Racecards
16:50 Punchestown (IRE)
FBD Cross Country Chase For The La Touche Cup
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 4m
- Going: Good to Yielding
- Surface: Turf
- €30,000 added
- Winner: €19,500
- 2nd: €5,701
- 3rd: €2,700
- 4th: €900
- Form 72FP19-
- Age 10
- Weight 12-3
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey B J Cooper
towards rear, no impression from 7 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
- Form U214/11-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer Peter Maher
- Jockey Mr G L Murphy
led, mistake 22nd (big double) and headed, soon dropped to mid-division, headway from 7 out, 3rd 4 out, improved to dispute lead before 2 out, every chance when fell 2 out
- Form P3P431-
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer V Halley
- Jockey Mr P Power
tracked leaders, 4th when slight mistake 7 out, soon ridden, left 2 places closer 2 out, no impression
- Form 42P1P5-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer I R Ferguson
- Jockey A E Lynch
prominent, disputed lead from 24th, led 27th, ridden 3 out, dropped to 3rd before 2 out, left 2nd 2 out, dropped to 3rd before last, kept on one paced
- Form P/P6447-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer D O'Meara
- Jockey J Greenall
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, dropped to 10th 7 out, soon ridden, 7th when left moderate 5th 2 out, kept on one paced
- Form 0/012P0-
- Age 12
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer N F Glynn
- Jockey Miss E A Lalor
rear of mid-division, no impression from 7 out, refused 5 out (big double)
Dogora (FR)
24- Form 0F524P-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ms K Walsh
towards rear, progress into 6th 7 out, ridden in 6th when fell 2 out
- Form 8/688P6-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey Mr D O'Connor
rear of mid-division, headway into 8th 7 out, closer in 5th when badly hampered and unseated rider 2 out
- Form 337P47-
- Age 11
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer Miss E McCutcheon
- Jockey Miss E McCutcheon
prominent, disputed lead from 25th, headed 27th, ridden 4 out, mistake next, no impression
- Form 05U437-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer A Slattery
- Jockey B T O'Connell
always towards rear, mistake 16th, no impression from 21st, pulled up before 25th
- Form 40024C-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey Ms N Carberry
tracked leaders, led from 22nd to 24th, disputed lead from 4 out, left in lead 2 out, ridden and joined before last, stayed on well under pressure run-in, headed close home
- Form 39U982-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer J Cullen
- Jockey J L Cullen
mid-division when mistake and unseated rider 2nd
- Form 07/3273-
- Age 14
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mr P W Mullins
mid-division, 7th 7 out, headway into 4th when left 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, improved to dispute lead before last, stayed on well under pressure run-in to lead close home
- Form 4464U6-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer C Bowe
- Jockey Mr J R Doyle
always behind, trailing when bad mistake and unseated rider 25th
In depth
Verdict
Uncle Junior won this in 2012 and was third a year ago when Keep On Track finished second. Willie Mullins' veteran can hardly be fancied to turn the tables on the runner-up at the age of fourteen and the champion trainer could have a better chance with the youngster Dogora, who ran a cracking race behind Rivage D'Or in the Glenfarclas at Cheltenham. The winner has since performed with credit in the Irish National but the one to take from Cheltenham is QUANTITATIVEEASING. Enda Bolger's charge was only fourth here last year but was cruising along when carried out by French challenger Toutancarmont at the second last at last month's Festival and was in front of the subsequent winner at the time. He's now a massive 16lb better off so can gain compensation. Rose Of The Moon, who did very well to finish seventh in the Glenfarclas, wouldn't have been sent here by David O'Meara unless he believed he could get closer and that was his first run over a cross-country track.
Formwatch
Rivage D'Or (FR) 25-1 (10-0) Rear of mid-division, 17th halfway, progress in 8th entering straight, no extra 2 out, 9th of 28, 23l behind Thunder And Roses (10-6) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs sft.
Ballyboker Bridge (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Prominent and led after 2nd, mistake 14th and headed, soon chased leaders in 6th, closer 6 out, went 3rd 2 out, 2nd before last and kept on well to lead closing stages, won at Punchestown 3m crs cntry chs (5yo+) sft in Feb beating Owens Pride (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Boxing Along (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Prominent, not fluent 1st, not always fluent jumping, 3rd at 8th, 2nd from 10th, under pressure from 4 out, 3rd before straight, challenged 2 out, led run-in, stayed on best, won at Thurles 2m 6f beg chase in Mar beating Romantic Fashion (11-5) by 2l, 7 ran.
Keep On Track (IRE) 13-2 (10-3) Prominent, improved to dispute lead 3 out, ridden and strongly pressed next, headed at last, no extra run-in, 5th of 10, 15l behind Riverside City (10-4) at Downpatrick 3m 4f hcp chs in Mar.
Rose Of The Moon (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, blundered 21st, outpaced 4 out, no impression before 2 out, 7th of 16, 9l behind Rivage D'Or (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar.
Becauseicouldntsee (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Prominent, chased leader from 3rd, ridden and no extra approaching 4 out, weakened, 11th of 16, well behind Oscar Barton (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 6f hts chs sft in Dec.
Dogora (FR) 25-1 (10-5) Disputed early, 5th halfway, blundered 6 out, no extra after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Thunder And Roses (10-6) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs sft, 28 ran.
Josies Orders (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway before 12th, weakening when blundered 5 out, 6th of 8, well behind Red Admirable (11-6) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Mar.
Long Strand (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Towards rear, never a factor, 7th halfway, slight mistake 15th, no extra after 6 out, weakened, tailed off, 7th of 8, 43l behind Ballyboker Bridge (10-11) at Punchestown 3m crs cntry chs (5yo+) sft in Feb.
Prince Of Milan (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Soon chased leader, not fluent 9th, dropped to moderate 6th from 5 out, soon no impression, one pace, 7th of 13, 26l behind Prosperity Square (11-13) at Punchestown 3m 1f amt hcp chs 0-109 gf in Oct.
Quantitativeeasing (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, in touch 24th, tracked leading pair going well after 3 out, challenged and every chance on inside when hampered and carried out through rail next, in a race won by Rivage D'Or (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar, 16 ran.
Snooze (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Held up, progress into moderate 6th 5 out, ridden next, stayed on into 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 11l behind Up Sluggarh (9-8) at Wexford 2m 3f hcp chs gd.
Uncle Junior (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Held up behind, driven 4 out, headway under pressure when not much room 2 out, chased leading pair before last, ridden and kept on flat, not reach front pair, 3rd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Rivage D'Or (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar.
Murphys Filly (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, 5th halfway, ridden 4 out, moderate 5th 2 out, no extra, 6th of 14, 32l behind Halls Bridge (11-7) at Tramore 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 gd.