May 03 / 14.30 Punchestown

14.30

Yielding

Howden Cross Country Chase

  • Prize money: £7314.05
  • 3m 0f 90y
  • 11 runners
RTV
View Course
Howden Cross Country Chase

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.90
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 20PP-4 CD

Last run: 2 days

W: 11st 12lb

13 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
8-28 in points; Ladies' Cup winner in 2022; La Touche winner in 2023; failed to find his best form last season but proved he is not a back number with a Lingstown win in March; trainer saddled a superb one-two here on Tuesday; gallant fourth behind Busselton here on Thursday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

4m 1f 11y

15:40 Punchestown

Vital Island

11st 12lb

J: Mr B T Stone

T: R P O’Keeffe

Winner of this race in 2023 and won over a shorter trip here last year, two days after a gallant fourth behind Busselton in this race; also a former winner of the Ladies' Cup; a proper stalwart here and over the banks at Lingstown, but the years are catching up.

20/1

1st

11

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

Vital Island

11st 12lb

J: Mr B T Stone

T: R P O’Keeffe

8-28 in points; Ladies' Cup winner in 2022; La Touche winner in 2023; failed to find his best form last season but proved he is not a back number with a Lingstown win in March; trainer saddled a superb one-two here on Tuesday; gallant fourth behind Busselton here on Thursday.

12/1

7/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 165500 C

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Three chase wins, including a 2m7f Grade 3 at this venue last October, beating Minella Indo; ran well for a long way before weakening in the Cross Country Handicap at Cheltenham; never threatened in the Topham.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

19th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

16:15 Limerick

French Dynamite

11st 12lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: E McNamara

Three chase wins, including a 2m7f Grade 3 at Punchestown last October; often highly tried when with Mouse Morris; creditable third in the Kerry National on stable debut; fair chance with 5lb off again; trainer (responsible for last year's winner) also has Weveallbeencaught in the line-up.

9/1

3rd

5

24th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 7f 180y

16:23 Listowel

French Dynamite

11st 6lb

J: G B Noonan

T: E McNamara

Three chase wins, including a 2m7f Grade 3 at Punchestown last October; often highly tried when with Mouse Morris; his new trainer knows what it takes to win this; possible each-way value.

20/1

2nd

6

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

French Dynamite

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: M F Morris

Three chase wins, including a 2m7f Grade 3 at this venue last October, beating Minella Indo; ran well for a long way before weakening in the Cross Country Handicap at Cheltenham; never threatened in the Topham.

7/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 00632P D

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Five-time chase winner; looked regressive last year; low-key efforts this term until much more encouraging run when clear third in good-class 2m6f Leopardstown handicap; continued return to form and proved his stamina when second to Dunboyne in the Ulster National; 40-1, pulled up before five out in the Irish Grand National.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

29

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Final Orders

10st 5lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

10yo who's had 70 races (only one of today's rivals has managed even half that) and won 11; latest was the 3m5f cross-country at Cheltenham Festival, comfortably holding off Favori De Champdou for career-best form off the same mark as today; having taken so well to that discipline (he also won there in December) and produced his best performances away from soft ground, he has to be considered seriously.

25/1

1st

3

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Final Orders

10st 9lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

High-mileage 10yo who took very well to this C&D (good) in December, winning quite comfortably by just over 4l; weakened into fifth in soft-ground C&D contest won by Favori De Champdou in January but ran well for a long way and ought to be better suited by the less testing conditions today; each-way claims at least.

7/1

5th

2

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

13:50 Cheltenham

Final Orders

11st 12lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

High-mileage 10yo who took very well to this C&D (good) last month, leading from the ninth fence and beating J'Arrive De L'Est quite comfortably by over 4l; went up 9lb for that, though, and may not be ideally suited by the slower ground today.

4/1

Form: 58708P D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 7lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 151

Form & Verdict
Top-class chaser in his prime; Irish Gold Cup winner and Savills Chase winner in 2022; placed form in top races in Britain, including third in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup; struggling these days and ran poorly over the Cheltenham cross-country course last November.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

16

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Conflated

10st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Gordon Elliott

Finished third in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup; showed some spark around Punchestown's banks course this February but this 12yo is nothing like the force of old and was well beaten in the cross-country race at Cheltenham last month; without a win since December 2022 and looks up against it.

66/1

9th

5

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Conflated

10st 7lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Top class over regulation fences in his prime (dual 3m Grade 1 winner) but has regressed and become inconsistent; gave a pretty good account when placed behind Vanillier on Bank course at Punchestown (3m1f, soft to heavy; refitted cheekpieces/first-time tongue-tie) last month but was well beaten on his only C&D start (in 2024); younger rivals appeal much more.

25/1

3rd

6

4th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 193y

12:28 Punchestown

Conflated

11st 4lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

High-class in his day, winning a brace of Grade 1 Leopardstown contests at 3m; not at that level nowadays, including fourth in C&D cross-country chase at last year's festival; runner-up on latest two runs in point-to-points, most recently at Tyrella 11 days ago; new headgear combination; Jack Kennedy prefers The Goffer.

7/2

Form: P3P046 D

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Returned to form with third in Munster National at Limerick (3m, good); best of his cross-country chases attempts in recent month when beaten around 15l in sixth behind Stumptown at Cheltenham, previously remote C&D fourth behind Vanillier.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

12

2nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

Chemical Energy

11st 7lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Very smart as a novice and some good runs in the Galway Plate and Munster National in 2024; generally ineffective in cross-country races since then however, reportedly burst blood vessels when fifth in this race last year, most recently (after two point-to-point wins) pulled up after never counting in 3m1f Fairyhouse hunter-chase at Easter; questions remain.

9/2

3

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 180y

17:30 Fairyhouse

Chemical Energy

12st 0lb

J: Mr H C Swan

T: Gordon Elliott

High-class novice chaser in the 2022/23 season, when second in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham; ran well in the Galway Plate and Munster National in 2024; generally ineffective in cross-country races since then; back-to-back point wins in the autumn offer some hope; however, he was tailed off in the hunter chase at Cheltenham last month.

9/1

11th

3

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Chemical Energy

12st 0lb

J: Mr B O’Neill

T: Gordon Elliott

Won a novice chase here in October 2022 and second in the NH Chase at this fixture that season; on a losing run of 14 under rules but contested plenty of strong handicaps in that time and back-to-back point wins in the autumn may give him some renewed belief; has soft-ground form but his trainer has always believed that good ground is ideal, so watch the weather; well held in a Galway Plate when tried in this equipment combination.

12/1

Form: 65F1P7

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Second reserve; won a 2m5f Fairyhouse handicap chase in February; went lame on next start; has had a recent run over hurdles; hard to make a case for him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

2nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

Quornofamonday

12st 3lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: J P Dempsey

Gained a second chase success with a good display over 2m2f at Thurles in February (soft); well held twice since (blinkered last time) and second experience of the banks here, having never counted in this race last year.

16/1

8th

2

24th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 210y

19:29 Kilbeggan

Quornofamonday

11st 12lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: J P Dempsey

Gained a second chase success with a good display over 2m2f at Thurles in February; pulled up at the same venue on next start; jockey lost an iron at an early fence at Fairyhouse, and was unseated four out; blinkered for the first time now.

12/1

12

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 45y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Quornofamonday

10st 9lb

J: Ms L A Byrne

T: J P Dempsey

Gained a second chase success with a good display over 2m2f at Thurles in February; pulled up at the same venue last time after a 7lb rise; vulnerable on overall form.

16/1

Form: P3-8PF D

Last run: 4 days

W: 12st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Twice successful in hunters' chases; not at his best in points this season; fell at the sixth in the Ladies' Cup here on Tuesday on his first attempt at the course.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

12th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

19:43 Killarney

Grange Island

12st 0lb

J: Mr J G Murphy

T: W J Burke

Two-time winning chaser; last success came in a hunters chase at Fairyhouse in November 2023; hasn't shown a lot in point-to-points recently and has fallen and pulled up on his last two starts; others look more likely.

25/1

1

12th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

19:43 Killarney

Grange Island

12st 0lb

J: Mr J G Murphy

T: W J Burke

Two-time winning chaser; last success came in a hunters chase at Fairyhouse in November 2023; hasn't shown a lot in point-to-points recently and has fallen and pulled up on his last two starts; others look more likely.

25/1

3

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

Grange Island

12st 3lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: W J Burke

Twice successful in hunters' chases; not at his best in points this season; fell at the sixth in the Ladies' Cup here on Tuesday on his first attempt at the course.

50/1

Form: 56P605 C

Last run: 61 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Ex-Gordon Elliott, four-time winner; modest form since Tipperary win in 2023; struggled over this course in February; handicap chase form not good enough to give him a serious chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

2nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

I A Connect

11st 12lb

J: Caragh Monaghan

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Veteran gained his second win over fences, and fifth in all, in 2m4f handicap at Down Royal's Christmas meeting and most recently finished a good third in 3m4f Ulster National at Downpatrick; previous two runs over this course have been poor (pulled up in this last year).

16/1

3rd

14

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 4f 120y

16:27 Downpatrick

I A Connect

10st 3lb

J: Caragh Monaghan

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Veteran gained his second win over fences and fifth all in a handicap over an extended 2m4f at Down Royal's Christmas meeting; 12lb higher now and has finished down the field over hurdles on his last two runs.

20/1

11th

12

22nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 7f 110y

15:00 Naas

I A Connect

10st 8lb

J: Caragh Monaghan

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Dual hurdles winner added his second chasing win at Down Royal on St Stephen's Day when taking advantage of lower mark (2m4f, good to yielding); ran well in a Fairyhouse handicap hurdle prior to his win, but his most recent run here over hurdles was underwhelming when he went clear with one other and both weakened.

18/1

Form: P0P-09 CD

Last run: 2 days

W: 11st 12lb

11 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
33-1 winner of this event in 2023 with Three By Two back in third; nothing to suggest he can cause a similar upset; last of nine finishers in Thursday's La Touche.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

Subset

11st 12lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Peter Maher

33-1 winner of this event in 2023 with Three By Two back in third; nothing to suggest he can cause a similar upset; last of nine finishers in Thursday's La Touche.

66/1

8

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

Subset

11st 12lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Peter Maher

33-1 winner of this event in 2023 with Three By Two back in third; nothing to suggest he can cause a similar upset; last of nine finishers in Thursday's La Touche.

66/1

9th

12

1st May 2025

Yielding

4m 1f 11y

15:40 Punchestown

Subset

11st 7lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Peter Maher

midfield, in touch with leaders halfway

50/1

Form: FP2-F0 C

Last run: 89 days

W: 11st 7lb

11 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Enjoyed a superb spell of form in 2021, winning four in a row, including a defeat of Hewick in a novice chase at Killarney; unreliable in recent seasons; completely tailed off behind Vanillier here in February; remote third in a point five weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

4m 1f 11y

15:40 Punchestown

Cavalry Master

11st 7lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Peter Maher

Veteran six-time winner; a shadow of his former self in points and cross-country races, though not disgraced at 100-1 in a handicap chase at Galway last September.

100/1

17

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 45y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Cavalry Master

10st 2lb

J: Ms J I Stokes

T: Peter Maher

Veteran six-time winner; a shadow of his former self in points and cross-country races, though not disgraced at 100-1 in a handicap chase at Galway last October.

50/1

8th

5

4th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 193y

12:28 Punchestown

Cavalry Master

11st 4lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Peter Maher

Last of four chase wins came in 2m7f Killarney novice back in 2021; well held over the banks here in November and brought down on latest in Tinahely point-to-point; tailed off in this last year.

100/1

Form: 2051B4

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
First reserve; won 2m5f Fairyhouse handicap in January under today's rider; brought down at the first at Leopardstown; fair fourth at Thurles last time; not an obvious contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

25th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 136y

19:05 Ballinrobe

Clonbury Bridge

10st 13lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: J P Dempsey

Won a couple of Fairyhouse chases last year (2m5f/3m) and handles goodish ground; last month's hurdling fourth probably a prep for this; can race close to the pace.

10/1

4th

4

18th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 5y

17:00 Bellewstown

Clonbury Bridge

12st 0lb

J: Mr Finian Maguire

T: J P Dempsey

Three wins apiece over hurdles and fences; was a 7l runner-up at Navan in a 2m4f handicap hurdle in November but pulled-up at Leopardstown next time; a squeak if back to form.

14/1

5

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

14:10 Down Royal

Clonbury Bridge

11st 7lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: J P Dempsey

Gained his third chase win in a Fairyhouse handicap (24.5f, yielding) three weeks ago; raised 5lb for that 1.5l victory so he'll need a career best to follow up off his new mark.

11/2

Non-runners

Busselton, Coko Beach, Peaches And Cream, Read To Return, Stealthy Tom, The Goffer, Three By Two, Vanillier

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €20.50
Straight Forecast €20.82
Tricast €77.17
Trifecta €128.30

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Conflated

SPOTLIGHT:

The Goffer

The Irish Sun:

Chemical Energy

POSTDATA:

Vanillier

TOPSPEED:

Conflated