Fast Results

Scores

15:50 Punchestown

Saturday 29 April 2017

All14:3515:1015:5016:2517:0017:3518:1018:40

Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 4m 53.2s

1^st

Apple's Jade

511-7

1/1f

T: G ElliottJ: B J Cooper

Led briefly early, raced in 2nd, slight mistake 1st, closed up before 3 out, soon on terms, led 2 out, went on approaching straight, stayed on well run-in, easily op 11/10

2^nd

Airlie Beach

711-7

16/1

T: W P MullinsJ: D E Mullins

Soon led, slight mistake 4 out, pressed from before next, soon joined, headed 2 out, no impression and one pace from before straight

3^rd

1 ¾

Karalee

611-7

11/4

T: W P MullinsJ: Ruby Walsh

Chased leaders, soon 4th, slight mistake 2nd, closer in 3rd from 4 out, kept on same pace from after 2 out op 5/2

4^th

Whiteout

611-7

20/1

T: W P MullinsJ: D J Mullins

Held up towards rear, pushed along 6th in last, some headway when slight mistake 2 out, soon moderate 5th and one pace op 16/1

5^th

Augusta Kate

611-7

7/2

T: W P MullinsJ: P Townend

Held up towards rear, switched left after 4 out and closer order, moderate 4th before 2 out, soon no impression, slow jump at last and no extra op 9/2 tchd 10/3

6^th

Barra

611-7

20/1

T: G ElliottJ: J W Kennedy

Held up towards rear, no extra from before 2 out op 22/1

Also Ran

Lady Buttons

711-7

50/1

T: P A KirbyJ: A Nicol

Chased leaders, soon 3rd, slight mistake 3 out, soon dropped to rear, pulled up before last

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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:€1.90Pl:€1.40, €3.90EX:€15.30Trifecta:€49.70SF:€17.87

Forecasts

Apple's Jade (1/1), Karalee (11/4), Augusta Kate (7/2), Airlie Beach (16/1), Whiteout (20/1), Barra (20/1), Lady Buttons (50/1)

Willie Mullins has won the last four runnings of this and is strongly represented again. Last year's winner Whiteout has not been the same horse since and it is doubtful she will have improved enough to dispel her disappointing run 12 days ago. Karalee is the choice of Ruby Walsh having come through two educational races unscathed. If she is considered better than Augusta Kate she must be something very special indeed. Paul Townend's mount beat Let's Dance at Fairyhouse and that makes her the chief threat, on form, to APPLE'S JADE. The mare has won six of her ten starts including the David Nicholson at Cheltenham in March. Having beaten Vroum Vroum Mag twice this season she sets the clear standard.