Good morning one and all. With the packing ahead of my move down south (compared to Newcastle at least) and a few other distractions, I have found myself rather too spent to do a preview of the twenty runner at Punchestown. Furthermore, the internet connection where I am is hopeless so watching videos and so forth is not possible. I did the intro, but the bulk will have to be cold, boring, sterile stats I'm afraid. I don't think this field contains the Triumph 1-2-3 but if it does, I can carry the guilt to my grave. I can do a copy paste of the reviews from each horse's latest run, but anything more bespoke requires more mental energy than I can muster.
The columns are winner to runner rate, RPR >107 rate, improvement rate and overall strike rate.
Punchestown used to host a Grade 3 in January which since 2005, produced five winners of the Spring Juvenile, four winners of the Winning Fair, winners of the Fairyhouse Easter, Punchestown Champion and the Fred Winter along with a Triumph runner-up. However, the Grade 3 was last run in 2013 and the maiden hurdle introduced in 2019 has thus far had a negligible impact on the season's bigger races. This years edition looks to broadly match the race's standard, with the newcomers looking fairly ordinary, and the strongest hurdling form coming from those who ran creditably in maiden company last month. Punchestown's DIs of 0.97 median, 1.19 mean, makes it one of the more testing racecourses and the clear round rate of 95.73% is also lower than average. Nevertheless, hurdling debutants are generally not at a huge disadvantage and though racecourse experience can be a useful asset, those who ran at Punchestown last year did not fare particularly well in their respective contests.
Baltinglass Hill bg P J Rothwell f3-0-0 (75) 62 j1-0-0 (-) 0 0
Cable Bay (Iffraaj){16-a}(2.00) 3/0 Wheeler's Wonder 1st Juvenile Claiming Hurdle, Wincanton 1993
Baltinglass Hill set off with the others but was detached before he reached the first. His jumps that were picked up by the cameras were either slow or clumsy, and he eventually finished seventy lengths behind Dazzling Darren
Call Me Rocky bg Denis Gerard Hogan f6-1-3 (79) 83 j1-0-1 (-) 119 118
Society Rock (Intikhab){2-d}(1.46) 2/1 Boy Royal 1st 4yo Hurdle, Clairefontaine 2018
Call Me Rocky was the stable's second string behind Zoffanien on jockey bookings, and drifted from 25/1 to 40/1 in the market. His flat form, including a maiden win at Limerick and a second in a heavy ground handicap off 78 on his penultimate start, entitled him to a fair chance on his hurdling debut. However, it got off to a perilous start when he was badly baulked at the first hurdle. Nevertheless, he was able to settle into a rhythm and apart from getting close to the third, put in a solid round of jumping. Tucking behind the pursuers, he was always close enough to launch a challenge but was never able to land a telling blow and finished a length and a half behind the front pair. This was a respectable introduction and the standard of this performance is already in keeping with his flat form so he should continue to be competitive.
Coltor bg D K Weld f3-1-0 (86) 83 j1-0-0 (-) 111 112
Free Eagle (Red Ransom){14-c}(0.89) 2/2 Limini 1st Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle (G2), Cheltenham 2016
Coltor only made his racecourse debut at the end of August, but was not disgraced on his first two outings at Navan, and won on his third start at Navan over eleven furlongs on soft ground. A rare juvenile hurdler for Dermot Weld, he is bred to flourish in the sphere being a son of Free Eagle, and a relative of Limini, Call My Guest and Vintage Crop. He was not unbacked in the market and started the race sixth in the betting at 6/1. Settling well early on, he was held up in the rear and still had some nine horses ahead of him leaving the back. He made headway down the side and would reach the front of the chasing group at the elbow. He had no chance of catching the runaway winner, but in his absence, would have been a comfortable six length winner himself. His round of jumping was one of the cleanest in the field, and the only discernible flaw was where he very slightly skewed and pecked on landing at the third. The distance by which he was beaten puts a dampener on the performance from a form perspective, and he may be seen to better effect with an even sterner stamina test in due course. Nevertheless, it was a very commendable debut effort on his first run for eighty-four days, and he has set a solid foundation for his new career.
Complete Fantasy bg Peter Fahey f5-0-0 (54) 70 j6-0-2 (-) 118 118
Make Believe (Night Shift){42}(1.67) 0.5 Monkeylou 3rd 3-y-o Maiden Hurdle, Ballinrobe 2018
Complete Fantasy already had the experience of five jumps races to his name and after taking a couple of runs to get the hang of things, has become an honest and consistent performer. One element to his consistency is that while he largely jumps well, he is prone to making the odd error. Despite being ridden into the flight, he was big and slow over the second, got in close to the fifth and steadied into the penultimate flight before tripping over it. Racing just behind the leaders, he was another who was close enough in the concluding stages, yet unable to find that extra gear. Complete Fantasy thoroughly deserves to win a race of his own, but he is typically liable to find one or two a little stronger than himself.
Easca Peasca bg B R Hamilton f9-1-1 (74) 78
Born To Sea (Cadeaux Genereaux){1-t}(1.86) 0.5 Blues In Cee 4th Finesse Juvenile Hurdle (G2), Cheltenham 2009
Formerly with John Oxx, trainer next to no experience in field, won soft ground ten furlong Fairyhouse handicap when last seen in October by five lengths off 65.
French Asset bg Gavin Cromwell f5-0-1 (75) 80 j3-0-0 (-) 82 82
Siyouni (Galileo){9-c}(0.73) 2/1 No Heretic 3rd Novices' Hurdle, Newbury 2016
French Asset has the flat ability and the right trainer to do well in the sphere. However, he achieved very little on his hurdling debut, and managed even less in subsequent starts. Lacking fluency on his first two outings, he was also poor here as he veered left at the first, got in close to the third, and was slow over the fourth
Knight Of Malta bg Denis Gerard Hogan f9-0-3 (78) 76
War Front (Galileo){19-b}(1.21) 3/1 Thunder Rock 1st 2m7f Handicap Hurdle (118), Bangor 2008
Horses formerly trained by Aiden O'Brien have a winners to runners rate of 20.90%, and the figure drops to 18.37% for those not trained by Joseph. Still a maiden after nine starts, he ran his best race to date when third at Dundalk on his stable debut, but finished midfield in a claimer at the same venue ten days ago. Stable has had just one win from forty-one newcomers and has stronger candidates in the race.
Palm Beach bc Joseph Patrick O'Brien f2-1-0 (-) 82 j2-0-2 (-) 120 124
Galileo (Anabaa){8-f}(0.77) 2/1 Armen 3rd Anniversary Hurdle (G2), Aintree 2001
Palm Beach won a reasonable maiden on the second of his flat starts and followed up with a good second to Crassus at this venue at the start of the month. His jumping was fairly novicey on that occasion but was better here apart from getting close to three out, and being slightly tired over the last. Tracking the leaders throughout, he appeared to make the winning move when jumping to the front at the penultimate flight. However, he was outjumped at the last and was never able to regain the initiative. This is the second time he has been outbattled in as many races, but does not appear to be one who shirks the duels. Crassus was a more experienced rival and the going, while heavy at the start of the month, was even more testing here and that ultimately made the difference. Palm Beach has the class and aptitude to win one of these things, and with very few miles on the clock, he may still be able to progress beyond this level.
Pretorius chg Gavin Cromwell f2-0-0 DeF
Durban Thunder (Saddex){1-e}(0.54) 2/1 Pahaska 2nd 3yo Newcomers Hurdle, Auteuil 2016
Pretorius provided viewers with some comic relief during the preliminaries by exuviating his jockey when leaving the paddock, and exploring the vast expanses of Punchestown racecourse. During his adventure in the snow, he even cleared one of the bank fences and while he was not especially tidy, and was slow getting away, he negotiated it safely enough. After joining his equine chums at the start, he became bored with milling around, and galloped along the road back to the saddling enclosure. While we learned nothing of his ability as a juvenile hurdler, Pretorius was still able to demonstrate a willingness to jump large obstacles, and an intelligence which may or may not be helpful in his intended vocation.
Raamez chg Gordon Elliott f8-1-0 FrF 36.5 (80.3) j1-0-0 (-) 8 7
Sea The Stars (Nayef){15-a}(1.86) 2/1 Takjreej 4th Selling Hurdle, Stratford 2012
Raamez won as a two-year-old for John Hammond and was not disgraced on his first outing for Fran?ois Rohaut back in May. However, his form deteriorated in the meantime and he fetched just 20,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Autumn Sale. Held up in mid-division, he was fluent enough in the early stages but his jumping fell to pieces after getting very close to the fourth and was a spent force with half a mile to run. This performance in conjunction with his regressive flat form leaves him with much to answer
Saeer chg Gordon Elliott f4-0-1 (63) 65 j1-0-0 (-) 88 87
Australia (Pivotal){6-e}(0.88) 2/1 Persian Warrior 1st Novice Hurdle, Stratford 2009
Saeer ran four times for Sir Michael Stoute, and with a flat rating of 63, joined Gordon Elliott for 9,000 guineas. An unused reserve at Leopardstown, horses leaving Freemason Lodge generally struggle to improve on their flat form and he was the least fancied of his yard's three runners. Held up in midfield, he never looked like getting competitive and still had seven ahead of him at the distance. He usurped three of those rivals but was still beaten forty-four lengths in the end. His hurdling had been reasonable prior to a slow jump at the sixth, and the round was capped off by a pair of tired leaps at the final two flights. It was not a disgraceful introduction and wanting for fitness, he likely blew up towards the end. He might be suited by an easier test.
Star Of Cashel bg J A Stack f8-3-1 (89) 95 j1-0-0 (-) 116 115
No Nay Never (Dubai Destination){11}(1.22) 2/1 Woody's Dream 4th 4YO Hurdle, Fontwell 2009
Star Of Cashel is a rare juvenile hurdler for Fozzy Stack, but he was the highest rated flat horse coming into the race and had shown himself game in nature. He was a drifter in the market beforehand and he completely lacked fluency on his introduction to the sphere, After making a blunder at the first, he was big and slow over the second, steady and close at the third and especially the fourth, and was close again at the next two before stumbling over the last. It is a appreciable amount of class which allowed Star Of Cashel to finish as close as he did and should he become more fluent, then he might be quite useful. Particularly on a sharper circuit.
Trebizond bg Henry De Bromhead j1-0-0 (-) 102 103
Golden Horn (Night Shift){4-n}(1.25) 0.5 Burns Night 1st Handicap Hurdle (83), Stratford 2013
Trebizond initially cost Godolphin 300,000 guineas as a yearling, but this close relative of Palace Pier never ran on the flat and joined Henry de Bromhead for nearly a tenth of the original price in September. Unraced newcomers generally have a poor record in the sphere. Nevertheless, Golden Horn has made a solid start as a sire of juveniles, and with Rachael Blackmore on board, Trebizond was sent off third favourite at 5/1. He was fresh early without being worryingly keen, but he made a tremendous blunder at the first and skewed in mid air at the third. The remainder of his hurdlers were taken well enough and having initially been ridden conservatively, he stayed on at one pace on the run-in to reach his best position inside the final half-furlong. Though a long way behind the winner, he will have learned a lot from this experience and can improve sufficiently to be competitive in ordinary company
Turkestan bg Mark Michael McNiff f4-0-1 (72) 74
New Approach (Seeking The Gold){3-c}(1.15) 0.5 Douman 4th 3yo Maiden Hurdle, Punchestown 2014
Left Roger Varian for 11,000gns at the Tatts August sale. Ex Varian horses have a respectable winners to runners rate of 32.14%, but a lesser improvement rate of 26.32%. The horse was twice beaten off 75 in August, but has largely ran to the same level on all four starts. Out of a half-sister to St Leger winner might help his ability to stay the trip. Trainer has not had a first time winner in the sphere.
Zoffanien bg Denis Gerard Hogan f6-2-0 FrF 37.5 (85) 58 j2-0-1 (-) 116 121
Zoffany (Monsun){1-n}(0.87) 2/1 Amarak 1st 4yo Conditions Hurdle, Auteuil 2011
Zoffanien was a fairly useful dual winner on the flat in France and made a pleasing start to his hurdling career at this venue behind Crassus and Palm Beach. However, his jumping was nowhere near as tidy on his return as after being badly baulked at the first, was hesitant and untidy at the second and while he was better over the next few, his round concluded with a series of untidy jumps. These errors were not serious and it is unlikely his confidence will be too aversely affected in the long run. Zoffanien was unable to match his debut performance but he was still a long way clear of the remainder and he should be able to bounce back from this showing.
Army Of One bf Gavin Cromwell f5-0-1 DeF GAG 63.5 (47) 67 j2-0-0 (-) 44 44
Kingston Hill (Authorized){2-n}(0.50) 2/1 Aberwind 3rd Handicap Hurdle (122), Compiegne 2020
Army Of One made her stable/hurdles debut in the Listed race at Aintree early this month, but finished ninety lengths behind the winner and would have been beaten further had they jumped more than five hurdles. Unfancied beforehand, she was always closer to last than first and made errors, some of them quite bad, at each and every hurdle.
Brides Hill bf Gavin Cromwell Unraced
Dylan Thomas (Groom Dancer){5-h}(1.22) 0.5 Count Simon 1st Handicap Hurdle (133), Perth 2019
Gavin Cromwell has had nine juveniles who began the campaign unraced, with only one being a winner and that happened on the sixth start. Two half siblings performed over two and a half miles and dam is half-sister to NH sire Gamut. Yard is still out of form.
Curious Bride bf Noel Meade f9-1-0 (80) 85 j1-0-1 (-) 108 113
Excelebration (Three Valleys){1-n}(3.00) 3/1 Low Sun 1st Handicap Hurdle (B,132), Galway 2018
Curious Bride had ran nine times on the flat but while initially rated 71, had began to look disappointing during the summer. However, she took advantage of a drop to 64 and ran out an easy winner of a twelve furlong Cork handicap in mid September. The runner-up has since won three times and Curious Bride was not disgraced on either of her subsequent outings at Dundalk where fifth on each occasion. The rating of 80 was the joint highest in this contest when counting her sex allowance and trainer Noel Meade won this contest in 2017. Her sire was some cause for concern as none of his thirteen juvenile hurdlers have won a race from forty-three attempts. Nevertheless, she was backed in the ring from 11/4 to 2/1 at the off and apart from reaching at the fourth and getting close to the fifth, jumped well on her debut. Another who raced prominently, she was not the quickest getting away from the last and while she put her head down on the run-in, she was unable to match the winner and was slightly worried out of the battle by her more imposing rival
Autumn Evening. Notwithstanding, she was eleven lengths clear of the remainder and this progressive filly likely has more to offer in the coming weeks and months.
Lady Kapalua bf J P Dempsey j3-0-0 (-) 67 66
Maxios (Champs Elysees){1-l}(0.76) 3/2 Hills Of Aran 2nd Rendlesham Hurdle (G2), Haydock 2009
Lady Kapalua had been quite ignominious on her two starts to date coming at Roscommon in August, and Fairyhouse in December. Nevertheless, though she never left the rear and was beaten fifty-eight lengths, she posted her best round of jumping, and her best performance to date.
Poetica bf John Joseph Hanlon f6-0-1 (54) 61 j3-0-0 (-) 27 34
Lope De Vega (Motivator){10}(1.22) 0.5 Lilypad 1st Mares' Handicap Hurdle (98), Uttoxeter 2020
Poetica's first two runs over hurdles could be ignored as her saddle slipped at Cork, and he was hampered and unseated early on at Leopardstown. Starting at 125/1, she was in the rear throughout, was very steady and slow at all of the hurdles where she was picked up by the camera, and finished seventy-three lengths last of seventeen.
RESERVES
Anno Maximo bg David Harry Kelly f6-0-1 (62) 64 j1-0-0 (-) 36 35
Maxios (Singspiel){7-f}(0.76) 2/2 Aachen 2nd Veterans' Chase Final (146), Sandown 2016
Anno Maximo was second off a mark of 60 in a firm ground Bath handicap on his penultimate start for Micheal Bell, but his breeding suggested that he could do reasonably well over hurdles. However, he was unfancied in the betting and made minor errors without ever escaping the rear.
Hisdaywillcome blg Thomas Cooper Unraced
Dragon Pulse (Lucky Guest){1-e}(1.22) 0.5 Niven 1st 1m7f Handicap Chase (122), Catterick 2020
Thomas Cooper has yet to have a first time winner in the division and his three racecourse debutants were all soundly beaten.
Master Rocco chg P C O'Connor f13-0-1 (52) 59 j1-0-0 (-) 81 80
Dawn Approach (Shirocco){14-c}(0.68) 2/2 Mourad 2nd Champion 4YO Hurdle (G1), Punchestown 2009
Master Rocco finished last in a claimer on his final start for Jane Chapple-Hyam and was completely unfancied here. Taking a keen hold early, he pulled himself to the front which is where he remained until the third last wherever he faded tamely. His jumping was poor over the first two flights but he settled into a rhythm and hurdled cleanly for the most part. Though he was beaten a long way, he was the best placed of the front runners and if he learns to settle better then he may be able to do himself justice in lesser company.
Other notes
Gordon Elliott has had seven runners in this race with the best placed coming fifth. Fozzy Stack trained the winner in 2019 while Noel Meade saddled the runner up.
Might do an arbitrary prospects list if I wake up early enough and have enough time remaining for the journey prep... Which is no certainty. Palm Beach and Coltor currently head the betting, and I would be more inclined to make the latter the strong prospect.
