November 25 / 13.23 Punchestown

13.23

Soft To Heavy

Liam & Valerie Brennan Florida Pearl Novice Chase (Grade 2)

  • Prize money: £19057.52
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • 7 runners
RTE1
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Liam & Valerie Brennan Florida Pearl Novice Chase (Grade 2)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.60
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 11P4-2 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner over hurdles, including Grade 2 at Limerick last December on testing ground; exposed in Grade 1 company in the spring but made a good start over fences at Galway last month when second to Affordale Fury, jumping soundly and keeping on well after making most; should win good races over fences this season but tough task here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

14

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Favori De Champdou

11st 1lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Experienced 11yo who's having a tremendous season; 66-1 winner of a top 3m handicap at Leopardstown (made most) over Christmas and took his form to another new level on the 3m5f Cheltenham cross-country course on last two outings, winning easily on first occasion and well clear of the third when he chased home Final Orders at last month's Festival; well handicapped and with the trip likely to suit, he's a leading contender.

40/1

2nd

2

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Favori De Champdou

11st 5lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Fell mid-race here on cross-country debut in December but quickly bounced back when causing 66-1 shock in valuable handicap over regulation fences at Leopardstown's Christmas festival (3m, yielding) before winning comfortably by just over 8l returned to this C&D (soft) in January; still unexposed in this discipline; strong contender.

5/2

1st

1

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

13:50 Cheltenham

Favori De Champdou

12st 0lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Fell mid-race here on last month's cross-country debut but quickly bounced back, causing 66-1 shock in valuable handicap over regulation fences at Leopardstown's Christmas festival (3m, yielding); well worth another go over this C&D and evidently in prime form.

8/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 1331-4 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumper win and both hurdle wins came here, including valuable auction event at the festival, having previously finished third in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett (Affordale Fury second); okay chasing debut at Fairyhouse early this month over an inadequate 2m and while improvement guaranteed now stepping up in trip this looks a tough ask at this stage of his chasing career.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

9th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

15:35 Killarney

Sandor Clegane

11st 10lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Paul Nolan

Useful sort at his best and has run well in defeat in Grade 1 company over hurdles and fences; finally got off the mark over fences at Down Royal last time over 2m4f; this trip will suit better; a big player.

5/2

1st

4

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

16:07 Down Royal

Sandor Clegane

11st 12lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Paul Nolan

Promising novice chaser in 2023-2024 season and ran well in Graded hurdles in winter of 2024-2025; fairly moderate form this season but he shaped better than the bare result in the Kim Muir last time when making smooth headway turning in before his effort petered out (3m3f, good); tongue tie goes back on now and this is a good opportunity.

13/8

10th

5

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Sandor Clegane

11st 7lb

J: Mr J W Hendrick

T: Paul Nolan

Promising novice chaser in 2023-24 season and ran well in Graded hurdles in winter 2024-25; well handicapped on his peak form but he's failed to produce it over the last 12 months; 0-9 over fences and last hurdle win was in April 2023; a major turnaround is needed in first-time cheekpieces.

20/1

Form: 443-91 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
By some way the best of these over hurdles, dual Stayers Hurdle winner returned to Cheltenham for chasing debut last month when making much of running and jumping generally soundly for ready success over today's trip; seems set to take high rank among the staying novices' division although this presents a much stiffer task and ideally best going left-handed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Flooring Porter

11st 4lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Dual Stayers' Hurdle winner; has not reached quite the same level in five starts over fences but he still won the Kerry National at Listowel (3m, soft) when last seen in September 2024, making all and barely coming off the bridle; hard to weigh up after a long absence but conditions should suit and he'd be no forlorn hope if ready to roll.

12/1

3

25th Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 180y

16:20 Listowel

Flooring Porter

11st 4lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Dual Stayers' Hurdle winner and fine second in latest renewal in March; had three runs over fences last season, all over 3m; won at Cheltenham, jumped poorly when not enjoying going right-handed at Punchestown, and then fair third in Leopardstown Grade 1; found 2m1f much too sharp at Killarney in July on handicap debut; trip will suit.

8/1

5th

2

19th Jul 2024

Good

2m 1f 0y

15:40 Killarney

Flooring Porter

11st 11lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

raced in last, soon outpaced and detached, some headway when mistake 3 out, weakened 2 out

9/4

Form: 1100-1 D

Last run: 205 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Rapid improver in staying handicap hurdles last season although came up short at Cheltenham final start; successful start to chasing career at Tipperary in May, despite some novicey jumping, in beating two other finishers; considerably more on his plate here on return to action.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

25th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 80y

18:35 Ballinrobe

Maxxum

11st 9lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart stayer over hurdles (dual Grade 2 winner); not done much chasing but returned to this discipline to win small-field contest at Clonmel and his Grade 3-fourth at Killarney was perfectly respectable; jumping will be tested here in first handicap; trainer going for four in a row in this.

11/2

4th

4

11th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 100y

18:37 Killarney

Maxxum

11st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Best known for his hurdling exploits but made it 2-4 over fences in winning a conditions chase at Clonmel last month (2m4f, soft); this is harder but he's clearly in good heart and likely to run well.

5/1

1st

3

2nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

16:30 Clonmel

Maxxum

11st 0lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Better known as a hurdler, with seven wins in that sphere up to 3m; was below form at Leopardstown last time in first-time cheekpieces; did win on chasing debut in 2023 but was pulled up on last start in this sphere in 2024; however, is seemingly the choice of Jack Kennedy so commands maximum respect.

11/8

OUR TIP

Form: F622-1

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ended last season one of the country's leading staying novice hurdlers when runner-up in 3m Grade 1s at Cheltenham and Punchestown; reappeared for successful chasing debut at Galway (2m6f), warming to his jumping on heavy ground in beating Favori De Champdou, the pair clear from some way out; potentially high-class staying novice and every chance he'll confirm that form here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

Affordale Fury

11st 10lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

A revelation this season; runner-up in a Gowran Grade 2 before chasing home Envoi Allen in Down Royal Grade 1; took advantage of a drop in class when scoring at Thurles; came of age with a terrific effort under a positive ride in the Savills here at Christmas; his race-fitness was possibly a major factor and several of his victims may be closer to peak shape now.

9/1

Form: /223/1 C

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
2021 Triumph Hurdle winner whose best run the following season came when second in Grade 2 at Limerick; returned to same venue after a 610-day absence for successful chasing debut (2m3f) last month despite showing a tendency to jump right and then rallying after blundering the last; marked step up in trip here and will need to jump much better in a hot contest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Quilixios

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Landed the Triumph at this meeting in 2021 and was in the process of producing a career-best performance, albeit seeming likely to come off second best in the argument, when final-fence faller in this contest 12 months ago (good to soft); absent since but has a good reappearance record, allied with his proven ability to act very well at the Cheltenham Festival; another big run may be on the cards.

9/1

7

12th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Quilixios

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Landed the Triumph Hurdle here in 2021; still seeking a first Grade 1 success over fences and form dipped in the Dublin Chase most recently, failing by a long way to confirm Naas November placings with Marine Nationale; ran well but was no match for Jonbon in the Tingle Creek in between; not the percentage call.

25/1

4th

6

2nd Feb 2025

Yielding

2m 1f 0y

14:10 Leopardstown

Quilixios

11st 12lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

Former Triumph Hurdle winner made a bright start to his 2024-25 campaign with decisive front-running success over Marine Nationale in Grade 3 at Naas in November; similar tactics employed when second to ready winner Jonbon in Tingle Creek at Sandown following month and Rachael Blackmore prefers him to the more highly-rated Captain Guinness.

14/1

Form: /2221- D

Last run: 286 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Very useful novice hurdler who proved an even better novice chaser last season, runner-up to a smart performer on each of his first three starts before ending campaign winning Grade 2 Ten Up Novice at Navan over today's trip, seeing it out well; missed recent intended reappearance at Wexford due to a stone bruise and tough task here conceding weight all round.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 50y

14:30 Navan

Churchstonewarrior

11st 12lb

J: Mr Derek O’Connor

T: Cian Collins

1-9 over fences; that win came in C&D Grade 2 novice in February 2023; failed to complete the course in three chase attempts last season; got a confidence-boosting run on stable debut at Tramore in August; long-priced fourth in the Kerry National; big burden now.

14/1

1

17th Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 50y

14:30 Navan

Churchstonewarrior

11st 12lb

J: Mr Derek O’Connor

T: Cian Collins

1-9 over fences; that win came in C&D Grade 2 novice in February 2023; failed to complete the course in three chase attempts last season; got a confidence-boosting run on stable debut at Tramore in August; long-priced fourth in the Kerry National; big burden now.

14/1

6

25th Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 180y

16:20 Listowel

Churchstonewarrior

11st 1lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Cian Collins

Is 1-8 over fences; that win came in a 3m Grade 2 Novice at Navan in February 2023; failed to complete the course in three chase attempts last season; got a confidence-boosting run on stable debut at Tramore last month; now 8lb better off with runner-up Zanahiyr; first-time cheekpieces.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €20.10
Straight Forecast €26.35
Trifecta €126.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Flooring Porter

POSTDATA:

Affordale Fury

The Irish Sun:

Sandor Clegane

TOPSPEED:

Churchstonewarrior

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Flooring Porter