trainer is also represented by LIVELOVELAUGH (NAP), who made most for an impressive victory in the Topham at Aintree, with Snugsborough Hall in fourth, and can go in again. Annamix has been mixing it with some smart performers since winning his first two over fences and will appreciate the drop in class while Mark Walsh has chosen Ten Ten of the six J P McManus-owned entries. Midnight Maestro is up 8lb for his Limerick victory but still looks well treated and would be a threat to all if getting his jumping together again.
Formwatch
Chosen Mate (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, behind after 4 out, never involved, 10th of 19, 21 1/2l behind Sky Pirate (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Royal Rendezvous (IRE) 4-1fav (10-12) Mid-division, slightly hampered 6th, progress in 7th before 2 out, ridden into 5th after last, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, 2nd closing stages, not reach winner, 2nd of 21, 3/4l behind Early Doors (10-5) at Galway 2m 7f hcp Yielding - Soft in Jul.
Snow Falcon (IRE) 18-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd 6 out, pushed along in straight and slight mistake 2 out, 3rd and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 7 1/4l behind Easy Game (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Apr.
Annamix (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Prominent, disputed lead from 7th, headed after 4 out, pushed along early straight, dropped towards rear and slight mistake 2 out, ridden and moderate 4th last, no extra, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 13 1/4l behind Easy Game (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Apr.
Livelovelaugh (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Led after 1st until 3rd, led 6th, clear 12th, given breather and reduced lead when mistake 2 out, went clear again before elbow, in no danger after, stayed on, won at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr beating Pink Eyed Pedro (10-6) by 4 1/2l, 26 ran.
Mortal (IRE) 150-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 5th 6 out, pushed along and no extra after 3 out, 15th of 28, dist behind Freewheelin Dylan (10-8) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp (1) Yielding in Apr.
Embittered (IRE) 9-2fav (11-0) Held up in mid-division, fell 9th, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Black Op (IRE) 125-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4th, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 12, dist behind Minella Indo (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gs in Mar.
The West's Awake (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Mid-division, slight mistake 9th, 6th halfway, progress into 3rd 5 out where slight mistake, ridden in 6th entering straight, soon no extra and weakened, 7th of 16, dist behind Aforementioned (9-12) at Limerick 3m hcp sft in Oct.
Snugsborough Hall (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, 11th 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, went 4th last, stayed on, no impression, 4th of 26, 17 1/2l behind Livelovelaugh (11-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Ten Ten (IRE) 7-2fav (10-10) Mid-division, closer in 4th 4 out, challenged before 2 out, ridden after 2 out, pressed leader run-in, held close home, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Scoir Mear (10-10) at Naas 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Dunvegan (FR) 10-1 (10-11) Prominent until 3rd, chased leaders, lost some places before 6th, 6th 3 out, 8th 2 out, plugged on, 6th of 26, 27 1/2l behind Livelovelaugh (11-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Pont Aven (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Always towards rear, mistake 1st, mistake 3rd and reminder, reminders 4th, no impression from 5 out, pulled up after 4 out, at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp hvy in Mar.
Fitzhenry (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Towards rear, mistake 13th, rear of mid-division when slightly hampered on bend before 16th, pushed along and some headway early straight, 12th and ridden when mistake 2 out, no extra, 16th of 28, dist behind Freewheelin Dylan (10-8) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp (1) Yielding in Apr.
Midnight Maestro 17-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, 5th at 8th, 3rd 4 out, on terms travelling well entering straight, pushed along and led approaching last, pushed out to assert run-in, kept on well, won at Limerick 2m 4f hcp hvy in Mar beating Game Of War (11-7) by 5 1/2l, 7 ran.
Crossed My Mind (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Disputed, led after 2nd, ridden and joined before straight, headed after 3 out, no extra from next, 8th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Botani (10-6) at Cork 2m 3f hcp gd in Apr.
Minella Till Dawn (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Disputed lead, headed 5th, 3rd 4 out, soon ridden and no impression on leaders, moderate 4th and bad mistake at last, no extra, 4th of 14, 29 1/2l behind Montagne D'Argent (9-12) at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp hvy in Mar.
Jack Hackett (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Mid-division, 3rd after 4th, 4th after 4 out, improved to 3rd 3 out, weakened to 5th before last where left 4th and hampered, no extra, 4th of 7, 32 1/4l behind I'm A Game Changer (11-4) at Thurles 2m 2f (1) Yielding in Mar.
Blazer (FR) 20-1 (10-10) Settled behind leaders early, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression before 2 out, soon no extra, 11th of 14, dist behind Scoir Mear (10-10) at Naas 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Or Jaune De Somoza (FR) 25-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 4th, badly hampered 9th, well behind next, 15th of 19, dist behind Sky Pirate (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Lord Schnitzel (IRE) 13-2 (12-0) Tracked leader, 4th at 4th, dropped to 6th 4 out, pushed along in 5th after 2 out, ridden into 4th before last, no impression on leaders, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 6 3/4l behind Myth Buster (12-0) at Thurles 2m 6f Yielding in Mar.
Thatsy (FR) 11-4 (12-0) Tracked leaders, ridden in 4th entering straight, soon no impression on leaders, 4th of 14, 5 3/4l behind Star Max (12-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Foxy Jacks (IRE) 17-2 (11-6) Rear of mid-division, mistake 6 out, headway 4 out and close up on inner entering straight, mistake 3 out, 6th and no impression next, no extra approaching last, 6th of 12, 18 3/4l behind Uisce Beatha (11-7) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Tiger Voice (FR) 5-2 (11-10) Held up towards rear, 7th at 8th, progress to 5th after 3 out, pushed along to challenge and on terms 2 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd when not fluent last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Midnight Maestro (11-9) at Limerick 2m 4f hcp hvy in Mar.