June 08 / 13.22 Punchestown

13.22

Good

Ladbrokes “We Play Together” Novice Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7182.61
  • 2m 0f 170y
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Ladbrokes “We Play Together” Novice Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 2530-3

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Dual Flat winner who has looked promising over hurdles and hit the frame in a Listowel maiden hurdle last week; needs to take his form to a new level here though back down in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

17th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

15:30 Cheltenham

Napper Tandy

11st 3lb

J: James Smith

T: Matthew J Smith

Record of just 1-9 over hurdles, the win gained in uncompetitive field at Punchestown (2m1f, good) in June; ran well at Gowran Park (2m4f) on most recent attempt under this code; now goes into deeper waters.

50/1

12

17th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

15:30 Cheltenham

Napper Tandy

11st 3lb

J: James Smith

T: Matthew J Smith

Record of just 1-9 over hurdles, the win gained in uncompetitive field at Punchestown (2m1f, good) in June; ran well at Gowran Park (2m4f) on most recent attempt under this code; now goes into deeper waters.

50/1

8/15

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 3571-U D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Won valuable sales bumper at Fairyhouse in 2022 and has been progressive since returning over the last six months, winning a maiden hurdle at Naas in April and would have won a handicap hurdle without an unseat (made very bad error) at the final flight at Killarney last month; hard to beat with a clear round.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

1

7th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 12y

15:07 Punchestown

Icare Desbois

12st 0lb

J: Anna McGuinness

T: David Harry Kelly

Formerly useful for Wille Mullins and ran okay in Flat maidens in the autumn, but his recent hurdles form has been poor and mark on the slide.

25/1

8th

6

9th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 0y

15:00 Killarney

Icare Desbois

10st 9lb

J: Cian Quirke

T: David Harry Kelly

Won a bumper and maiden hurdle over 2m for Willie Mullins in an interrupted career; form for current yard over hurdles and Flat suggests he needs to find a fair bit of improvement.

20/1

Form: 32345-

Last run: 241 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
0-16 on the Flat and yet to win in five hurdle starts but has run some creditable races in this sphere; has races in her but they're likely to be in handicaps and she's been off 241 days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

25th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 65y

19:43 Ballinrobe

Ta Na La

11st 5lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: T M Walsh

Maiden hurdle winner (rated 109) over an extended 2m4f on good ground at Bellewstown last summer; attracted attention of Stewards (banned for 60 days) on returning from 213-day absence on chase debut at Wexford in May, staying on to chase home a long odds-on shot in 4-runner 2m novice; marked step up in trip here.

11/2

2nd

5

17th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

16:45 Wexford

Ta Na La

10st 13lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: T M Walsh

Maiden hurdle winner over an extended 2m4f on good ground at Bellewstown last summer and showed liking for decent ground when second in 2m Tramore handicap later; absent since October and stiff task on chase debut.

16/1

Form: 387-1 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Clear career best when winning a maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe last month and entitled to come on for that run but has a bit to find to mix it with Icare Desbois.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

26th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

19:30 Ballinrobe

Wandering Rocks

11st 10lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: William Durkan

Dual purpose; won a C&D maiden hurdle (yielding) in May 2024; raced exclusively on the Flat in 2026; cheekpieces replace blinkers worn for last two starts; worth a market check on return to hurdling.

25/1

8th

4

(6)

12th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 182y

19:40 Killarney

Wandering Rocks

11st 11lb

J: Mr A D Bustin

T: William Durkan

Flat/hurdle winner; seemingly perked up by the new blinkers when a rallying third at Dundalk 19 days ago (1m4f); whether he'll be as good again is open to some debate.

10/1

3rd

8

(4)

23rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

19:45 Dundalk (AW)

Wandering Rocks

9st 0lb

J: Jamie Orr

T: William Durkan

Sole success for this yard came in Ballinrobe maiden hurdle in 2024; fine effort at big odds over C&D after long layoff in January when fourth to Voice Of Reason but unable to back that up in two subsequent starts; new headgear.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 6-

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off when 40-1 for a maiden hurdle at Bellewstown in April and enormous step forward required here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

13th Jun 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:42 Hexham

A Year Older

12st 0lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Karl Thornton

Better round of jumping in taking a 2m6f Limerick handicap last month (good), and his subsequent Punchestown second off 5lb higher (3m1f, good to yielding) is stronger form still; more on here off topweight but retains lowish mileage for his age; chance.

3/1

2nd

13

6th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 157y

15:00 Punchestown

A Year Older

10st 8lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Karl Thornton

Looked very limited until springing a 40-1 surprise at Fairyhouse over hurdles (3m2f, yielding) in January, form which has worked out well; fell four out over fences next time but made no mistake in scoring at Limerick 16 days ago, beating Cullenwaine by 0.75l; 5lb rise fine and he should relish this extra distance.

6/1

1st

6

21st May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 6f 160y

19:48 Limerick

A Year Older

11st 1lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Karl Thornton

Won Fairyhouse handicap hurdle (3m2f, yielding) in January and was in contention over the same trip when falling four out over fences at Down Royal last time; raised 4lb for that.

6/1

Form: 90

Last run: 5 days

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Shown nothing in two starts so far, including yard debut latest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

8th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 170y

13:22 Punchestown

Florida Strait

11st 1lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: David Harry Kelly

in rear throughout, tailed off

200/1

15th

12

3rd Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

14:50 Listowel

Florida Strait

11st 7lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: David Harry Kelly

midfield

12/1

9th

3

12th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 0y

17:05 Killarney

Florida Strait

11st 10lb

J: Mr T Hamilton

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Eighth foal; gelding by Australia out of a Montjeu mare, brother to his trainer's Irish Cesarewitch winner Magellan Strait; half-brother to five winners including the versatile Lagostovegas and jumps winner Cool Colonnade; likely contender.

9/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €7.30
Straight Forecast €7.35
Trifecta €21.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Icare Desbois

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Icare Desbois

TOPSPEED:

Icare Desbois

POSTDATA:

Icare Desbois

The Irish Sun:

Icare Desbois