The Stanley Asphalt Hunters Steeplechase for the Bishopscourt Cup

5

Mr H C Swan (5)

Owned by: Edelle Logan g Bay by Buck’s Boum - Nova D’auteuil (Le Nain Jaune)

Colours: BLACK, beige panel, hooped sleeves, check cap

Bred by: Mme Laurie Giethlen Cadiergues & Didier Giethlen

RACING POST VERDICT Winner of both starts in points, strong chance here despite hunter chase failures

Owned by: Mrs V J Maher g Bay by Jet Away - Bubble Bann (Hubbly Bubbly) Colours: ORANGE, black chevron, black spots on cap

12-FEB-23 5r4f 3m Gd/Yld Mr S Cavanagh (7)

Bred by: Brendan Fortune Peter Maher KILDARE 022-p16

RACING POST VERDICT Maiden point winner at Monksgrange, moderate sixth over the banks course here on Tuesday Probable SP: 10/1 record 8 runs, 2 places Prize-money earned €4,686

Jet Fighter

12/1 Mr S. Cavanagh 11.0 33L 6th of 8fn, 12rn to Three By Two 10.7 here 25 APR hnt.ch 3m 1f Yld/Sft

(PtoP) 3/1 B O Walsh won s/hd 1/2L from Seattle Seahawk and Class Award MONKSGRANGE 26-MAR-23 7r5f Gelds Mdn 3m Sft

18/1 S.W. Flanagan 11.4 p.u. in race won by Stealthy Tom 12.0 here 19 FEB 20rn chse 3m 1f Yld

7

Lesssaidthebetter (GB) 3

Owned by: Raymond Nolan g Bay by Intikhab - Romany Dream (Nomadic Way)

Colours: BLACK & WHITE DIABOLO, white sleeves, red cap

9 11-11

Mr T Power Roche (7)

Bred by: North Bradon Stud P J Rothwell WICKLOW u313pu

RACING POST VERDICT 0-28 under rules, placed over hurdles five times, prominent before unseating on Tuesday Probable SP: 10/1

Career record 28 runs, 6 places Prize-money earned €9,827

Lesssaidthebetter (GB)

33/1 Miss P. Elvin 11.0 u.r. in race won by Three By Two 10.7 here 25 APR 12rn hnt.ch 3m 1f Yld/Sft

16/1 Mr T. Power Roche 11.7 p.u. in race won by Dento Des Obeaux (FR) 12.0 THU 13 MAR 10rn hnt.ch 3m 1f 89yds Yld/Sft

(PtoP) 2/1 J J Walsh 1 1/4L 3rd to Elusive Mae TINAHELY 26-FEB-23 6r3f Wnr of Two 3m Gd/Yld

8 Matthews Hill (Ire) 19

Owned by: Teresa Flood g Bay by Kalanisi - Incas Article (Definite Article)

Colours: RED, black cross of lorraine, red & white striped cap

7 11-11

Mr J W Hendrick (7)

Peter John Flood MEATH 4/-4pf

Bred by: T Kenny & P Byrne

RACING POST VERDICT Leading when falling two out in a recent Quakerstown maiden, relatively inexperienced Probable SP: 25/1

Matthews Hill

(PtoP) 5/1 B Lawless fell in race won by Blackwater Soldier QUAKERSTOWN 09- APR-23 8r6f Gelds Mdn 3m Yld

(PtoP) 4/1 P C Bannon p.u. in race won by Ballydesmond KIRKISTOWN 11-MAR-23 5r2f Gelds Mdn 3m Yld

(PtoP) 9/1 A J Fox 10L 4th to Ryehill OLDTOWN 18-FEB-23 16r7f Gelds Mdn 3m Yld/Sft

9 Royal Juniper (Ire) 20

Owned by: Donal Houlihan g Chesnut by Doyen - Exit Stage Left (Exit To Nowhere)

TStrap, 7 11-11

Colours: WHITE, dark blue epaulettes, hooped sleeves, dark blue cap, white star

Mr D O’Connor

Bred by: Martin Cullinane A J Martin MEATH 157-ppp

RACING POST VERDICT Top trainer/rider combination, lost his way after maiden point win last May, appears risky Probable SP: 12/1

Career record 4 runs Prize-money earned €190

Royal Juniper

(PtoP) 10/1 F Maguire p.u. in race won by Ballymackie LOUGHANMORE 08-APR-23 8r6f Wnr of Two 3m Yld/Sft

12/1 Miss M. O’Sullivan 11.9 (TS) p.u. in race won by Dento Des Obeaux (FR) 12.0 THU 13 MAR 10rn hnt.ch 3m 1f 89yds Yld/Sft

66/1 Miss M. O’Sullivan 11.9 p.u. in race won by Grange Island 12.0 CLON 17 JAN 12rn hnt.ch 2m 4f Hvy

Mr T Hamilton

10 Speaker Thomas

Owned by: D F O’Rourke

(Ire)

g Bay by Presenting - Royal Bride (Kayf Tara)

12 CPiece, 6 11-11

Colours: ROYAL BLUE, tartan sash & sleeves, royal blue cap

Bred by: B & N Mcgoldrick John Joseph Hanlon CARLOW pf3-f61

RACING POST VERDICT Beat Arctic Weather at Stradbally, flopped earlier behind Fr Gilligansvoyge at Borris Probable SP: 12/1

Career record 2 runs

Speaker Thomas

(PtoP) 7/2 Ms M O’Sullivan won 1 1/2L 40L from Artic Weather and An Buacan Mor STRADBALLY 16-APR-23 11r3f Mdn 3m Gd

(PtoP) 5/4FF J J Walsh 19L 6th to Fr Gilligansvoyge (GB) BORRIS HOUSE 05-MAR-23 10r6f Mdn 3m Yld

(PtoP) 3/1 T Hamilton fell in race won by Happy Victory (FR) PUNCHESTOWN 12-FEB-23 5r4f 3m Gd/Yld

11

Keenaghan Lass (Ire)

Owned by: J R Shaw f Bay by Court Cave - Towers Lady (Bob Back)

46

9 11-04

Mr T P Harney (7)

Colours: GREEN, scarlet sash, yellow sleeves, green cap

Bred by: Ms Mary Cleary T F Shaw KILDARE 0766-23

RACING POST VERDICT Last of three finishers in a hunters chase on latest, second to Happy Victory before that Probable SP: 8/1

Career record 11 runs, 1 places Prize-money earned €1,090

Keenaghan Lass

16/1 Mr T.P. Harney 11.0 22L 6 1/2L 3rd to Dento Des Obeaux (FR) 12.0 THU 13 MAR 10rn hnt.ch 3m 1f 89yds Yld/Sft

(PtoP) 5/1 T P Harney 3.1/2L 2nd to Happy Victory (FR) PUNCHESTOWN 12-FEB-23 5r4f 3m Gd/Yld

17/2 HR75 Mr T.P. Harney 10.1 12L 6th of 12fn, 13rn to Golden Ferret 10.7 DWNP 6 MAY 22 hcp chse (0-95)2m 3f 55yds Yld/Sft

12 Trim To Milan (Ire) 18 TStrap, 8 11-04

Owned by: J R Robinson f Bay by Milan - Another Pet (Un Desperado)

Colours: ROYAL BLUE, red cross of lorraine & sleeves, quartered cap

Mr J Dunne (7)

Bred by: James Robinson Gerard Keane MEATH 695p-63

RACING POST VERDICT Modest overall form over hurdles and points since twice placed in bumpers two years ago Probable SP: 20/1

Career record 7 runs, 2 places Prize-money earned €3,172 Trim To Milan

(PtoP) 8/1 J Dunne 10L 3rd to Rosevale LOUGHANMORE 10-APR-23 12r5f Mares Mdn 3m Yld/Sft

(PtoP) 6/1 P C Bannon 31L 6th to Melleray Hill CASTLETOWN-GEOGHEGAN 02-APR-23 8r6f Mares Mdn 3m Sft

25/1 HR88 R.A. Doyle 11.7 (TS) p.u. in race won by Sphagnum 11.8

BLINKERS & TONGUE STRAP ON No. 2 V,T ON No. 4 TONGUESTRAP ON No. 9, 12 CPiece ON No. 10

?+2 indicates that the rider may carry 2lb over weight on the day

LAST YEAR 1st Jezarus, 2nd Alpha Male, 3rd Whisper In Court

TRAINER T.M. Walsh WEIGHT 11-4 TIME 5 min. 50.7 sec. GOING Good - Yielding

BETTING FORECAST 9-4 Happy Victory, 7-2 An Droichead Gorm, 13-2 Fr Gilligansvoyge, 8 Keenaghan Lass, 10 Jet Fighter, Lesssaidthebetter, 12 Royal Juniper, Speaker Thomas, 16 Artic Weather, 20 Trim To Milan, 25 Chateau Elan, Matthews Hill

Race 1 Predictor

Race Verdict

Any horse from the Gordon Elliott stable has to be of big interest in a race like this. Despite two undistinguished hunter chase displays, HAPPY VICTORY will be hard to beat on the evidence of his point-to-point form, including a course success at the expense of Keenaghan Lass and Fr Gilligansvoyge. An Droichead Gorm spoiled his chance in this race last year with a poor round of jumping. Barry O’Neill may get a better tune out of him.

[Alan Sweetman] Source: Racing Post

SELECTION: HAPPY VICTORY

Next Best: Jet Fighter

SELECTION: HAPPY VICTORY

Trifecta

The EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Steeplechase of €100,000 (Grade A)

(Registered as the Punchestown Novice Handicap Steeplechase) (Generously sponsored by EMS Copiers) EMS Copiers will present a trophy of no intrinsic value to the winning owner, trainer, jockey of this race and €130 to the groom in charge of the best turned out horse.

Winner €59,000 Second €20,000 Third €10,000 Fourth €5,000 Fifth €3,000 Sixth €2,000 Race conditions A limited handicap steeplechase for five years old and upwards that have not won a steeplechase before 1st May 2022, other than one hunters steeplechase within the previous two National Hunt seasons and that have run at least three times

1

Jack Foley

Distance 2m5f in steeplechases up to and including 16th April 2023. Declared 15

Adamantly Chosen (Ire) 19

Owned by: Watch This Space Syndicate g Bay by Well Chosen - Sher’s Adamant (Shernazar)

6 11-12

Colours: EMERALD GREEN & YELLOW CHEVRONS, yellow sleeves, emerald green cap

Bred by: Martin Kenirons W P Mullins CARLOW 152-276

RACING POST VERDICT All five outings in Grade 1s since course win last November, last year’s winning rider Probable SP: 9/1 places

2

%

Owned by: Nicholas Peacock g Bay by Authorized - Rock Art (Rock Of Gibraltar)

Colours: PURPLE, orange seams, orange star on cap Bred

Owned by: Miss M A Masterson

RACING POST VERDICT Sights lowered after Grade 1 attempts, Paul Townend’s choice over identically-rated pair Probable SP: 4/1

Career record 13 runs, 5 wins, 11 places Strike-Rate 38 % Prize-money earned €190,388 Kilcruit 5 N.H. wins €138,060.00 C -- Handicap Rating 148 to Mighty Potter (FR) 11.10

Grade 1 2m 5f 44yds Yld

6/4 S.F. O’Keeffe 11.12 (TS) 4 1/4L 2L 3rd to Gerri Colombe (FR) 11.12 LIM 26 DEC 22 5rn nov.ch Grade 1 2m 3f 160yds Sft/Hvy

1/5Fav P. Townend 11.12 (TS) won 9 1/2L 22L from Willywampus 11.5 and Broomfields Jeremy 11.12 here 19 NOV 22 4rn beg.ch

4 Macs Charm (Ire) 18

Brian Hayes

8 11-06

Owned by: Macs Charm Syndicate g Bay by Le Fou - Star Island (Heron Island) Colours: WHITE, purple stars, white cap Bred by: Mrs Patricia A Byrne C A Murphy WEXFORD 1p4-221

RACING POST VERDICT Made a fine start in handicap company at Fairyhouse, up 7lb, shorter trip may not be ideal Probable SP: 13/2

Career record 12 runs, 4 wins, 8 places Strike-Rate 33 % Prize-money earned €49,967

Macs Charm 4 N.H. wins €43,070.00 -- Handicap Rating 142

RACING