Racecards
14:55 Punchestown (IRE)
David Trundley Artist At Punchestown Mares Maiden Hurdle
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft to Heavy (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €10,000 added
- Winner: €6,900
- 2nd: €1,600
- 3rd: €700
- 4th: €400
- Form 31/252-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer T Foley
- Jockey R Loughran
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden into 2nd entering straight, challenged last and slightly hampered, pressed winner run-in, held close home
- Form R1-4D03
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer T Mullins
- Jockey M P Fogarty
chased leaders, 4th halfway, 6th before 3 out, ridden in 5th entering straight, under pressure in 4th when fell last
- Form 080
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer Miss E Doyle
- Jockey B T O'Connell
always rear, mistake 1st, trailing halfway, tailed off
- Form 99
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer M F Morris
- Jockey A E Lynch
chased leaders early, mid-division in 7th halfway, ridden and no extra 3 out
- Form 112
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mr P W Mullins
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden 2 out, no extra in 6th entering straight, no impression when hampered last
- Form 171-5
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer D H Kelly
- Jockey S W Flanagan
led and disputed, led halfway, ridden entering straight, challenged last and jumped left, kept on well under pressure run-in, all out
- Form 4/431-6
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer S M O'Donoghue
- Jockey D E Splaine
mid-division, mistake 2nd, 8th halfway, progress into 6th 3 out, ridden in 7th and no impression entering straight, left 5th last, kept on one pace
Vic Dancer (IRE)
329- Form 650041-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer M McCabe
- Jockey B J Cooper
led and disputed, 2nd halfway, ridden in 4th 2 out, no extra before last
- Form 0-82
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P Fenton
- Jockey Mr K E Power
held up towards rear, ridden in 8th entering straight, left 4th last, kept on same pace run-in to go 3rd, no impression leaders
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
mid-division early, towards rear halfway, ridden and weakened 3 out
- Form 05
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer M Hourigan
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
mid-division, ridden in 9th before 3 out, soon no impression, badly hampered last
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer D G Murphy
- Jockey D N Russell
held up towards rear, headway into 5th before 3 out, 3rd 3 out, 2nd next, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no extra before last, kept on same pace, lost 3rd run-in
Verdict
Dantes Firth was having her first start since February and making her hurdling debut when runner-up to The Cookie Jar at Thurles. She had earlier finished 10 lengths behind Railway Zira in a Fairyhouse bumper but the latter was disappointing when making her hurdling debut at Listowel in September. Vic Dancer could just need this as she hasn't been seen since landing a Gowran bumper in February last year. Elsie did well in bumpers before a fine effort behind Upazo in a Fairyhouse maiden in November. The winner's trainer is represented by PINK HAT, a dual bumper winner who found Theatre Bird too strong when attempting to concede 8lb at Clonmel on her hurdling debut over 2m4f. It's a surprise to see Willie Mullins dropping her back in trip but the winner went on to land a Grade 3 so the form looks strong enough for this. Whisper Rock is improving and could snatch a place at a fair price.
Formwatch
Dantes Firth (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders and 3rd halfway, led before 3 out, challenged and headed last, no impression on winner run-in,, 2nd of 18, 3l behind The Cookie Jar (10-8) at Thurles 2m mdn hdl sft in Dec.
Elsie (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 6th 4 out, ridden in close 3rd entering straight, 2nd at last, no impression on winner run-in, dropped to 3rd near line, 3rd of 25, 7l behind Upazo (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f mdn hdl in Nov.
Googlers Garden (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Soon towards rear, no extra from 4 out, tailed off, 11th of 14, well behind Davinia's Tip (10-6) at Tramore 2m mdn hdl hvy.
Gorgeousreach (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and weakened over 4f out, 9th of 15, well behind Kayf Hampshire (10-13) at Limerick 2m mrs N H flat hvy in Dec.
Pink Hat (IRE) Evensfav (11-7) Chased leaders, progress from before 3 out, in pursuit of winner in 2nd from before 2 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace,, 2nd of 17, 8l behind Theatre Bird (10-13) at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn hdl in Dec.
Railway Zira (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Soon mid-division, niggled along briefly at stages, closer in 5th into straight, no impression and kept on without threatening under pressure from before last, 5th of 10, 5l behind Tropical Three (10-12) at Listowel 2m in Sep.
Scamaill Liath (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Soon mid-division, headway into 5th 5f out, ridden and no extra entering straight, kept on same pace from 2f out, 6th of 14, 26l behind Ballykeereen (11-2) at Tipperary 2m 2f mrs N H flat hvy in May.
Vic Dancer (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Led, strongly pressed and hung to far rail straight, headed inside final furlong, rallied to regain lead near line, won at Gowran Park 2m 1f mares n h flat hvy in Feb beating Romantic Fashion (11-2) by shd, 11 ran.
Whisper Rock (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, progress into 3rd 3f out, ridden to challenge 2f out, no extra in 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Kayf Hampshire (10-13) at Limerick 2m mrs N H flat hvy in Dec.
Cruinneas (IRE) Westerner mare out of Grinneas.
Give Me A Break (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Soon mid-division, 8th 4 out, 6th before 2 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace,, 5th of 18, 12l behind Romantic Fashion (11-7) at Limerick 2m 2f mdn hdl hvy in Dec.
Why Not Thistle (IRE) Flemensfirth mare out of Which Thistle.