April 28 / 18.00 Punchestown

18.00

Yielding

Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £65265.49
  • 2m 3f 80y
  • 6 runners
RTE2
View Course
Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

1/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.20
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1-111 C

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten in four starts; likeable effort when dropped in trip to win the Moscow Flyer at this venue in January (2m, heavy) and bolted up in the Ballymore when stepped back up in trip; slightly shorter unlikely to bother him this time and he's very difficult to oppose.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Impaire Et Passe

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Unproven at this trip and reportedly never travelling when pulled up in the Ryanair at Cheltenham last month; however, he's won at this meeting in each of the last two seasons, landing the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase last April (2m4f, good to soft; Jango Baie third), and he produced a top performance in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park this February; could bounce back with big run for last year's winning trainer Willie Mullins.

7/2

5

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Impaire Et Passe

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

A fine hurdler whose three Grade 1 wins included the Ballymore at this meeting in 2023; has reached the same standard over fences, winning at the top level at Aintree (about 2m4f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) last April, and he was ultimately quite convincing in a tactical race at Gowran (about 2m3f, heavy) last month; his form doesn't yet match that of stablemate Fact To File but he is considered for a place.

7/1

9/1

  • Place: £3.00

Form: 1U7

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Won a warm maiden hurdle at Leopardstown on debut in this sphere but unseated after a bad mistake at that venue on his penultimate run and his effort fizzled out a fair way from home in the Supreme last month; tongue-tie now tried stepping up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

28th Apr 2023

Yielding

2m 3f 80y

18:00 Punchestown

High Definition

11st 12lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

raced in second, not fluent 2nd, not fluent 7th, joined leader before 3 out, ridden after 2 out, led home turn, headed approaching last, no extra when hit rail and stumbled after last, kept on, no match for winner

9/1

7th

7

14th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

13:30 Cheltenham

High Definition

11st 7lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Went close in Group 1 on the Flat last May and, despite failing to shine on his final few Flat starts, he beat some talented rivals to win on hurdle debut at Leopardstown (2m, soft) in December; mid-race unseat in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle subsequently; has plenty of potential in this code given his peak Flat ability but there is a worry about his jumping; this race is likely to expose any frailties in that department.

14/1

3

5th Feb 2023

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

15:40 Leopardstown

High Definition

11st 12lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

raced in second, mistake 1st, joined leader 2nd, mistake then pecked on landing and unseated rider 4th

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: -11413 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Won Grade 1 at Naas earlier in the season; jumped right throughout when third in the Ballymore at Cheltenham last time behind re-opposing stablemate Impaire Et Passe; to his credit, he stuck to his task well but it's hard to see him reversing the form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

18:05 Punchestown

Champ Kiely

11st 10lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Won the Grade 1 novice here last year, beating stablemate Ballyburn; has experienced a torrid campaign after starting off with a second placing over 2m; remote seventh behind Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup; not a bad effort in the Grand National; making up the numbers here.

33/1

8th

12

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Champ Kiely

11st 1lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

The furthest he's been is 3m1f in Grade 1 novice at Punchestown Festival (good to yielding) last April which he won in good style, showing improved form; went close over 2m in November and although he slipped up next time and met with heavy defeats twice since, he went well enough to the home turn in Irish Gold Cup on latest; whether he'll stay 4m2f is a big question but he could outrun his odds for a long way.

28/1

7th

2

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

Champ Kiely

11st 10lb

J: J J Slevin

T: W P Mullins

Grade 1 novice hurdle winner came back from a long absence last season; won three races as a novice chaser, notably a Grade 1 win at Punchestown over 3m1f; a fine second to the 11lb-receiving Only By Night over 2m at Naas on return; clipped heels and unseated rider early on in the Savills; race may have come too soon when disappointing at Tramore four days later.

50/1

Form: 1143

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Fourth behind Champ Kiely in Naas Grade 1 earlier in season and ran okay in Listed contest last time but plenty to find to get involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

18:05 Punchestown

Inothewayurthinkin

11st 10lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner last year; no sign of best form on his first three runs this term; repeated previous Cheltenham trend of leaving winter form behind to finish third in the Gold Cup, despite not jumping particularly well; 0-4 at this venue and was trounced by Gaelic Warrior here as a novice; will need to catch the big two on an off-day.

8/1

3rd

7

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Inothewayurthinkin

11st 10lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

Disappointing on his three runs this term and a major turnaround is required; however, he's left his winter form behind to win at the Cheltenham Festival in each of the last two seasons (soft/good to soft), including this race last year by 6l, and he attracted market support last week; cheekpieces go on and he'll be tough to beat if rediscovering his brilliant best.

7/1

9

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

Inothewayurthinkin

11st 10lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner; had failed to test Galopin Des Champs in two C&D clashes before justifying his supplementary entry by denying the Mullins-trained star a Gold Cup hat-trick; found the trip inadequate in the John Durkan; stable's relatively poor form at the time offers a partial excuse for a lifeless run in the Savills; plenty to prove all the same.

10/1

Form: 1213

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Won a novice hurdle at Listowel before a career best third in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse 19 days ago; much more required here up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

12th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 3f 200y

14:00 Naas

Amir Kabir

11st 3lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

towards rear

10/1

1st

1

16th Sep 2023

Good To Yielding

1m 7f 120y

14:10 Navan

Amir Kabir

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

made all, faced challenge 2 out, soon ridden, went clear again final 110yds, kept on well

Evs

3rd

3

26th Aug 2023

Good

1m 4f 0y

19:40 Curragh

Amir Kabir

12st 6lb

J: Ms Hannah Smullen

T: Gordon Elliott

Mid-field Galway Hurdle run respectable; was worthy of mid-80s mark on Flat in Britain.

7/1

Form: 113212

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Plenty to like about his career so far and yet to finish out of the first three under Rules; distant second in Grade 2 last time was another solid run but he will do well to make the podium up in class again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

17:57 Kilbeggan

Thecompanysergeant

11st 12lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Gavin Cromwell

Dual bumper winner and a winning chaser; 3-13 over hurdles and rated 135; mark left unchanged after an odds-on win at Clonmel; smart sort but has never won a handicap.

8/1

1st

5

5th Jun 2026

Good

2m 3f 61y

19:20 Clonmel

Thecompanysergeant

11st 6lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Gavin Cromwell

Dual bumper winner and winning chaser is 2-12 over hurdles and rated 135; bounced back to form when runner-up in a similar race at Ballinrobe last time (2m3f, good), with Farren Glory a neck behind in third; gave Farren Glory 5lb that day and they now race off levels, while claimer also takes off 7lb; big contender.

2/1

2nd

7

25th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 72y

16:30 Ballinrobe

Thecompanysergeant

11st 2lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Dual bumper winner and winning chaser is 2-11 over hurdles and rated 132; has lost his way since fine second in the Plate at Cheltenham in 2025; pulled up in Leopardstown chase when last seen in February; revival needed.

10/1

Non-runners

Thecompanysergeant

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €5.70
Straight Forecast €5.71
Trifecta €9.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Impaire Et Passe

RP Ratings (IRE):

Impaire Et Passe

TOPSPEED:

Impaire Et Passe

POSTDATA:

Impaire Et Passe

The Irish Sun:

Impaire Et Passe