Racecards
16:50 Punchestown (IRE)
Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 4m 2f
- Going: Good to Firm (Firm in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €30,000 added
- Winner: €18,000
- 2nd: €6,000
- 3rd: €3,000
- 4th: €1,500
- Form 13P228
- Age 8
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer A McNamara
- Jockey J J Slevin
mid-division early, mistake 3rd, soon lost position, bad mistake 4th, soon behind, not fluent 10th, pulled up 19th
- Form F-63103
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey Ben Harvey
prominent, followed leaders and went wrong course after 10th, attempted to continue behind, soon in touch again at back of field, pecked badly 8 out, no impression approaching 4 out, soon slipped up
- Form F51-035
- Age 11
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer G O'Loughlin
- Jockey Ricky Doyle
soon chased leaders, not fluent 6th and lost position, pecked 8th, not fluent 9th and 10th, slightly impeded after 13th, under pressure approaching 8 out, no impression approaching 4 out, soon no extra
- Form P14202
- Age 9
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey Mr D O'Connor
mid-division early, closed up and slightly impeded after 13th, ridden after 6 out and disputed 4th, 3rd and slightly slow 3 out, kept on same pace from next
- Form 95PP40
- Age 11
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer Mrs D Foster
- Jockey Mr J J Codd
prominent, followed leader and went wrong course after 10th
- Form 13P2-2P
- Age 14
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer Peter Maher
- Jockey Sean Flanagan
soon tracked leaders, on terms before 13th, soon headed and slipped up
- Form 457U0-3
- Age 10
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey Darragh O'Keeffe
pushed along briefly early, soon tracked leaders, left in lead after 10th, joined before 13th, soon led again, headed before 17th, bad mistake 22nd, 3rd and slipped slightly after 5 out, no extra from 2 out
- Form P2P-945
- Age 11
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer R O'Sullivan
- Jockey Keith Donoghue
led, went wrong course after 10th, attempted to continue behind, soon in touch again at back of field, pecked 23rd, pulled up after 8 out
- Form 200860
- Age 11
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer D Broad
- Jockey D F O'Regan
waited with, slightly impeded after 10th, slightly impeded after 13th, pulled up after 8 out
- Form 46795P
- Age 11
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer N Slevin
- Jockey Mr J C Barry
waited with, slightly impeded after 10th, slightly impeded after 13th, improved to dispute 4th after 6 out, one pace from 2 out
- Form 6-573U8
- Age 10
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer Caroline Mccaldin
- Jockey Mr S Connor
waited with, soon towards rear, slightly slow 9th, slightly impeded after 13th, slight mistake 22nd, 6th after 6 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, slight mistake last
- Form 31P07-5
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer Ciaran Murphy
- Jockey Mr T J Love
soon tracked leaders, slightly impeded after 10th, led before 17th, soon joined, headed 9 from home, remained close up, kept on without matching winner from last
- Form 1P647-1
- Age 11
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer P J Rothwell
- Jockey Mr B J Walsh
mid-division early, closed up and slightly impeded after 13th, soon on terms, led 9 from home, slight mistake last and stayed on well
In depth
Verdict
Enda Bolger has won this marathon over the banks course 14 times and is represented by Stand Up And Fight, who tackles the course for the first time, and Blue Templar, who has won twice around the shorter trip here. Few are guaranteed to stay the trip but Some Neck and ALPHA DES OBEAUX (NAP) finished in the minor places behind Tiger Roll and Easyland in the Glenfarclas over 3m6f at Cheltenham and that looks the strongest form on view. The former just came out on top that day but Denise Foster's charge was staying on behind his illustrious stablemate and Jamie Codd can steer him to victory. The 14-year-old Ballyboker Bridge won this in 2019 though a bigger threat may emerge in the shape of Space Cadet, who won the Ulster National at Downpatrick just over a year ago and has been lightly raced subsequently.
Formwatch
Classic Concorde (IRE) 15-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, left 4th after 9th, 6th entering straight, 7th and no impression 2 out, no extra, 8th of 13, 19 1/2l behind Ificudiwud (11-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Some Neck (FR) 17-2 (11-4) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 22nd, went 3rd 8 out, hit 5 out, plugged on, 3rd of 13, 20 1/4l behind Tiger Roll (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) gs in Mar.
Space Cadet (IRE) 17-2 (11-10) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, pushed along approaching 4 out, ridden and no impression in 6th approaching last, kept on one pace, 5th of 15, 13 1/4l behind Fag An Bealach (10-5) at Downpatrick 3m 5f hcp Yielding in Mar.
Stand Up And Fight (IRE) 16-5 (12-2) Led, headed briefly 4th, disputed lead with one rival and well clear of remainder after 8th, left in clear lead 3 out, reduced advantage and slow next, ridden run-in, edged left and headed closing stages when bumped rival, 2nd of 11, nk behind Solomn Grundy (12-2) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f Yielding in Apr.
Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 80-1 (10-9) Mid-division, hampered 11th, pecked 19th, mistake 20th and 23rd (foinavon), modest 10th 28th (3 out), no impression, 11th of 40, dist behind Minella Times (10-3) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Ballyboker Bridge (IRE) 4-1 (11-13) Mid-division early, towards rear from 6th, pulled up 12th, at Punchestown 3m 1f sft in Feb.
Blue Templar (IRE) 20-1 (12-2) Waited with, 8th after 6th, headway and effort straight, no impression from after 2 out, ran on without threatening run-in, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Warriors Tale (12-2) at Cork 2m 4f gd in Apr.
Call It Magic (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Prominent, left in lead 9th, joined next and headed 6 out, 4th when jumped left 3 out, no extra after next, 5th of 13, 16 1/2l behind Ificudiwud (11-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp Yielding in Apr.
King's Song (FR) 66-1 (11-7) Mid-division, in rear and slight mistake 10th, no impression, 12th of 14, 23 1/4l behind Optical Confusion (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Like A Demon 20-1 (11-2) Led and disputed, slight mistake 12th, headed 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Tramore 2m 5f hcp sft in Jan.
Major Destination (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Close up, 3rd halfway, weakened before 21st, soon towards rear, 8th of 17, dist behind Shady Operator (11-6) at Punchestown 3m 1f sft in Feb.
Michael's Pick (IRE) 50-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, no impression after 18th, moderate 5th 4 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 15, 14 3/4l behind Singing Banjo (11-9) at Punchestown 3m 1f gf in Apr.
Singing Banjo (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 2nd 8 out and led 6 out, pushed along and headed after 2 out, led again last and kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 3m 1f gf in Apr beating Vital Island (11-9) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Mia's Milan (IRE) 50-1 (11-9) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, no extra from 18th, weakened, tailed off, 10th of 15, dist behind Singing Banjo (11-9) at Punchestown 3m 1f gf in Apr.