5.30 Punchestown
Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner €120,000
Advice: 3 pts win Quevega (11/10 general)
At Fishers Cross: Fantastic novice hurdling season was
nothing like his dreadful start to current campaign with jumping issues
plaguing him, but back to something like his best in the Cleeve Hurdle and
backed that up with fantastic third in World Hurdle; Probably should have
compensated for that in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree but was drawn into a
prolonged slog with Zarkandar and ended up being claimed by Whisper; Leading
form chance although have to worry about the effects of two hard races
Bog Warrior: Not quite the horse that so many had hoped he
would be but plenty of talent still as showed by his good win latest, albeit
over fences; Last relevant hurdles form came when fifth in last year’s world
hurdle having gone too fast but staying division improved since then. 
Fingal Bay: Has been handled in fine style since injury
after novice chasing didn’t go right, back with strong handicap win at Exeter
and then stretching his neck out to land multi horse finish in Pertemps final
at the Festival; Form of that already been well boosted by those closely
involved which is promising, for all that he will need to find more to get
involved here; That said, still only handful of hurdles runs and expect him to
go well. 
Jetson: Daring tilt at top level but not like he’s not
earned it with so many strong handicap efforts over the last two seasons; Only
worry being that in only Grade 2 try he was well beaten. 
Knockara Beau: Possibly landed the shock of the season when
beating off At Fishers Cross and Big Bucks’, but that entirely due to weight
concessions and fiflthy ground, and not done so well since; More needed today
although small place claims. 
Mourad: Previous strong efforts in this race and consistent
stayer, but injury sidelined him for year and a half and not been in the best
form since coming back, beaten long way behind stablemate 10 days ago; Will do
well to get close.
Reve De Sivola: Uber consistent staying hurdler who revels
in testing conditions, as he showed once again when landing Long Walk Hurdle (At
Fishers Cross not right that day) at Ascot; A little disappointing in the
Cleeve and then readily beaten off in the World Hurdle; Ground again gone
against him.
Sadler’s Risk: 8 lengths behind Jetson when the two last met
and 22 lengths behind Whsiper in Coral Cup; Hard to give him a realistic
chance. 
Glen’s Melody: Has been the yard’s leading mare behind
Quevega and gave her a bigger fright then could’ve been imagined when close
second at the Festival, only relenting in the last 100 yards; On bare form
would have to be given a serious chance although winner has much better scope
for improvement over today’s trip given circumstances (her first run of
season); Feasible place horse.
Quevega: Made history when landing her sixth Mares hurdle on
the bounce at Cheltenham, although on bare form, unimpressive when all out to
beat Glen’s Melody; However, has improved greatly on that form to land the last
4 renewals of this event (blew away Reve De Sivola in it last year) and upping
to this trip, along with first run behind her, should see her in better light
today; More than enough improvement in her to make a bold bid for five in a
row.
VERDICT: It’s a shame More of That is not here but that will
make the race no less compelling. What QUEVEGA did at Cheltenham will not be
good enough for her to make it a famous (and much more difficult) 5 on the
bounce in this race but that has been the case in the last four seasons and she
has found improvement for the first run of the year and the longer trip here to
post her best efforts, and she can again do so to create more history. At
Fishers Cross is certain to provide a tough test, but he’s coming here after
very hard efforts at Cheltenham and Aintree especially which could leave him
vulnerable and potentially open the door for Fingal Bay, who must be taken
seriously back at Grade 1 level.
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