| Course: PUNCHESTOWN | Race date:25/04/08 | Race time:4:55 | Runners:11 |
| Race distance:2m4f | Going:Good | Winners time:4m 56.80s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tranquil Sea | Andrew J McNamara | E J O´Grady | 11-10 | 6 | 146 | 135 | 7/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | ||
| Fiveforthree | R Walsh | W P Mullins | 11-10 | 6 | 144 | 0 | 3/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | 2 | |
| Trafford Lad | T J Doyle | E Sheehy | 11-10 | 6 | 138 | 0 | 5/2F | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | 5½ | |
| Woodbine Willie | B J Geraghty | Philip Fenton | 11-10 | 7 | 136 | 0 | 10/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | 2½ | |
| Uncle Junior | D J Casey | W P Mullins | 11-10 | 7 | 131 | 0 | 12/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | 4½ | |
| Faltering Fullback | P W Flood | E McNamara | 11-10 | 5 | 129 | 119 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | 2 | |
| Rinroe | P Carberry | Noel Meade | 11-10 | 6 | 110 | 0 | 7/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 7 | 19 | |
| Old Si | A P McCoy | D T Hughes | 11-10 | 5 | 109 | 0 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8 | 1 | |
| Narquois | N P Madden | Noel Meade | 11-10 | 7 | 91 | 125 | 25/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 9 | 18 | |
| Field Commander | R M Power | Michael Hourigan | 11-10 | 6 | 91 | 0 | 33/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 10 | hd | |
| Let Yourself Go | Mr C J Sweeney | Adrian Maguire | 11-7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 12/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | PU |
This was a race with quality in it and he is entitled to rank as one of the top middle-distance novice hurdlers around. A point-to-point winner at Bennettsbridge a couple of years ago, there's every indication that this horse won't come into his own until he jumps a fence and that will happen next season.
Considering he had run here on Tuesday, Fiveforthree came out and ran a fine race over a more adequate trip. The Ballymore Novice Hurdle winner was held up out the back and tracked the winner's progress to the second last but couldn't match the acceleration he showed to get to the front. He certainly ran all the way to the line and didn't lose any caste in being beaten by a progressive and genuinely good horse. Also, the way he ran to the line certainly suggests that Tuesday's race didn’t take a whole lot out of him.
As at Cheltenham, Trafford Lad just came up a fraction short. He's probably the most obvious horse amongst these that would be well suited by a step up in trip. He was given a good patient ride to join issue three out and travelled strongly to get there, but found himself vulnerable to those of his rivals with a bit more speed and he couldn't find the adequate response when the winner took control of the race. He's another horse forwhom chasing is very much his future.
Uncle Junior has had his limitations exposed at this level. He was probably a bit free out in front and had nothing left when he was headed at the second last. He's another likely to be seen in novice chases next season.
Another likely to continue improving is Faltering Fullback. He was held up last most of the way, and without being dangerous, he just stayed on from the second last. He's a very promising individual that should continue his progress next season.
One of the bigger disappointments was Rinroe. He tracked the leaders in mid-division but was being pushed along to stay in touch fully four flights from the finish and from there it was apparent that he wasn't going to win.
Also disappointing was Let Yourself Go. He travels like a good horse in his races and jumped well today but he went from travelling to struggling in just a few strides after the third last and was pulled up in the straight. [JO'H]
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