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Racecards

18:35 Punchestown (IRE)

Star Best For Racing Coverage Champion Hunters Chase

  • 9 Runners
  • Distance: 3m 120y
  • Going: Yielding (Good to Yielding in places)
  • Surface: Turf
  • €30,000 added
  • Winner: €18,450
  • 2nd: €5,700
  • 3rd: €2,700
  • 4th: €1,200
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 6m 33.00s
  • Off Time: 18:37:14
  • 9 Ran
1
Silk - Emerald green, red braces, red diamonds on cap
33/1
  • Form 1P-47P9
  • Age 12
  • Weight 12-0
  • Official Rating 127

mid-division on outer, pushed along briefly at 4th, weakened from 10th, pulled up before 4 out

2
Silk - Red and black diamonds, black sleeves and cap
  • Form 28-1312
  • Age 8
  • Weight 12-0
  • Official Rating 140

held up in rear, went moderate 5th 5 out, ridden in moderate 3rd and slight mistake 3 out, no impression in moderate 3rd when left 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, kept on in 2nd run-in

3
Silk - Royal blue & yellow quartered, yellow spots on sleeves, royal blue cap
3/1
  • Form 1151-1P
  • Age 10
  • Weight 12-0
  • Official Rating 132

tracked leader in 2nd early, took keen hold, disputed lead from 3rd, led from 6th and quickly went well clear, travelling well and clear 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well run-in, easily

4
Silk - Emerald green & royal blue hoops, royal blue armlet, emerald green cap
10/1
  • Form U1211U
  • Age 8
  • Weight 12-0
  • Official Rating 130

led, joined from 3rd, headed at 6th and soon well behind clear leader, mistake 12th, ridden and dropped to moderate 3rd 5 out, remote 5th 3 out, left 4th next, went remote 3rd before last, no impression

5
Silk - EMERALD GREEN & ROYAL BLUE CHEVRONS, halved sleeves, quartered cap
  • Form 9/2-3111
  • Age 9
  • Weight 12-0
  • Official Rating 126

tracked leaders, moderate 5th before halfway, slight mistake 9th, progress into moderate 4th 4 out, ridden and no impression on winner entering straight, moderate 2nd when mistake and unseated rider 2 out

6
Silk - MAROON, white star, white stars on sleeves, white cap, maroon stars
  • Form 1F1414
  • Age 11
  • Weight 12-0
  • Official Rating 113

held up in rear, some progress from halfway, moderate 7th 5 out, no impression from next

7
Silk - DARK GREEN, grey epaulettes, striped cap

Salsify (IRE)

11 DCD
66/1
  • Form 40/3-386
  • Age 14
  • Weight 12-0
  • Official Rating 139

held up in rear, bad mistake and unseated rider at 8th

8
Silk - EMERALD GREEN & ORANGE hooped, WHITE cap
  • Form 4P-1126
  • Age 7
  • Weight 12-0
  • Official Rating 139

tracked leaders, bad mistake at 7th, moderate 2nd at halfway, ridden and no impression on winner in moderate 2nd 3 out, moderate 4th and left 3rd 2 out, tired and pulled up before last

9
Silk - Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green cap, emerald green spots
5/1
  • Form 1115P1
  • Age 11
  • Weight 12-0
  • Official Rating 139

rear of mid-division, slight mistake at 5th, dropped to 6th 5 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up after 3 out

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

Salsify won this in 2011 and 2013, Balnaslow was the winner two year's ago and Caid Du Berlais scored last year. The latter disappointingly pulled up at Cheltenham but is much better than that and will make a bold bid to hold on to the trophy. Fenno's Storm, eight times a winner between the flags, has plenty of good form in hunter-chases and beat Stand Up And Fight 4l in a point at Kilfeacle in January though the latter has Derek O'Connor in the saddle. BURNING AMBITION was only beaten 2l by Top Wood in the Foxhunters' at Aintree, form which would be good enough for this, and he gets the nod though Ucello Conti, who pulled up that day, bounced back with a victory in a strong hunters' event at Fairyhouse.

Formwatch

Balnaslow (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) Mid-division in touch, chased leaders 14th, driven after 3 out, never on terms, weakened last, tailed off, 9th of 27, dist behind Top Wood (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f (2) sft in Apr.

Burning Ambition (IRE) 11-2 (12-0) Held up mid-division, steady headway after 3 out, went 2nd when not fluent last, led approaching elbow, soon ridden and no extra, headed inside final 75 yards, not quicken, 2nd of 27, 2l behind Top Wood (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f (2) sft in Apr.

Caid Du Berlais (FR) 7-1 (12-0) Towards rear of mid-division, struggling 13th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar.

Fenno's Storm (IRE) 1-4 (11-11) Ld, 1l adv 1/2way, mstk 14th, jnd bef 5out, still disp 2out, sl adv on outer last when b mstk & ur, at Lisronagh 4m gd in Mar.

It Came To Pass (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Rear of mid-division, 7th after 6th, good headway to close 4 out, led narrowly 3 out, asserted before last, kept on strongly, won at Cork 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Apr beating Billaway (11-8) by 7 1/2l, 10 ran.

Macs Legend (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Mid-division, 5th after 6th, lost place before 4 out, under pressure after 4 out, ridden and stayed on after 2 out, kept on well run-in, no threat, 4th of 10, 11 1/2l behind It Came To Pass (11-4) at Cork 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Apr.

Salsify (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) In rear, 8th after 6th, progress to 5th after 4 out, ridden and no impression in 6th after 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 10, 23 1/2l behind It Came To Pass (11-4) at Cork 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Apr.

Stand Up And Fight (IRE) 13-2 (12-0) Towards rear, mistake 10th, some headway under pressure after 4 out, plugged on same pace from next, never pace to get involved, 6th of 24, 26l behind Hazel Hill (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar.

Ucello Conti (FR) 7-2fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 13th, went 2nd from 9th, ridden in 2nd before 2 out, improved to lead after last, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, won at Fairyhouse 3m 1f Good - Yielding in Apr beating Sizing Coal (11-11) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.