PUNCHESTOWN.....Sunday, 6th December, 2009.

nice write up catch me, hope its on tomorrow heading over myself .my nap for the day is as follows .joncol 2.05 . off to shelbourne for last couple of races .

Mine for today:

1.05 Saludos won a 2m Navan bumper on soft to heavy on his first start in December 08. He disappointed on his start over hurdles when not seeing out the 2m4f trip in maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse. He was unplaced in a very hot Curragh bumper in May after a 4 month lay-off but showed his best when running out a convincing 7 length winner of a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle on heavy last time out. The runner-up Misaala, was again second on his next start, while the the 3rd Taking Stock was booked for at least 2nd when slipping up with 50 yards to run on his next start. Saludos will relish conditions today and still has plenty of scope to improve. The fact that Robbie Power rides and Geraghty is on Coole River means we should get a better price. 5/2 spoil/b365

1.35 Colbert Station (each way) may appreciate the step up to 2m4f today. He was 5th of 11 on his last start in a 2m handicap hurdle here on heavy ground. He went 3rd at 2 out but was unable to go with the leaders when the pace was upped. The form of the run look very good as the 1st and 4th finished 1-2 in a handicap hurdle next time out, both off higher marks. The 2nd Nans Best won next time out off 3lbs higher and the 3rd Deise Dan ran well for a long way in the Royal bond before giving way to some top class horses and falling. Colbert Station has dropped 1lb from that run and with Ruby Walsh booked to ride he looks capable of going close. 7/1 PP

2.05 Jy Vole (each way) looks by far the best value in this race at 1421. His record in chases over 2m4f-5f is 4 wins and a 3rd from 5 starts and the 3rd came when attempting to win a fourth chase victory in a row in very testing ground in the space of 50 days as a 5yo taking on older horses. In my mind Willie Mullins got carried away with running him early in 2008 when he had just turned 5 as he was eligible for a large weight allowance against older horses. After putting in 3 very good runs at the beginning of 2008 he then put in two poor efforts and either side of a fair effort when 3rd in the Swordlestown over 2 miles on good when the trip and ground were against him. He was off the track for 9 months before finishing 4th in a 2 mile Gowran handicap chase off 134, when probably in need of the run. His last run over fences was by far his best effort when running out a very impressive 14 length winner of a valuable Grade B handicap chase over CD at this years Punchestown Festival on soft to heavy ground. The form of that win looks very solid. He was unplaced on his last start in an Auteuil grade 2 hurdle in May. The return to fences over this CD on heavy ground is perfect for JVole. He has proven before he can go well fresh when winning by a distance on his chasing debut at Cork after a 200 day break. This is a really competitive chase but 6yos do have a very good record in it (2 wins and 3 places from 6 runners in last 10 years) and if fit today Id expect Jy Vole to go very close. 12/1 Lads

2.35 Lenabane won his maiden hurdle on yielding ground over 2m4f and finished 3rd in a grade 2 novice hurdle behind Oscar Dan Dan at the Fairyhouse Irish National meeting on his last start over hurdles. He has run well on both starts over fences. He was 3rd on his chasing debut in a 2m Punchestown beginners chase on soft ground. The 2 mile trip that day looked too sharp for him. The form of the race looks good as the winner Major Finnegan was runner-up to Sizing Europe in a grade 2 next time out and the 2nd Jered won a beginners chase on his next outing. Lenabane actually finished runner-up to Jered on their respective next starts in a 2m4f Punchestown beginners chase on heavy ground. Jered beat him comfortably enough by 4 lengths but the pair finished 20 lengths clear of the rest. Jered finished 3rd in the Drinmore next time out, while the 3rd and 4th both won on their next starts. Lenabane is proven over 2m4f here at Punchestown in heavy ground and it is very possible that a reproduction of his last run would be good enough to take this race. 15/8 Lads

3.05 Away We Go (each way) has a progressive profile and could be good enough to land this handicap chase in suitable conditions today.
He appears to be a much better horse when racing right-handed. His record over obstacle right-handed is 82112 (2-2-5), and the 8th was on his hurdling debut so can be forgiven. His record left-handed is 07 (0-0-2).
He won his maiden hurdle over 2 miles at Limerick on heavy ground. He won on his chasing debut over 2m6f at Tramore on fast ground before putting in a career best display in chasing home Paddy Pub in a 3M Limerick handicap chase on heavy ground off 119. Paddy Pub was sent off co-fav for the Troytown next time off 8lbs higher but fell at the first, he was probably very well in when beating Away We Go.
Away We Go ran well himself for a long way in the Troytown last time out off 123 (was 2nd 4 out) but the 3 miles on deep ground stretched his stamina, plus Navans left handed track may not have suited.
He races off 122 today and the 2M 4F trip on heavy at this right handed track should be ideal. He has only run 3 times over fences so has the scope to improve well past his current mark. Away We Go looks a very solid each way bet today. 14/1 VC/Spoils

will be disapointed if aran concerto cant take this on his way to bigger things this year

reckon the big one will be between aran concerto and in compliance

just depends how testing the ground is but they look the best two horses in the race- should be a humdinger

rathmore castle looked to have life back in him last race only to be beeaten by a top animal in vic venturi who went on to win the beecher next time out

ground a worry but thats factored into price and 8s with laddies- only 8.4 here looks too big

Jy Vole....tink HE would have a better chance in Mare only races.

On the inside finish :| Glad I didnt go

THE 5 pts naps.......

1.05 Coole River
1:35 Bobsthewizard
2.05 Joncol Aran Concerto In Compliance J'y Vole
2.35 Lenabane
3.05 Tasman 2.5pts e/w Away We Go 2.5pts e/w

having looked at the handicap hurdle, Sinatra Bar ran a cracking race last time over the course, travelling well against better oppostion just getting done for toe in the last 2 furlongs - todays step up in trip should suit perfectly, along with the heavy going. The opposition look a weak enough bunch and if repeating his last run will go close @ 6/1.

In compliance is my 5pt in comp. Reasons are fairly obvious. Taking a chance on all that ability still being there but IC is so lightly campaigned that you would think there should be plenty left in the tank - 15 lifetime starts. Changed to a top stable and swatting away chelsea harbour was a good indication that things are well. IC beat WOA, when WOA was in the best form of us career. and has held a rating of 169. Got some of the 9/2 this morning.

Goodluck lads

Jessie's are not firing yet ! :^0

Has these still to come today....

1.35 www.punchestown.com H`cap H`dle (Rated 81-123)
Wait For Green (IRE)
3.05 Weatherbys Ireland GSB H`cap S`chase (Rated 0-140)
Hume River (IRE)
3.35 New Years Eve Racing (Pro-Am) Flat Race
Gimli's Lieder (IRE)

Joncol win for me my main bet of the day, good run behind Tranquil Sea last time over a trip too short for him, form has been franked since -has won over CD and on the ground so gonna be tough to beat imo

Well done BJG ;)

Delighted for Joncol, lovely big horse.

Get in,
BJG ;)

Lovely brave horse ;)

Well done bjg, I was getting excited there for a furlong or so, just didnt see it out as well as the giant horse

Well done Joncol backers - a tonic for Nolan after what happened to Sinatra Bar

The tactical sub in the ttf pays off this week down ;\

yeah thought in compliance was about to go past them all with 3 out but maybe the ground was just a tad heavier than he could travel in

Was gonna sub him myself this morning for Rare Bob, but didn't. :(
Great timing by yourself, must look up the small print and see if I can get you chucked out! :^0

Didnt pay off last week with Catch me though :(

GOOD SHOUT LADS.... COULDN'T SEE JONCOL AS A GRADE 1 HOSS... PITY TRAFFORD OUT INJURED, WOULD SURELY HAVE GONE CLOSE

LUMPED ON AC...BAD WEEKEND ALL ROUND

Our Girl Salley in the bumper i think will be tough to beat too, good run i thought wen 4th last time (Frawley who was 2nd behind Quantitaveasing in a bumper in behind) in a better race than this- the Noel Meade runner obvioulsy a big danger but with the benefit of experience id fancy Our Girl Salley to come out on top

Jaamid here for me to stop the rot, hopefully put best foot forward 10.5 on here

Ruby having an awful amount of fallers lately. He doesnt fall when I lay him however :^0

cheers BJG!!

;) romped it


Think that comp is a jinx for me,

If i put em in they get stuffed :^0

€18 in €10 Pensioners.

A small sum up. Good crowd, weather fine but very windy.

Race 1) The form horse Hugo De Vindecy (4/7f) dots up.

Race 2) Jessie was tipped to win the first 3 races. I was told Aaludos ( 15/8) but my pal was told Jessie and doubled up Hugo and Coole River not realising his error till I pointed out she had 2 in it! Saludos undera fine ride by Robbie Power won well.

Race 3) Colbert Station (3/1f) was all the rage and under a fine ride from Ruby won easy.

Race 4) Well tipped on here. Joncol ( 9/4f) won a fine renewal of this Grade 1 under Alain Cawley. Afterwards he revealed in an interview with Gary O'Brien that he rides all unless Ruby becomes available in the Grade 1's.

Race 5) Another bookie belter here with form choice Lenabane (5/4f) just holding Sam Adams. Paul Nolan in interviews with Robbie Irwin (Sports Bag every Sunday morning 10am 2FM) and ATR said he reckoned Sam Adams wasn't fully tuned up. Surely win a nce Chase over the Xmas.

Race 6) Tasman (12/1) well tipped up on here and in the competition made his experience count under jockey in form Andy Lynch. Well touted Orpheus Valley ( 9/2 available with John Griffen) tried to make all under Mick Darcy and lives to fight another day.

Race 7) Our Girl Salley (13/8f) was a nice winner for my local barman ( married to a Sally!) Form horse. Quietly fancied rough Times (4/1) for the Hourigan yard found the slow pace and deep ground against him. Limerick at Xmas may be his day.

Andrw**an and the boys were selling the Injured Jockeys Calendar (€15) after racing. Many of them were signed by the jockeys. Mine was signed by big race winner Alain Cawley, Roger Luughran and another jockey whose siggy was illegible. A worthy xmas present. Andrew told me they will be at most meetings between now and the end of the year. The pictures imo could have been better.

A word of warning for those who have a winner between now and xmas and beyond. Go easy in the champagne bar esp if driving. I was leaving about half an hour after the last. There was a Garda checkpoint on the back road to Johnstown near Forenaughts Stud. They were checking for drink. I had to blow into the whatever it is, but luckily not a drop of the hard stuff had passed my lips at the races!!

Soapp,
Not a word in your review about the non-trier in the first...?
The other sig on your calendar is probably BJG's squiggle, tho' Niall Madden was also signing. Didn't see Ruby on the stand but after 2 falls he was probably looking for a sub from the fund..!
GL in Limerick...

3winnersandasecond,

The REAL students of form would have spotted it was entered for Thurles the previous Friday. A lot of money too!! Didn't get to run after a little setback. So those students who had spotted it would have said to themselves maybe there was a good reason for its failure to run that day!!

So having missed a gallop the pevious week, ground being hock deep, the horse ran a brilliant race and there was no point in whacking it all the way to the line. The jockey when it was beaten let it come home in its own time.

Another day another dollar hopefully.

Andrew**an told me that Ruby was there selling them the previous Wednesday after Fairyhouse.