Racecards
12:15 Punchestown (IRE)
Tote Always SP Or Better At Punchestown Beginners Chase
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 40y
- Going: Soft to Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €13,000 added
- Winner: €7,800
- 2nd: €2,600
- 3rd: €1,299
- 4th: €650
- Form 2110/32-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey P Townend
prominent, disputed 3rd, headed before next, 4th halfway, not fluent 10th, 3rd 3 out, pushed along before next, ridden and no impression in 4th at last, no extra
- Form 7PF-323
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer G P Cromwell
- Jockey L P Dempsey
towards rear, slight mistake 1st, not fluent 4th, 6th halfway, slight mistake 6 out, ridden and no impression in 6th after 3 out, no extra when mistake 2 out
- Form 8-24652
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey J W Kennedy
prominent, tracked leaders after 2nd, 2nd when bumped 7th, disputed halfway and led 11th, mistake and headed 4 out, 4th next, ridden and no impression in 5th after 2 out, kept on one pace
- Form 243075
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 2nd
- Form 323/1-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D E Mullins
prominent, dropped towards rear after 3rd, bad mistake 5th, mistakes 7th and 10th, in rear when slight mistake 4 out, ridden and no extra from next, tailed off
- Form 21171-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey S D Torrens
mid-division, in touch in rear halfway, 5th 5 out, ridden in 4th before 2 out, stayed on to go 3rd when pecked slightly last, no impression, kept on one pace
- Form 1/2110-4
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
prominent, tracked leaders after 2nd, 3rd halfway, 2nd before 3 out, pushed along before next, ridden and no impression before last, kept on same pace
- Form 1852-94
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer T Gibney
- Jockey D J O'Keeffe
prominent, disputed 3rd and led next, jumped left 7th, joined halfway, not fluent and headed 11th, led 4 out, pushed along after 2 out, ridden run-in, stayed on well
Verdict
Aione, a winning point-to-pointer, bumper and hurdler, didn't quite come up to expectations in two starts over fences in the spring but is likely to do much better this campaign and Paul Townend is on board. Stable companion Hi Ho Phoenix was a very easy winner of a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle last December and his pedigree is all about jumping fences. Alfa Mix has had a dozen starts over fences without winning but has competed at a high level and is a good yardstick. He holds Fakiera on their run behind Jon Snow at Killarney in August but the latter did better when upped to 3m5f in a strong handicap at Fairyhouse. SHANTREUSSE, a Grade 3 winning hurdler, never got close on his chasing bow on the latter track but stayed on once getting the hang of the job and gets the nod in an interesting event where Mahler Mission, a Grade 2 winner over timber, is another with a chance.
Formwatch
Aione (FR) 8-13fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 5 out, 2nd before 4 out, ridden after 3 out, no impression when slight mistake next, kept on same pace from before last, 2nd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Grand Paradis (11-12) at Cork 2m 4f hvy in Apr.
Alfa Mix 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd at 9th, pushed along and went 2nd 2 out, soon ridden, no impression on winner run-in and dropped to 3rd close home, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Jon Snow (11-12) at Killarney 2m 7f Good - Yielding in Aug.
Fakiera (FR) 4-1fav (10-8) Tracked leader, slight mistake at 11th, 5th after 11th, improved to 2nd before last, kept on run-in, no impression on winner, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Punitive (10-9) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp sft in Dec.
From The Ashes (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Mid-division and 6th halfway, not fluent 5 out, no impression and kept on same pace from 3 out, 5th of 11, 31l behind Glengouly (11-12) at Thurles 2m 2f Yielding in Dec.
Hi Ho Phoenix 7-4fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, jumped left 2nd, 5th halfway, closer 4 out, disputed before next, led approaching 3 out, asserted 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m 7f mdn Yielding - Soft in Dec beating Simply Shabra (11-6) by 9l, 15 ran.
Mahler Mission (IRE) 15-8 (11-2) Chased leader, not fluent 5th or 9th, lost 2nd and ridden 14th, went 2nd again next, challenged 4 out, quickly held by winner after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 2nd of 3, dist behind Chemical Energy (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Oct.
Shantreusse (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along approaching 2 out, went 4th after last, ridden and kept on one pace, 4th of 12, 13l behind Gerri Colombe (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f sft in Nov.
Must Be Obeyed (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 4th virtually throughout, mistake 3 out and ridden, disputed 4th entering straight, mistake 2 out, no impression on leaders, 4th of 7, 23 1/4l behind Minella Crooner (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f Yielding in Dec.
Derrinross (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Made most to before 7th, with leader, led again 4 out to next, chased winner, ridden and weakened before last, 6th of 20, 22 3/4l behind Minella Indo (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.