Racecards
15:00 Punchestown (IRE)
Weatherbys Ireland GSB Handicap Chase
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €23,500 added
- Winner: €15,275
- 2nd: €4,465
- 3rd: €2,114
- 4th: €706
- Form 71-1P02
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer P Hughes
- Jockey T C Carroll
always in rear, slow 6 out, lost touch from next
- Form 715-258
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey B J Geraghty
tracked leaders, moderate 3rd from 5th, took closer order 6 out, 4th and ridden 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, soon pulled up
- Form 8/0900U-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer B Potts
- Jockey K M Donoghue
raced in 3rd, 4th halfway, 5th and ridden 4 out, soon no extra
- Form 04F113-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 121
held up, 5th and ridden 3 out, moderate 4th 2 out, kept on under pressure
- Form 52/4463
- Age 9
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 120
made virtually all, ridden and strongly pressed from before 2 out, clear last, kept on under pressure, all out
De Dodger (IRE)
244- Form 244U01-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer S Braddish
- Jockey N P Madden
held up, steady progress from 6 out, 3rd 3 out, close 2nd travelling best entering straight, every chance when slight mistake and pecked 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace
- Form 47P/560
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer O McKiernan
- Jockey R C Colgan
close 2nd, disputed lead 4 out, ridden and headed after 3 out, 3rd and no extra before 2 out
Verdict
This will ride more like a 3m chase so stamina is an essential component to seek out and GLENQUEST fits the bill on the back of an excellent third to Torino Bay in the Troytown Chase last time. He mixes hurdles and chases effectively and a repeat of that latest effort could well be good enough off a fair mark. Caduceus has a 3m1f course success to his name and goes well on the heavy so he is a must for all shortlists despite having to give weight away to all rivals. Mr Eko and De Dodger may find their stamina stretched and the one to keep a really close eye on is In Great Form. Still open to improvement over fences, he really lived up to his name last winter when progressing dramatically in staying chases on heavy ground. He looks a most promising sort and would be worth a saver should the market suggest that he is ready to roll on his seasonal reappearance.
Formwatch
Caduceus (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Soon chased leaders, closed and on terms before 2 out, soon led, headed last, kept on well without quite matching winner run-in, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Coole Avenue (11-2) at Galway 2m 6f hcp hdl 8Evens30 sft in Oct.
Dantes King (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division early, towards rear halfway, no impression when mistake 2 out, kept on one pace, 8th of 11, 24l behind Pires (11-7) at Down Royal 2m hcp chs gd in Nov.
Telenor 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, blundered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Killyglen (11-0) at Down Royal 3m 2f chs sft in Mar, 8 ran.
In Great Form (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Towards rear, steady headway into 5th before 2 out, no impression approaching last, kept on one pace under pressure, 3rd of 17, 11l behind Portrait King (10-7) at Punchestown 3m 4f Ext hcp ch hvy in Feb.
Glenquest (IRE) 10-1 (10-1) Led, strongly pressed and ridden from 2 out (usual 3 out), headed after last (usual 2 out), no extra and dropped to 3rd run-in, 3rd of 20, 12l behind Tofino Bay (11-4) at Navan 3m hcp chs 0-150 hvy in Nov.
De Dodger (IRE) 9-2fav (11-5) Mid-division, progress into 3rd travelling well entering straight 2nd 3 out, ridden to lead after 2 out, stayed on well from last, won at Cork 2m 4f beg chase gd in Apr beating Island Peak (11-5) by 5l, 15 ran.
Healys Bar (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, weakened from 4 out, no impression straight, 11th of 20, well behind Tofino Bay (11-4) at Navan 3m hcp chs 0-150 hvy in Nov.
Mr Eko (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra before 2 out, 6th of 13, 37l behind Followmeuptocarlow (10-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109 hvy in Nov.