17:30 Punchestown

Saturday 29 April 2023

All14:3515:1015:5016:2517:0017:3018:0518:40

Fitzwilliam Sports Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

  • 4YO plus  |   2m 3f 30y  |   Good to Yielding (Yielding in places)  |   18 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 17:32  |   Winning time: 4m 48.5s
1st
Horse silk
12
1010-12
13/2
T: J C McConnellJ: B W Harvey (5)
Disputed lead early and led after 2nd, 5 lengths clear halfway, reduced advantage 3 out, pushed along entering straight, ridden approaching last and kept on well run-in op 5/1 tchd 7/1
2nd
Horse silk
2 ¼
9
25/1
T: Mrs J HarringtonJ: S F O'Keeffe
Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, closer 3 out, pushed along after next, ridden and no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace op 33/1
3rd
Horse silk
¾
19
40/1
T: C CollinsJ: D F O'Regan
Held up in rear, god headway on outer 2 out and 3rd travelling well entering straight, ridden and no impression run-in, kept on one pace tchd 50/1
4th
Horse silk
nk
17
10/1
T: W P MullinsJ: D E Mullins
Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 4th 2 out, soon pushed along and 5th entering straight, ridden and kept on run-in op 9/1 tchd 17/2
5th
Horse silk
1 ¾
2
811-11
16/1
T: H De BromheadJ: M P O'Connor (5)
Rear of mid-division, mid-division halfway, pushed along and 8th entering straight, soon switched right and ridden in 7th before last, kept on one pace run-in op 14/1
6th
Horse silk
½
18
9/2f
T: W P MullinsJ: L P Dempsey
Mid-division, 8th halfway, some headway 2 out and 4th entering straight, soon pushed along and 6th at last, kept on one pace run-in tchd 11/2
7th
Horse silk
hd
11
610-12
9/1
T: W P MullinsJ: P Townend
Mid-division, 9th halfway, pushed along and some headway in 6th entering straight, 5th and slight mistake last, no impression run-in op 15/2 tchd 7/1 and tchd 10/1
8th
Horse silk
3 ¾
1
16/1
T: W P MullinsJ: K Callaghan (7)
Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, pushed along and lost place after 2 out and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace run-in tchd 18/1
9th
Horse silk
hd
8
11/2
T: M BrassilJ: J J Slevin
Towards rear, slightly hampered 1st, pushed along and no impression in rear of mid-division after 2 out, kept on one pace in straight, never a factor op 15/2 tchd 8/1
10th
Horse silk
1 ¼
14
7/1
T: W P MullinsJ: D A Jacob
Mid-division early, dropped towards rear halfway, some headway after 2 out and 8th approaching last, no impression run-in op 13/2
11th
Horse silk
hd
20
610-0
25/1
T: P J RothwellJ: D J O'Keeffe
Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, 4th halfway, pushed along 2 out and dropped to 7th entering straight, no extra approaching last op 20/1
12th
Horse silk
4 ½
13
25/1
T: P NolanJ: R Deegan
Towards rear, pushed along and no impression after 2 out, kept on one pace in straight, never a factor op 20/1
13th
Horse silk
3
6
25/1
T: G P CromwellJ: K E Buckley (3)
Tracked leaders, 7th halfway, pushed along and no impression after 2 out, no extra approaching last tchd 22/1
14th
Horse silk
12
10
40/1
T: Peter FaheyJ: S D Torrens
Mid-division, pushed along and no impression after 2 out, no extra when not fluent last op 33/1
15th
Horse silk
11
7
25/1
T: E MullinsJ: D Meyler
Always towards rear, never a factor, checked after 2nd, mistake 4 out and detached 2 out, no extra and jumped left last, eased op 18/1
16th
Horse silk
12
21
11/2
T: C ByrnesJ: P T Enright
Rear of mid-division, slow 4th, pushed along and no extra after 2 out, eased run-in op 6/1 tchd 5/1

Also Ran

UR
Horse silk
15
40/1
T: G ElliottJ: D J Gilligan (7)
Mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 1st
PU
Horse silk
16
50/1
T: W P MullinsJ: J B Foley
Disputed lead early, ran freely, tracked leader and 3rd halfway, still prominent when bad mistake 3 out, soon dropped towards rear, eased and pulled up before last op 40/1

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Non-Runners

5
Horse silk
Felix Desjy43
Weight: 11-4|  Age: 10
T: G Elliott  J: C McGivern
NR
3
Horse silk
Beacon Edge2
Weight: 11-6|  Age: 9
T: N Meade  J: L A McKenna
NR
4
Horse silk
Master McShee2
Weight: 11-5|  Age: 9
T: P Corkery  J: Non Runner
NR

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:€7.50Pl:€1.80, €5.30, €9.10, €2.60EX:€171.70Trifecta:€0.00Tricast:€6,060.37SF:€171.59

Forecasts

Risk Belle (9/2), An Epic Song (11/2), Green Glory (11/2), Seddon (13/2), Tax For Max (7/1), Heia (9/1), Horantzau D'airy (10/1), Ballyadam (16/1), Winter Fog (16/1), Beacon Edge (16/1), Felix Desjy (20/1), Master McShee (20/1), The Very Man (25/1), Starzov (25/1), Joyeux Machin (25/1), Galore Desassences (25/1), The Shunter (25/1), Mighty Tom (40/1), Ambitious Fellow (40/1), Itswhatunitesus (40/1), Power Of Pause (50/1)

Verdict

Willie Mullins has a tremendous record in this race and fields half-a-dozen candidates. HEIA, who is Paul Townend's pick, arrives here fresh on the back of an encouraging spin at Fairyhouse where she was returning from 9 months off, and the 6-y-o may well be the answer. Tax For Max, another member of the Mullins battalion, put in a good shift here on Tuesday and is feared most with this step back up in trip a good move. The in-form Seddon, An Epic Song and Green Glory are others to consider.

  1. HEIA (FR)
  2. TAX FOR MAX (GER)
  3. SEDDON (IRE)

Previous Winners

2022
Camprond
Weight: 11-4  |Age: 6
4/1

Prize Money

1st: €60,000.002nd: €20,000.003rd: €10,000.004th: €5,000.005th: €3,000.006th: €2,000.00

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