Racecards
16:25 Punchestown (IRE)
AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Yielding
- Surface: Turf
- €100,000 added
- Winner: €59,000
- 2nd: €19,000
- 3rd: €9,000
- 4th: €4,000
- Form 61-2123
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
tracked leaders, challenged straight, led approaching last, stayed on well under pressure run-in
- Form 22102
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey P Townend
led, joined 5th, slight mistake 4 out, headed into straight, soon weakened
- Form 111235
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey M P Walsh
tracked leaders, tight for room and switched left approaching last, ridden to go 2nd run-in and kept on without reaching winner
- Form F13312
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
raced in 2nd, on terms 5th, slight mistake 3 out, pushed along to lead into straight, headed approaching last, one pace and dropped to 4th near line
- Form 16
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer M Mulvany
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
tracked leaders, lost place and no impression 2 out, weakened
- Form 13104
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey B J Cooper
towards rear, pushed along 3 out in last, no impression next, kept on same pace
- Form 14
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D J Mullins
towards rear, pushed along in 5th approaching straight, soon closed, kept on without threatening run-in into 3rd near line
Verdict
MEGA FORTUNE was receiving 4lb from Landofhopeandglory and beaten just over two lengths at Fairyhouse in December but has made much the better progress of the pair. After beating Bapaume in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile at Leopardstown, he ran a superb race in the Triumph Hurdle chasing home the classy Defi Du Seuil, who completed a Grade 1 double at Aintree. Bapaume, who had beaten Gordon Elliott's charge earlier in the season, was close behind in third at Cheltenham and has to be a major threat. The selection had Meri Devie well beaten in the Spring Juvenile though the latter was having only her second start over timber and should get closer. Dandy Mag and Dinaria Des Obeaux were well beaten in the Triumph and On The Go Again doesn't look up to this.
Formwatch
Bapaume (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, steady headway 2 out, not clear run and switched right turning in, driven to to chase winner when pecked last, soon ridden and one pace, no impression flat, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 15, 5 1/4l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
Dandy Mag (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Led, joined approaching 3rd, slight mistake 4th and soon led again, strongly pressed straight, kept on well run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Project Bluebook (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Landofhopeandglory (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, tracked leaders after 2 out, effort before last, soon ridden and one pace, no impression after, 5th of 15, 7 1/2l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
Mega Fortune (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Made most, driven and headed before last, soon lost place and no impression with winner, ridden flat, stayed on to regain 2nd post, 2nd of 15, 5l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
On The Go Again (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Slight mistake 1st, slightly slow 2nd, waited with towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, last before straight, soon no impression, 6th of 7, 29l behind Project Bluebook (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Dinaria Des Obeaux (FR) 4-1 (10-10) Close up, on terms approaching 3rd, slight mistake 4th and headed and raced in 2nd, slightly slow 4 out, pushed along before straight, dropped to 4th and slight mistake 2 out, soon no impression, one pace, 4th of 7, 6l behind Project Bluebook (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Meri Devie (FR) 4-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, 4th after 3rd, 5th approaching next, slight mistake 5th, moderate 3rd approaching straight, slight mistake last, one pace, 4th of 8, 13l behind Mega Fortune (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Feb.