Racecards
14:10 Punchestown (IRE)
QuinnBet Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Grade B)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 3m 4f 40y
- Going: Yielding (Yielding to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €90,000 added
- Winner: €54,000
- 2nd: €18,000
- 3rd: €9,000
- 4th: €4,500
- Form 410-922
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey K E Buckley
in touch, lost place after 8th, 7th after 11th, hampered at 13th, slow jump at 15th and dropped towards rear, weakened after 2 out
- Form 448-944
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey B W Harvey
mid-division, progress after 5th, 5th after 11th, 3rd after 14th, improved to 2nd before 2 out where led, asserted before last, kept on well, comfortably
- Form 6U0-U3P
- Age 12
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey M J M O'Sullivan
in touch, not fluent at 1st and dropped to rear of mid-division, headway to 4th after 11th, mistake 3 out, improved to 3rd last, stayed on in 2nd closing stages, not trouble winner
- Form 09P/P-F5
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey J C Gainford
rear, 11th at 12th, under pressure in rear after 13th, slightly detached at 16th, no impression, never a factor
- Form P-6280P
- Age 10
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 136
rear of mid-division, progress after 5th, 6th after 11th, no impression before last, ran on run-in to 3rd close home, never nearer
- Form 78F-800
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer E Bolger
- Jockey S D Torrens
in touch, dropped to 8th at 12th, progress to 5th before last, kept on without threatening run-in
- Form 421UFP
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey J B Foley
soon led, headed at 11th where not fluent and dropped to 3rd, led after 12th, joined at 13th where mistake and fell
- Form 1/4U59-P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey P Townend
soon tracked leader, closed at 8th, 2nd after 11th, on terms at 13th where left in lead, headed 2 out, no impression on leader before last, weakened closing stages
- Form 5-B8421
- Age 8
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer S Curling
- Jockey C M Quirke
towards rear, 9th at 12th, headway at 16th, 3rd before 2 out where mistake and unseated rider
- Form 006-413
- Age 9
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer S Neville
- Jockey J J Slevin
soon mid-division, headway before 5th, closed after 5th, led at 11th, headed after 12th, lost place and weakened quickly before 2 out
- Form 5470-43
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer M F Morris
- Jockey D J O'Keeffe
towards rear, 10th at 12th, good headway after 4 out, under pressure in 4th before 2 out, lost place after 2 out, no extra before last where not fluent
- Form B-065U6
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer C A McBratney
- Jockey S O'Callaghan
in rear, mistake at 1st, soon slightly detached, closed up on field after 4th, 12th at 12th, effort after 4 out, improved to 5th before 2 out, 4th last, no extra closing stages
Verdict
Death Duty, one of four Gordon Elliott entries, beat Champagne Platinum three lengths in this last year before running reasonably well at Cheltenham then unseating in the Grand National. He's been highly-tried this campaign and is back on last year's winning mark. The runner-up was then well beaten behind DIOL KER in the Leinster National at Naas and that winner has continued in excellent form having failed by a short-head to concede Real Steel 9lb in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown, form that would see him difficult to beat. Notice To Close and Angels Dawn were separated by a short-head over 2m7f here on New Year's Eve before the latter went on to score at Down Royal and Sam Curling's mare can reverse the form. Whatsnotoknow doesn't win often but is well enough handicapped to get into contention.
Formwatch
Diol Ker (FR) 40-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, 10th on outer halfway, 7th 4 out, pushed along and no impression after 2 out, 8th before last, ridden and kept on well run-in, just failed, 2nd of 28, shd behind Real Steel (10-8) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Coko Beach (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Led and disputed on inner, led after 5th, taken towards outer 3 out where ridden and pressed, joined 2 out, headed before last, no extra in 3rd run-in, lost 3rd at line, 4th of 18, 5 1/4l behind Carefully Selected (11-8) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Death Duty (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division early, towards rear before 10th, no extra and pulled up before 5 out, at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Milan Native (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Always towards rear, never a factor, 5th of 6, 26 1/2l behind Velvet Elvis (11-4) at Fairyhouse 3m Yielding in Feb.
Defi Bleu (FR) 25-1 (10-13) Held up early, closer in mid-division halfway, ridden towards rear after 5 out, no extra, pulled up before 3 out, at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Champagne Platinum (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Always towards rear, not fluent 17th, ridden and no danger from 4 out, never a factor, 12th of 17, dist behind Delta Work (11-9) at Punchestown 3m 1f Yielding in Nov.
Captain Kangaroo (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Mid-division early, towards rear halfway, weakened 8 out, pulled up before 4 out, at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Stones And Roses (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Soon led, slight mistake 10th and headed, lost place after 5 out, towards rear when bad mistake 3 out, weakened, well behind when pulled up before last, at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Angels Dawn (IRE) 5-2 (11-13) Tracked leaders disputing 3rd, improved travelling well to briefly dispute lead before 2 out, ridden and headed 2 out, 2nd at last, rallied to regain lead last strides, kept on well, won at Down Royal 3m hcp sft in Jan beating Ballykeel (11-13) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Notice To Close 5-1 (11-12) Led, headed 8th, dropped to 6th 3 out, soon ridden, 5th 2 out, moderate 3rd at last, no extra, 3rd of 10, 14 1/2l behind Royal Thief (11-11) at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp hvy in Jan.
Whatsnotoknow (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Rear of mid-division, progress to 3rd after 3rd, on terms at 8th, headed before 9th, left in lead 3 out, headed before 2 out, dropped to 3rd last, weakened run-in, 3rd of 8, 14 1/2l behind Aarons Day (11-5) at Naas 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan.
Portstorm 11-1 (11-5) In rear, badly hampered 1st and soon trailing, slight mistake 4th, closer in moderate 9th 4 out, soon ridden and no impression, 6th of 17, 17 3/4l behind Temptationinmilan (11-1) at Navan 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Feb.