November 23 / 14.10 Punchestown

14.10

Yielding

Unibet Morgiana Hurdle (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £76956.52
  • 2m 0f 148y
  • 7 runners
ITV
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Unibet Morgiana Hurdle (Grade 1)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1121-1 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Her only defeat in five hurdle starts last term was in the mares' novices' at Cheltenham when she gave 5lb to a smart winner; impressively beat geldings in 2m4f Grade 1 at Aintree in April and was workmanlike in winning a 2m1f Grade 3 at Down Royal; might just prove better over further and has to improve but a very intriguing runner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Brighterdaysahead

11st 3lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Has form on most types of ground; took her Cheltenham Festival record to 0-3 with a defeat in the latest Champion Hurdle but that was a respectable effort without managing to confirm placings with Lossiemouth, who had played second fiddle in the Irish equivalent; record of 2-3 at about 2m4f includes an easy success in the Mersey at this meeting two years ago; very smart mare who holds leading claims at the weights.

2/1

2nd

7

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Brighterdaysahead

11st 3lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Has form on most types of ground; hasn't lived up to expectations at this meeting for the last two years, beaten by Golden Ace in the Grade 2 novice hurdle in 2024 and only fourth (weakening when hampered) in this contest in 2025; otherwise a very smart mare and produced one of her best performances in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown (2m, heavy) most recently, reversing December placings with Lossiemouth and registering a fourth Grade 1 success; leading contender, provided she transfers the form to this venue.

9/2

1st

5

1st Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

15:20 Leopardstown

Brighterdaysahead

11st 5lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Beat State Man in last season's Morgiana and gave a stunning performance to win the December Hurdle here by a huge margin; nowhere near that level when a remote fourth in an incident-packed Champion Hurdle; failed to regain her best when raised in trip at Punchestown, well held in third behind two of Lossiemouth's stablemates; outpointed by Lossiemouth here at Christnas but finished close enough to suggest she can provide a powerful challenge.

13/8

1/2

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 11111- CD

Last run: 204 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 169

Form & Verdict
Dominant at Grade 1 level apart from when no match for Constitution Hill in the 2023 Champion Hurdle; easy winner of the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown for a second time; never looked like losing the duel with Irish Point at Cheltenham or indeed in the Grade 1 here in May; sets a pretty daunting standard and will be very hard to beat in his bid to win this for the third year in a row.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

2nd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

State Man

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

made all, jumped well, 3 lengths ahead halfway, reduced lead after 4 out, pushed along and went clear again approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in

5/4

1st

3

2nd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

State Man

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

made all, jumped well, 3 lengths ahead halfway, reduced lead after 4 out, pushed along and went clear again approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in

5/4

4

11th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

State Man

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Beaten twice by Brighterdaysahead this season, flopping badly on the second occasion, and was gifted a third Irish Champion Hurdle last month as main rival Lossiemouth fell; won a substandard edition of this race last year and was no match for highly impressive Constitution Hill 12 months earlier; dependable in the main and has a voluminous Grade 1 tally but a second Champion Hurdle win looks far from certain; wears first-time headgear.

10/1

Form: 1-4143 D

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Won Grade 3 Grimes Hurdle impressively at Tipperary in July and good fourth in Galway Hurdle; no match for Daddy Long Legs at Tipperary last time and unlikely to be a factor here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 1

14:22 Wetherby

Winter Fog

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

11yo who appeared to be outstayed when fourth, beaten about 8l, in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown (extended 2m7f, yielding) in May; however, that was still a good performance in today's context and he's fit from the Flat; possible player for top Irish stable.

8/1

4th

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 1

14:22 Wetherby

Winter Fog

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

11yo who appeared to be outstayed when fourth, beaten about 8l, in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown (extended 2m7f, yielding) in May; however, that was still a good performance in today's context and he's fit from the Flat; possible player for top Irish stable.

8/1

14

(11)

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket

Winter Fog

8st 5lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: W P Mullins

Aged 11 but he's a seriously unexposed, dark horse on Flat; smart hurdles form in Grade 1s in August 2024-May 2025; three Irish maiden races are all he's contested on Flat, when runner-up twice last year (2m/1m6f) and winning by a short head this August (2m) but he's not been hit hard with this opening Flat mark and having Willie Mullins as his trainer demands respect.

12/1

Form: 3/P-2P D

Last run: 142 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Decent novice hurdler two seasons ago; off for a year and never really got going in three starts since May, although a close second to Beacon Edge at Ballinrobe was a good effort; looks out of his depth here though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

19

2nd May 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 118y

17:30 Punchestown

No Looking Back

10st 0lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Oliver McKiernan

Smart form as a younger horse but on losing run since Grade 2 success at Limerick in December 2022; a step in the right direction in a 2m Cork conditions hurdle on latest but he's unproven at this trip; 4lb wrong and hard to fancy.

28/1

3rd

6

5th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 70y

13:50 Cork

No Looking Back

11st 2lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Oliver McKiernan

Smart form in his younger days, including a Grade 2 win, but has lost his way; soundly beaten at Leopardstown last time when well behind Soir De Garde and he's poorly treated by these race conditions.

25/1

4th

5

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 2f 72y

15:25 Leopardstown

No Looking Back

11st 2lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Oliver McKiernan

Won a Grade 2 in 2022 (2m, heavy); has struggled since then; more likely to return to winning ways in a handicap; looks out of his depth here with blinkers replacing previously work cheekpieces.

50/1

Form: 1-5013 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Has thrown in a few shockers but classy on his day and made all to trounce Smooth Tom on similar ground in Tipperary Grade 3 in October, but was below his best after a sloppy round of jumping behind Brighterdaysahead at Down Royal; others more likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

25th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 72y

16:30 Ballinrobe

Daddy Long Legs

11st 2lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Grade 3 and Listed winner over hurdles and rated 152; last sighted finishing well beaten in Southwell Flat maiden won by Constitution Hill; not seen over timber since Sussex Champion Hurdle second at Plumpton in April 2025; best treated by race conditions and the one to beat; cheekpieces on.

11/10

9th

4

(1)

20th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 2

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Daddy Long Legs

9st 6lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: W P Mullins

Not as good a hurdler as Constitution Hill but he's smart, finishing a flattering second to State Man in last year's Irish Champion Hurdle and then competitive in two strong handicaps; last seen beaten at odds-on in a 1m5f maiden at Ballinrobe but that's turned out to be a strong race and he reportedly finished lame; ability much respected on this AW debut.

9/2

OUR TIP

Form: 10134- C

Last run: 204 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Went back over hurdles last season, an underwhelming one despite easy wins in a couple of conditions hurdles; well beaten behind State Man at the festival here when last seen; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

20th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Sir Gerhard

11st 10lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: W P Mullins

Former top-notcher who has understandably lost some of his old zip at the age of ten, but didn't run too badly in a Grade 3 last time and cheekpieces are fitted for his first handicap of any description; can't be ruled out.

14/1

6th

3

20th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Sir Gerhard

11st 10lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: W P Mullins

Former top-notcher who has understandably lost some of his old zip at the age of ten, but didn't run too badly in a Grade 3 last time and cheekpieces are fitted for his first handicap of any description; can't be ruled out.

14/1

3

15th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

13:55 Gowran Park

Sir Gerhard

11st 5lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Former dual Grade 1 winner whose wins also include a beginners chase here; good bit below best in two runs at Punchestown this season, dropping away tamely last time; hard to be confident in now.

7/2

Form: 150-2U D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Decent hurdler in his own grade although no match for Daddy Long Legs twice; in good form on the Flat before unseating early at Down Royal latest; up against it here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

25th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 54y

18:05 Ballinrobe

Smooth Tom

11st 12lb

J: Cian Quirke

T: Andrew Slattery

Classy hurdler 4-11 in that sphere and rated 140; ground versatile; off since decent Flat run at the Curragh in October; returns with yard in form and his half-brother Royal Hollow has won for this stable over fences; could prove hard to beat if fit.

4/1

2nd

5

(13)

21st Oct 2025

Soft

1m 4f 0y

16:25 Curragh

Smooth Tom

12st 0lb

J: Mr A P Ryan

T: Andrew Slattery

Useful dual-purpose performer; third in the Irish Lincoln here in March; has won two small-field hurdle races at Cork since then, well below his best on the Flat at Listowel.

12/1

1

14th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 197y

15:05 Punchestown

Smooth Tom

11st 12lb

J: Cian Quirke

T: Andrew Slattery

Good dual-purpose performer; third in the Irish Lincoln this year off 94; won a 2m conditions hurdle at Cork in April; below best when facing a stiff task in a Grade 3 hurdle at Tipperary in July; comfortable winner of a two-runner hurdle at Cork in August; never in contention in a Flat handicap at Listowel; meets Glen Kiln on 13lb worse than handicap terms

9/4

Non-runners

Lossiemouth

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €3.90
Straight Forecast €3.88
Tricast €14.22
Trifecta €14.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

State Man

RP RATINGS (IRE):

State Man

TOPSPEED:

State Man

POSTDATA:

State Man

The Irish Sun:

State Man