February 05 / 15.20 Punchestown

15.20

Soft To Heavy

SBK Novice Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8465.22
  • 2m 3f 198y
  • 8 runners
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SBK Novice Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.70
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 215421 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Beaten over this trip by Petit King here but stepped up considerably on that when easily landing a 2m handicap here last month; up 9lb for that and steps back up in trip, but very much respected if he can repeat that level of form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

21st Aug 2024

Yielding

2m 4f 141y

19:10 Sligo

Morricone

11st 13lb

J: Liam Quinlan

T: Ray Hackett

prominent, pressed leader after 3 out

11/2

3rd

5

4th Aug 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 160y

13:50 Galway

Morricone

11st 11lb

J: Liam Quinlan

T: Ray Hackett

Won slow-ground handicaps at Punchestown earlier this year and was respectable in defeat there last time; off since late April but rain would bring him into it.

10/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 1-2318 C BF

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Flattered by his 24-length defeat of a well below-par Tullyhill in a Punchestown maiden hurdle; disappointing on his handicap debut at Navan the following month; might still proved well-handicapped off this mark and blinkers are tried here; could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

4m 1f 11y

15:40 Punchestown

Shannon Royale

11st 12lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Won a 3m beginners' chase for Gordon Elliott last season; lost form and has failed to show anything like his best since joining this team; has reportedly bled, including when a remote seventh behind Vanillier over this course in February.

25/1

5th

2

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 4f 120y

16:27 Downpatrick

Shannon Royale

11st 7lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Won a 3m beginners' chase for Gordon Elliott last season; lost form and has failed to show anything like his best since joining this team; reported to have bled from the nose at Cheltenham handicap on New Year's Day; reportedly bled again in Punchestown cross-country event

16/1

7th

2

4th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 193y

12:28 Punchestown

Shannon Royale

11st 11lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Very useful hurdler and last track success came here in 3m beginners chase just over a year ago (yielding) for Gordon Elliott; well held here in 2m6f handicap in November and reported to have bled from the nose when pulled up in 3m2f Cheltenham handicap on New Year's Day, having not jumped well; questions to answer on cross-country debut.

8/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 3-5515 CD

Last run: 38 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Got off the mark when accounting for today's rival Morricone here in December; unable to match that at Leopardstown subsequently and cheekpieces are tried today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

17th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

16:32 Wexford

Petit King

12st 0lb

J: Philip Donovan

T: Edward Cawley

Good run over hurdles when back from a break at Navan in November but has regressed in each of his subsequent runs, last time pulling up on his return to fences (0-7).

20/1

Form: P/3-24

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Lightly-raced bumper winner and seems to have had his issues; very good runner-up after a year off in a Clonmel maiden hurdle in December and drops back in trip here after he was well beaten over 2m7f here last month; others preferred but should do better today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

20th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 80y

15:22 Cork

Chosen Thyme

11st 4lb

J: Niall Moore

T: Philip Fenton

Bumper winner is 0-10 over hurdles; went close in a Punchestown novice handicap in February 2024 off 114 and 2lb lower now; decent effort in a maiden at Limerick latest (3m, good); testing ground fine and he has place claims at least.

9/1

Form: 216313

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner, two in Britain including in a novice handicap at Hereford in November; probably finished as close as he was entitled in a Navan novice event last month; chance in a competitive race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

20th Aug 2026

Good

2m 1f 0y

17:08 Killarney

Fiveonefive

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Cian Collins

Won a valuable handicap hurdle at Galway last time (2m1f, good to yielding), under a good ride by today's jockey; that was a sixth hurdles win but none of those has ever come off a mark this high; not a surefire candidate to follow up.

9/2

1st

7

1st Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 175y

14:37 Galway

Fiveonefive

11st 5lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Cian Collins

Four of his five wins came in Britain, with three at Cartmel; posted a solid run at Ballinrobe last time and should run well again off 1lb higher.

12/1

3rd

2

21st Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 89y

18:39 Ballinrobe

Fiveonefive

12st 0lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Cian Collins

Has recorded three of his five hurdle starts at Cartmel; below his best there last time; overall Irish form is unconvincing.

10/1

Form: 2-505F

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in a Punchestown festival bumper last year; reasonable efforts in a trio of maiden hurdles and seemingly well fancied when falling on his handicap debut at Thurles; could well be a factor here if that has not left a mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

24th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 0y

15:50 Listowel

Intent Approach

11st 5lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Absent an improved display that saw him win a 2m6f novice handicap hurdle at Down Royal 17 months ago; the market may shed light on his prospects.

6/1

1st

5

14th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 6f 0y

15:05 Down Royal

Intent Approach

11st 10lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: C Byrnes

didn't always jump with fluency, midfield early, towards rear 4th, headway 3 out, pressed leaders on inner before 2 out, switched left when pushed along before last, ran on to lead towards finish, won going away

13/2

1st

5

14th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 6f 0y

15:05 Down Royal

Intent Approach

11st 10lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: C Byrnes

didn't always jump with fluency, midfield early, towards rear 4th, headway 3 out, pressed leaders on inner before 2 out, switched left when pushed along before last, ran on to lead towards finish, won going away

13/2

Form: 2523

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Stepped up in trip to reasonable effect in a pair of Fairyhouse maiden hurdles; drops back in trip here and no surprise should he try to make it a test; each-way chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

4th Sep 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 95y

18:45 Kilbeggan

Prince Palace

10st 0lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: P J Rothwell

Sole success over fences came in a Listed novice handicap at Navan in March 2025 (20.5f, heavy) for Pat Fahy; well held in four starts for this stable and, while he has slipped to a dangerous mark, he needs to revive; forecast rain a big plus.

18/1

7th

8

2nd Aug 2026

Good

2m 6f 111y

14:55 Galway

Prince Palace

11st 8lb

J: Ross Sugrue

T: P J Rothwell

Landed a nice pot on heavy ground at Navan over a year ago but form has deteriorated since; long way off Golden Temple last time.

20/1

5th

10

24th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 85y

19:56 Kilbeggan

Prince Palace

11st 1lb

J: Ross Sugrue

T: P J Rothwell

Won a listed novice handicap chase at Navan last year off 114 but has lost his way; tailed off at Roscommon last month (3m1f, yielding to soft); unlikely.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 6-3315 D

Last run: 114 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Won a Galway Flat handicap and beat a good horse in a Navan maiden hurdle; not seen since fifth in a Class 2 handicap hurdle at Chepstow in October; pretty versatile as to ground and might well be primed for a big run after a nice break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(12)

4th Sep 2026

Good

2m 2f 141y

18:00 Down Royal

Sign From Above

9st 5lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Peter Fahey

Three wins on the Flat include one at this venue; fair sixth in a 19-runner contest at Galway; blinkered first time now.

12/1

6th

13

(15)

29th Jul 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 110y

20:20 Galway

Sign From Above

9st 9lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Peter Fahey

Three wins on the Flat include here over 1m6f three years ago; below best under both codes of late, fair bit to find with Gaoth Chuil on recent Killarney effort.

14/1

6th

5

(2)

14th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 185y

19:40 Killarney

Sign From Above

9st 3lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Peter Fahey

Three wins on the Flat and two over hurdles for this versatile performer; most recently landing a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Gowran in October; ground versatile in the past although might just prefer it a bit softer these days.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €11.10
Straight Forecast €12.44
Tricast €50.51
Trifecta €100.70

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Fiveonefive

SPOTLIGHT:

Intent Approach

The Irish Sun:

Sign From Above

POSTDATA:

Morricone

TOPSPEED:

Fiveonefive