April 28 / 16.15 Punchestown

16.15

Yielding

PRL Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £64021.74
  • 2m 0f 132y
  • 8 runners
RTE2
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PRL Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £17.00
  • Place: £3.50

Form: 2-1510 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Both wins have come when ridden from the front, a Galway maiden hurdle and a Thurles handicap off 124; has come up well short in both previous runs in graded company; now tried in a hood; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

16:15 Punchestown

Eachtotheirown

11st 12lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Barry Connell

Both wins have come when ridden from the front, a Galway maiden hurdle and a Thurles handicap off 124; has come up well short in both previous runs in graded company; now tried in a hood; others preferred.

12/1

10th

2

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

13:20 Cheltenham

Eachtotheirown

11st 7lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Barry Connell

Evidently well suited by being able to dominate as he's 2-2 under front-running tactics (0-3 otherwise); trounced his rivals in Thurles handicap (2m, yielding) most recently, proving well ahead of a mark of 124; should have more to offer in the right circumstances and grade but this scenario fails on both counts; faces a stiff task on the figures and competition for the lead.

50/1

1st

3

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

1m 7f 168y

13:40 Thurles

Eachtotheirown

11st 10lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Barry Connell

Solid runs in defeat in both bumper starts before returning from a 245-day break to make an immediate breakthrough over hurdles at Galway with the minimum of fuss, and form of that race looks reasonable (2m, yielding); too keen in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse last time when a 20l fifth; big player on handicap debut.

4/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: -1252F D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Flat winner; won impressively on hurdles debut at Down Royal and then touched off in the Royal Bond by Koktail Brut; further behind that rival in DRF Grade 1 and beaten a neck by Le Labo in Grade 3 at Naas; still in the mix when falling at the last at Fairyhouse last time in first-time cheekpieces (discarded); can go close with a clear round.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

16:15 Punchestown

Blake

11st 12lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

Flat winner; won impressively on hurdles debut at Down Royal and then touched off in the Royal Bond by Koktail Brut; further behind that rival in DRF Grade 1 and beaten a neck by Le Labo in Grade 3 at Naas; still in the mix when falling at the last at Fairyhouse last time in first-time cheekpieces (discarded); can go close with a clear round.

8/1

3

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 0y

14:40 Fairyhouse

Blake

11st 4lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

Three Flat turf wins, including a Leopardstown premier handicap on heavy; has taken well to hurdling, winning Down Royal maiden and just denied by Koktail Brut in Grade 2 Royal Bond over C&D; 2l behind Koktail Brut when fifth in DRF Grade 1; sloppy jumping proved costly when beaten a neck by Le Labo at Navan; first time with cheekpieces.

6/1

2nd

3

8th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 77y

14:30 Naas

Blake

11st 1lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Noel Meade

Three Flat turf wins, including a Leopardstown premier handicap on heavy; has taken well to hurdling, winning Down Royal maiden and just denied in Grade 2 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse; DRF fifth at Grade 1 level wasn't a bad effort either; skips the Supreme for this and sets the standard.

15/8

11/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 10-UF1 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner; mishaps first two runs over timber, unseating at the first at Thurles then falling with the race at his mercy at Cork; put in a clear round last time in a Grade 3 at Naas (16.5f, sft-hvy) and lowered the colours of Blake by a neck; should go well again if as effective on this quicker ground (bumper win on good).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

16:15 Punchestown

Le Labo

11st 12lb

J: Mr J L Gleeson

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Bumper winner; mishaps first two runs over timber, unseating at the first at Thurles then falling with the race at his mercy at Cork; put in a clear round last time in a Grade 3 at Naas (16.5f, sft-hvy) and lowered the colours of Blake by a neck; should go well again if as effective on this quicker ground (bumper win on good).

11/2

1st

5

8th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 77y

14:30 Naas

Le Labo

11st 1lb

J: Mr J L Gleeson

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Out of an unraced half-sister to Champion Hurdle winner Binocular; overcame inexperience to win Thurles bumper a year ago (good) but flopped in Grade 2 Aintree bumper following month; unseated at the first on hurdling debut at Thurles in November and following month looked set to score (clear of subsequent Grade 2 winner Kazansky) when falling at the last in Cork maiden (soft-to-heavy); remains a potentially smart sort, could go well.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 52-F15 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
One of three for yard; smart bumper form; fell with race at his mercy on hurdles debut at Leopardstown in December; survived a final flight blunder to win a maiden at Thurles; didn't get home up the Cheltenham hill in the Supreme last time; this track should suit better; preferred by Kennedy and big chance if cutting out the jumping errors.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

16:15 Punchestown

El Cairos

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

One of three for yard; smart bumper form; fell with race at his mercy on hurdles debut at Leopardstown in December; survived a final flight blunder to win a maiden at Thurles; didn't get home up the Cheltenham hill in the Supreme last time; this track should suit better; preferred by Kennedy and big chance if cutting out the jumping errors.

15/8

5th

3

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

13:20 Cheltenham

El Cairos

11st 7lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Appears to act on any ground; good fifth in the Champion Bumper at this meeting last year then might have won at Punchestown but for hanging badly left; sold for £410,000 at the David Maxwell dispersal in October; clumsy at the final flight in both attempts over hurdles, causing him to stumble and fall when looking the likely winner at Leopardstown but getting away with it and comfortably beating his rivals at Thurles (2m); not without his flaws but has a big engine and brings serious potential to this return to Cheltenham.

7/1

1st

2

29th Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 179y

14:55 Thurles

El Cairos

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Recruited for 200,000euros after winning a point; smart bumper form last season for Gary & Josh Moore, fifth in Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and runner-up at Punchestown; bought for £410,000 at Cheltenham in October; would have been an easy winner on hurdle/yard debut at Leopardstown but stumbled and fell after jumping the last; Supreme second favourite is impossible to oppose.

1/5

Form: 117481 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
One of three for yard; bright start over timber, winning a C&D maiden (heavy) and beating Blake by a head in the Royal Bond; limitations seemingly exposed in Grade 1 company on his next three runs but back on song with a Grade 2 win at Fairyhouse last time (left in lead after Blake fell at the last); wouldn't want the track to dry out too much.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

16:15 Punchestown

Koktail Brut

11st 12lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

One of three for yard; bright start over timber, winning a C&D maiden (heavy) and beating Blake by a head in the Royal Bond; limitations seemingly exposed in Grade 1 company on his next three runs but back on song with a Grade 2 win at Fairyhouse last time (left in lead after Blake fell at the last); wouldn't want the track to dry out too much.

13/2

1st

1

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 0y

14:40 Fairyhouse

Koktail Brut

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Has failed to make an effective transition to Grade 1 company in three attempts since in Grade 2 Royal Bond C&D victory over Blake in November; around 2l behind fellow outsider Too Bossy For Us (sixth) when eighth in the Supreme Novices'.

13/2

8th

4

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

13:20 Cheltenham

Koktail Brut

11st 7lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Proved useful in bumpers but is held by a couple of today's rivals on Punchestown festival running; form over hurdles (kept to 2m) features a narrow success in Grade 2 at Fairyhouse and respectable fourth in steadily run Grade 1 at Leopardstown, sandwiching a Christmas flop that is best forgiven (bled from nose); however, may lack the class needed for this assignment.

50/1

Form: 75-16P CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
One of three for yard; Useful on the Flat; off the mark over hurdles in a C&D maiden in February (sft-hvy); beaten 11.5l when midfield in the Supreme at Cheltenham (when Townend rode) and raced keenly before pulled up in the Fairyhouse Grade 2 won by Koktail Brut latest; overlooked by Townend here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(7)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

19:20 Curragh

Too Bossy For Us

8st 12lb

J: Shane Foley

T: W P Mullins

Useful on the Flat, although sole win came back in 2024, narrowly beaten here over 2m last summer; equally talented hurdler, but some stiff tasks of late; market likely informative back on the Flat.

8/1

6th

9

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

16:15 Punchestown

Too Bossy For Us

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

One of three for yard; Useful on the Flat; off the mark over hurdles in a C&D maiden in February (sft-hvy); beaten 11.5l when midfield in the Supreme at Cheltenham (when Townend rode) and raced keenly before pulled up in the Fairyhouse Grade 2 won by Koktail Brut latest; overlooked by Townend here.

20/1

8

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 0y

14:40 Fairyhouse

Too Bossy For Us

11st 4lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Useful Flat handicapper; finished in mid-field in the 2025 Triumph on hurdling debut; easy winner of a Punchestown maiden in January; second-best of a disappointing Irish contingent when sixth in the Supreme Novices; giving him a slight edge over Koktail Brut.

11/2

Form: 4-211F D

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
One of three for stable; point winner; beaten in sole bumper and on hurdles debut at Gowran in early November; off the mark in a maiden at Fairyhouse later that month and took the step up to Grade 1 company in his stride at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting, winning by 5l; beaten when falling in the 2m5f Turners at Cheltenham; this trip more suitable and could bounce back in the first time hood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

16:15 Punchestown

Skylight Hustle

11st 12lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

One of three for stable; point winner; beaten in sole bumper and on hurdles debut at Gowran in early November; off the mark in a maiden at Fairyhouse later that month and took the step up to Grade 1 company in his stride at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting, winning by 5l; beaten when falling in the 2m5f Turners at Cheltenham; this trip more suitable and could bounce back in the first time hood.

4/1

16

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

13:20 Cheltenham

Skylight Hustle

11st 7lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Won his only point but couldn't justify favouritism when beaten in his sole bumper; solid start over hurdles when second of 20 in a Gowran maiden (heavy) in November and his wide-margin win at Fairyhouse (yielding to soft) three weeks later contained a sprinkling of stardust; fortunate when left clear just after the last in Leopardstown Grade 1 (also 2m, yielding) in December; that still continued his upward trajectory and, while this new trip asks a small question on pedigree, he has to be seriously considered.

10/1

4th

8

11th Jan 2025

2m 0f 0y

15:26 Fairyhouse

Skylight Hustle

12st 0lb

J: Mr H C Swan

T: Gordon Elliott

pressed leader, led before halfway

3/1

Form: 2-130 D

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Non-runners

Sober

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €125.40
Straight Forecast €137.55
Tricast €1302.94
Trifecta €1139.70

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Skylight Hustle

SPOTLIGHT:

Blake

POSTDATA:

Too Bossy For Us

The Irish Sun:

Sober

TOPSPEED:

Skylight Hustle