Racecards
16:25 Punchestown (IRE)
Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (0-150) (Grade B)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Yielding
- Surface: Turf
- €50,000 added
- Winner: €30,000
- 2nd: €10,000
- 3rd: €5,000
- 4th: €2,500
- Form P4-721F
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 144
towards rear, some headway into 6th 4 out, soon pushed along and no impression before next, no extra and pulled up before 2 out
- Form R2-PP2P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer J P Dempsey
- Jockey L P Dempsey
mid-division, pecked slightly 1st, hampered 7th and dropped towards rear, no impression when pulled up injured after 6 out
- Form 44-6F14
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer P O'Flynn
- Jockey Darragh O'Keeffe
chased leaders, moderate 3rd halfway, closer before 4 out, 4th and pushed along early straight, no impression after 2 out, no extra
- Form 2-0P461
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Mr R James
always towards rear, reminders after 8th, no extra after 5 out and behind when pulled up before next
- Form 603624
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer J Motherway
- Jockey Shane O'Callaghan
towards rear, slightly hampered 1st, mistake and unseated rider 6th
- Form 25-211F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Derek McGrath
soon led, clear from 4th, 6 lengths lead halfway, pecked 6 out, reduced advantage 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, 3rd before last, no impression run-in
Popong (IRE)
20- Form 3-53272
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
mid-division, moderate 5th halfway, 7th and pushed along before 4 out, soon no extra and pulled up before 3 out
- Form 1F-9474
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey S Fitzgerald
mid-division on outer, fell 7th
- Form 41P721
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D E Mullins
chased leader, 2nd halfway, closer before 4 out, led 2 out, ridden approaching last where mistake, soon headed, under pressure and kept on one pace
- Form 8-65232
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer E McNamara
- Jockey Mark Walsh
mid-division, 6th halfway, 4th and closer 4 out, pushed along entering straight, 3rd 2 out and soon ridden, led early run-in, under pressure and kept on well
- Form 261147
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer D A McLoughlin
- Jockey B J Cooper
mid-division, reminder after 4th, moderate 7th halfway, 5th and closer 4 out, no impression entering straight and no extra after 2 out, weakened
- Form 41-6521
- Age 9
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
rear of mid-division, never a factor, pushed along and no impression towards rear after 5 out, no extra and pulled up before next
- Form 41-F235
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey J B Foley
towards rear, reminder in rear of mid-division before 6 out, soon no extra, behind and pulled up before 4 out
- Form F824P4
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer P Fenton
- Jockey Brian Hayes
chased leaders, moderate 4th halfway, no impression after 5 out, soon no extra and behind when pulled up before 3 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
David Pipe sends Duc De Beauchene over from the UK and he can race from a mark just 2lb higher than when scoring at Newbury. Harry Fry's Phoenix Way also travels over and he was a very good winner of a Class 2 handicap at Ascot before taking a heavy fall at Kempton. Recite A Prayer represents Willie Mullins and he looks on the upgrade though this is tougher than his Wexford victory. Ten Ten was beaten a neck in this last year with Henry De Bromhead's POPONG close behind in third. The latter's stable has three entries with Rachael on board the selection, who has been racing over shorter. She may just have the edge in a tight handicap though Defi Bleu and Donkey Years had a battle-royal at Fairyhouse and both should be prominent again.
Formwatch
Phoenix Way (IRE) 6-1jfav (11-8) Held up in rear, fell 3rd, at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Ten Ten (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Rear of mid-division, mistake 5th and dropped towards rear, hampered 15th, no threat from 4 out and pulled up after 2 out, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp Yielding in Apr.
West Cork Wildway (IRE) 66-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, lost place 3 out, ridden in moderate 7th next, kept on one pace straight, 4th of 8, 34 3/4l behind Bob Olinger (11-3) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.
Defi Bleu (FR) 20-1 (11-11) Prominent when slight mistake 1st, tracked leaders, headway to lead 5 out, strongly pressed after 2 out and headed briefly last, kept on well closing stages, won at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp Yielding in Apr beating Donkey Years (11-5) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Dinny Lacey (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Held up briefly, led and disputed from before 2nd, headed after 4 out, pressed leaders 3 out, soon ridden in 3rd, no extra in 4th 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 14, 18 1/2l behind Bois De Clamart (11-1) at Cork 2m 3f hcp hvy in Apr.
Fully Charged 16-1 (10-9) Led early, chased leader, mistake 2nd and slight mistake 4th, closer after 6th, mistake 7th, 4th when fell next, at Leopardstown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Popong (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, raced in 4th after 5th, pushed along in 3rd before 2 out, went 2nd after 2 out, ridden and no impression on winner, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Fighter Allen (11-0) at Tramore 2m 6f Yielding in Apr.
Minella Escape (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 5 out, closer after 3 out, ridden to press leaders 2 out where slight mistake, no extra in 4th last, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, 2 3/4l behind Recite A Prayer (11-7) at Wexford 2m 4f hcp gd in Apr.
Recite A Prayer (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Led and disputed, slight mistake and headed 5 out, disputed again next, ridden in close 2nd entering straight, disputed 2 out, led after last, all out close home, won at Wexford 2m 4f hcp gd in Apr beating Railway Hurricane (11-3) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Donkey Years (IRE) 10-3fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway into 4th at 12th, went 2nd travelling well 3 out, pushed along and led briefly last, ridden run-in and no impression on winner closing stages, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Defi Bleu (11-11) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Wa Wa (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) In rear, moderate 11th 4 out, headway into 6th next, soon ridden, moderate 8th 2 out, weakened, 7th of 11, dist behind Velvet Elvis (11-7) at Navan 3m hcp sft in Mar.
Duc De Beauchene (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Held up, headway over 4 out, closed when stumbled on landing 3 out, challenged from over 2 out, led last, ran on until reduced lead close home, just held on, won at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Keep Wondering (11-11) by ns, 11 ran.
Cavallino (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 8th, mistake 4 out and reminder, pushed along approaching straight, 5th and no impression before 2 out, no extra, 5th of 14, 22l behind Krabat (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 4f hvy in Feb.
Carrolls Cottage (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st and slow next, slow 6th, reminders in 4th halfway, pushed along in 3rd 5 out, close 3rd entering straight, no impression in 4th 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Minx Tiara (11-7) at Limerick 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Mar.