Racecards
15:20 Punchestown (IRE)
www.punchestown.com Maiden Hurdle
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Yielding
- Surface: Turf
- €10,000 added
- Winner: €6,900
- 2nd: €1,600
- 3rd: €700
- 4th: €400
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer Mrs C Harrison
- Jockey S G McDermott
in rear, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
- Form 34-7
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer T J Taaffe
- Jockey D J Casey
prominent, led from 4th, headed narrowly after 4 out, pulled up injured before next
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer Miss M A Doran
- Jockey R M Moran
mid-division, ridden in moderate 7th 2 out, no impression
- Form 13
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P Nolan
- Jockey M P Fogarty
led after 1st, headed 4th, led again after 4 out, ridden from 2 out, headed before last, no impression run-in
Moreece (IRE)
102- Form 8-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
tracked leaders, 4th 4 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, improved to dispute lead on outer before last, headed early run-in, stayed on well under pressure
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer T M Walsh
- Jockey N P Madden
always towards rear, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer N Madden
- Jockey B R Dalton
mid-division, ridden in 6th 2 out, no impression straight
- Form F-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
tracked leaders, 7th 4 out, ridden in 5th 2 out, no impression
Sure Reef (IRE)
385- Form 521151-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
led, attempted to refuse 1st and mistake and unseated rider
- Form 2-2
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer M F Morris
- Jockey M P Walsh
tracked leaders, 3rd 4 out, 2nd next, ridden in 2nd 2 out, dispute lead briefly entering straight, headed before last, no impression in 3rd run-in
- Form 065
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P J Colville
- Jockey R Loughran
towards rear, ridden 3 out, moderate 7th next, no extra
Hilden
6- Form 7-8466
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey R P McNally
mid-division, 8th 4 out, lost touch next, no impression
- Form 6-8762
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer D H Kelly
- Jockey M A Enright
tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd 2 out, improved to dispute lead on inner before last, led early run-in, stayed on well under pressure
Verdict
Mick Halford trained SURE REEF to land three of his last four races on the Flat, all handicaps, and now with the champion trainer he can make a winning debut over timber. The Doorman, narrowly beaten in a point-to-point in March, ran very well over the minimum trip on his hurdling debut at Naas and will find this much more to his liking. Is Love Alive was a couple of lengths behind in that latter event and there should be little between the pair again while Gordon Elliott's Royal Captain is one to keep an eye on in the betting.
Formwatch
Career High (IRE) High-rise gelding out of Native Cheer.
Guns And Malt (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, 9th approaching straight, soon no impression, kept on same pace, 7th of 16, 11l behind Art Of Payroll (11-7) at Cork 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd in Oct.
I Need A Miracle (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, mistake 2nd halfway, no impression from 4 out, 11th of 12, well behind Ange Balafre (11-7) at Wexford 2m 4yo mdn hdl sft in Oct.
Is Love Alive 8-1 (11-7) Led at steady early pace, tended to jump right, hung right on bend after 2nd, jumped right 2 out and soon headed, ridden and no impression run-in where dropped to 3rd, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Noah Webster (11-7) at Naas 2m 4yo mdn hdl in Oct.
Moreece (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden in 10th 3f out, no impression, 8th of 14, 29l behind Le Vent D'Antan (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo nhf hvy in Jan.
Pay No Heed (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Global Diamond.
Pipe Down (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Banna's.
Royal Captain (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Cl up, 5th aftr a mile until still 5th when fell 5out, in a race won by Milsean (11-7) at Dromahane 3m ire ptp in Apr, 13 ran.
Sure Reef (IRE) 13-2 (8-9) Soon chased leaders, closed and on terms 2f out, led and stayed on best inside final furlong, won at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp sft in Oct '12 beating King Of Queens (7-13) by 1/2l, 16 ran (flat).
The Doorman (IRE) 15-8 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along to go 3rd after 2 out, went 2nd run-in but no impression on winner, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Noah Webster (11-7) at Naas 2m 4yo mdn hdl in Oct.
The Next Big Thing (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Led early, soon raced in 2nd, in front again before straight, headed over 1 1/2f out, no extra and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 5th of 11, 11l behind Ange Balafre (11-7) at Roscommon 2m 4yo nhf gf in Sep.
Hilden 20-1 (10-12) Held up, headway into 8th 4 out, slight mistake next, ridden and no impression before straight, 6th 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 14, 20l behind Pumbaa (11-8) at Limerick 2m cond mdn hdl.
Oscar's Passion (IRE) 22-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, headway into 5th 3 out, soon ridden, moderate 3rd next, left moderate 2nd at last, no impression on easy winner run-in, 2nd of 9, 23l behind Alonso (11-7) at Wexford 2m 4f 4yo mdn hdl in Oct.