February 03 / 15.05 Punchestown

15.05

Soft To Heavy

Ladbrokes Play ‘1 – 2 – Free’ On Football Novice Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7801.65
  • 2m 3f 92y
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Ladbrokes Play ‘1 – 2 – Free’ On Football Novice Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.60
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 5-2131 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Has really found his stride this winter and put up a career best when winning at Fairyhouse last time; is up 9lb but has to be strongly considered again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:03 Wexford

Duffys Hodey

10st 3lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Decent performer at a modest enough level, three hurdle wins and twice successful over fences off lower marks this term in Limerick handicaps, most recently last month when patiently-ridden to lead two out for ready 11l win (2m4f, soft); up 9lb but remains 10lb lower than hurdles so remains very much of interest.

9/2

1st

8

31st Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 128y

18:12 Limerick

Duffys Hodey

10st 10lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Three wins last year included a win over fences here over 2m6f; has to rebound from two poor runs since a second at Tramore on New Year's Day.

14/1

Form: 502185 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Won a 2m4f Wexford handicap in October and not beaten far the last twice in decent company up to 2m6f; shouldn't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 3f 110y

18:52 Wexford

Duke Silver

11st 12lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Very useful staying hurdler, winning 2m4f handicap here and 3m contests at Listowel and Leopardstown last term; career-best when last seen finishing third of 24 in 3m Listed handicap at Punchestown festival in April; closely related to yard's good chaser San Salvador, so good chance he'll take to chasing; trip on the short side, but has won around here before so greatly respected.

5/2

3rd

7

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

16:15 Punchestown

Duke Silver

10st 11lb

J: Hugh Horgan

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Three hurdle wins and ran a solid race in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham; however, was well below that level at Aintree since and has to bounce back.

14/1

12th

14

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

13:20 Aintree

Duke Silver

11st 0lb

J: Hugh Horgan

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Winner of handicaps at around 3m at Listowel (yielding) in September and Leopardstown (18 runners; good to yielding) in December; bounced back from a lesser effort at the Dublin Racing Festival when sixth of 24 to Supremely West at Cheltenham (3m, good); same mark today.

14/1

Form: 5-6721

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Was raised 7lb for winning a 3m Cork maiden last time; just does enough in his races and can look a little reluctant at times but he has the ability to be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

13

22nd Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 7f 35y

16:30 Fairyhouse

The Story So Far

11st 0lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

midfield

20/1

14th

13

22nd Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 7f 35y

16:30 Fairyhouse

The Story So Far

11st 0lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

midfield

20/1

Form: 686/88

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Rated 83 on the Flat; maiden over hurdles but has been highly tried; a decent run last time but needs a bit more to get off the mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Jul 2026

Good

2m 6f 180y

14:32 Killarney

Jacovec Cavern

11st 5lb

J: Richard Condon

T: Paul Hennessy

In fine form, winning over 2m4f at Punchestown festival and good efforts off much higher marks since, chasing home an 8l winner over this trip at Ballinrobe and not quite getting home over 3m1f when third at Kilbeggan last month; trip/ground okay and should go well again.

11/2

3rd

4

15th Jun 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 100y

19:42 Kilbeggan

Jacovec Cavern

11st 6lb

J: Richard Condon

T: Paul Hennessy

In fine form; won by 11l off 12lb lower at Punchestown (19.5f, yielding); creditable 8l second of 16 off revised mark at Ballinrobe (22.5f, good), staying on well; step up in trip looks a good move on that evidence and should go well again off 1lb higher.

100/30

2nd

8

25th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 100y

17:35 Ballinrobe

Jacovec Cavern

11st 2lb

J: Richard Condon

T: Paul Hennessy

Breakthrough win over hurdles on latest at Punchestown (19.5f, yielding); hit hard with an 11lb hike for that 11l victory and consistency has never been a strong suit, so is no banker to back that up.

9/2

Form: 12233- BF

Last run: 310 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Point and bumper winner has been consistent in defeat in maiden hurdles; needs to be ready on handicap debut after an absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

14

2nd Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 108y

15:12 Galway

Butcher Hollow

11st 0lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Thomas Cooper

Course bumper winner (16.5f, soft) got off the mark in this sphere in a 2m4f Fairyhouse maiden in April (form hasn't worked out); unseated on chase debut on latest at Tipperary in May; this looks a tough task on handicap debut.

10/1

4

8th May 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 7f 110y

18:42 Tipperary

Butcher Hollow

11st 12lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Thomas Cooper

Bolted up on sole point-to-point start; bumper winner; consistent hurdler who got off the mark in Fairyhouse maiden (2m4f, yielding) last month; could develop into a fine chaser.

14/1

Form: 52131 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Has won two of her last three starts including over C&D last time; this is tougher raised 8lb but is lightly-raced so has to be respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

30th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:30 Thurles

Birmingham Alabama

11st 13lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: E D Delany

Has won three times over hurdles in 2025 up to 3m, rising 16lb in the handicap; was poor at Roscommon last time but is capable of bouncing back so not dismissed.

9/1

9th

2

30th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:30 Thurles

Birmingham Alabama

11st 13lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: E D Delany

Has won three times over hurdles in 2025 up to 3m, rising 16lb in the handicap; was poor at Roscommon last time but is capable of bouncing back so not dismissed.

9/1

1

29th Sep 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 25y

16:00 Roscommon

Birmingham Alabama

11st 13lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: E D Delany

Gained her third win of 2025 at her trainer's local track on latest (20.5f, good); the fourth Shadow Paddy boosted the form at Listowel; stays this far and may be able to defy a 7lb rise.

100/30

OUR TIP

Form: 40-221

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Was runner-up in three maiden hurdles before breaking his maiden in Listed company at Limerick last time over 2m; 8lb higher but has to be respected again and this trip should be fine.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

2nd Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

13:35 Navan

Balko DAnge

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: Philip Fenton

held up in midfield, headway going okay after 2 out, keeping on when not fluent last, ridden when ran on towards finish, went second final strides

40/1

Non-runners

Dumb Love, Jacobs Ladder

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €11.80
Straight Forecast €12.75
Tricast €42.37
Trifecta €51.90

Selections

POSTDATA:

Jacob's Ladder

TOPSPEED:

Balko d'Ange

RP RATINGS (IRE):

The Story So Far

SPOTLIGHT:

Duffys Hodey

The Irish Sun:

Jacob's Ladder