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16:20 Punchestown

Tuesday 25 April 2017

All15:4016:2016:5517:3018:0518:4019:15

Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 3m 58.9s

1^st

Cilaos Emery

511-12

8/1

T: W P MullinsJ: D J Mullins

Disputed lead, headed and slight mistake 2nd, chased leaders after, moderate 3rd approaching straight, soon closed, challenged in 2nd approaching last where slight mistake, led and stayed on best from 100yds out op 10/1

2^nd

Melon

511-12

5/4f

T: W P MullinsJ: Ruby Walsh

Disputed lead, led 2nd, slight mistake 4th, joined before next, not fluent 2 out, gained narrow lead before straight, headed and kept on without matching winner from 100yds out op 11/10

3^rd

3 ¼

Pingshou

711-12

9/1

T: C L TizzardJ: D N Russell

Tracked leaders, closed up 4th, on terms before next, narrowly headed before straight and pushed along, dropped to 3rd approaching last, no extra, one pace

4^th

Forge Meadow

511-5

9/1

T: Mrs J HarringtonJ: R M Power

Towards rear, pushed along and some headway from 3 out, moderate 4th next, soon no impression, no extra and not fluent last op 12/1

5^th

Bunk Off Early

511-12

9/1

T: W P MullinsJ: P Townend

Held up in touch, not fluent jumping, pushed along from 3 out, soon no extra

6^th

Peter The Mayo Man

711-12

28/1

T: N P MulhollandJ: N D Fehily

Held up in touch, some slight mistakes and not fluent 6th, lost place and pushed along from 3 out, soon no extra, tailed off

7^th

Labaik

611-12

5/2

T: G ElliottJ: J W Kennedy

Refused to jump off with the others and left hopelessly behind, completed in own time, completely tailed off op 3/1

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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:€8.40Pl:€3.50, €1.20EX:€21.70Trifecta:€151.00SF:€20.03

Forecasts

Melon (5/4), Labaik (5/2), Cilaos Emery (8/1), Pingshou (9/1), Forge Meadow (9/1), Bunk Off Early (9/1), Peter The Mayo Man (28/1)

A fascinating event that pits the first two from last month's Supreme Novices' Hurdle into battle again. MELON was a warm order for that contest despite having run only once previously. He cannot be faulted too much for his effort and should have learned plenty from that skirmish amidst the heat of Grade One battle. With the potential for an improved performance here, he is given the vote to turn tables on Labaik. The Elliott runner was under the radar at Cheltenham due to his tendency to act up at the start. His talent is clear for all to see but his temperament cannot be assumed to have transformed on just one run, so he still comes with risks and might find that Melon has more to offer now regardless. Pingshou landed a Grade One at Aintree and is respected on the back of it while the other Mullins contenders Bunk Off Early and Cilaos Emery should not be discounted from leaving their Cheltenham efforts behind and running big races.