Racecards
12:45 Punchestown (IRE)
Visit punchestown.com Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €27,500 added
- Winner: €17,875
- 2nd: €5,225
- 3rd: €2,475
- 4th: €825
- Form 032132
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer A McGuinness
- Jockey K M Donoghue
led, jumped slightly left, challenged 2 out, ridden and disputed entering straight, narrowly headed last, kept on run-in, just held close home
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
chased leaders, mainly 4th, ridden in 5th 2 out, no extra and kept on one pace
- Form 61
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer T Doyle
- Jockey Paul Carberry
chased leaders, mainly 3rd, ridden 2 out, no extra in 4th entering straight, kept on one pace, mistake last
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer J T Gorman
- Jockey Alain Cawley
towards rear, mistakes 1st and 2nd, soon detached, always behind, tailed off
- Form 32
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer M F Morris
- Jockey D N Russell
chased leader in 2nd, improved to challenge 2 out, ridden and disputed entering straight, narrow lead last, kept on run-in, all out close home
- Form 3
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey R M Power
settled behind leaders, mainly 6th, left 5th 5 out, headway in 4th 2 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, kept on run-in
- Form 24
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer E McNamara
- Jockey P Townend
settled behind leaders, mainly 5th, fell 4 out
In depth
Verdict
Five of the seven entries here ran in a maiden at Limerick over Xmas in which newcomer Mister Carter gained a deserved victory. Tillahow was runner-up, just over two lengths away and a couple of lengths in front of Chaperoned with Little Green just behind. Further in arrears was Quarton, who came out five days later and gave the form a boost by landing a maiden at Naas. The Limerick event was very slowly run and all of the defeated runners had some sort of excuse but the winner did it nicely and is taken to confirm the form. However, FEARLESS FALCON has been competing with distinction in very strong company and it will take a good performance to lower his colours. His recent second to Sailors Warn in a Leopardstown Grade 2 was his best run to date and his experience will stand him in good stead.
Formwatch
Fearless Falcon (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Always prominent, close 2nd from 4 out, led 3 out, ridden and strongly pressed from 2 out, headed before last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Sailors Warn (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec.
Mister Carter (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Led from 2nd and made rest, slight mistake 3rd, ridden clear from 2 out, clear when bad mistake last, kept on well, won at Limerick 2m 3yo mdn hdl in Dec beating Tillahow (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Quarton (IRE) 10-3 (10-7) Chased leader, 3rd halfway, ridden in 3rd 2 out, stayed on to challenge and slight mistake last, led run-in, kept on well under pressure, won at Naas 2m 4yo mdn hdl sft beating Driveheron (10-6) by 1l, 12 ran.
Sacred Sovereign (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden and no extra 3f out, kept on one pace, 9th of 14, 13l behind Dance At Dawn (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo mdn stks pol in Oct (flat).
Tillahow (IRE) 4-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, 4th 3 out, soon ridden, 2nd from 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 2nd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Mister Carter (11-0) at Limerick 2m 3yo mdn hdl in Dec.
Chaperoned (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Mid-division, 6th 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace straight, 3rd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Mister Carter (11-0) at Limerick 2m 3yo mdn hdl in Dec.
Little Green (IRE) 4-1fav (10-2) Towards rear, headway from 3 out, 5th on outer entering straight, soon ridden, kept on from last, 4th of 15, 5l behind Mister Carter (11-0) at Limerick 2m 3yo mdn hdl in Dec.