15:45 Punchestown (IRE) 18 Feb 2026
Watch At SimonNottRacing On YouTube Handicap Hurdle
4YO plus
Winner €8,700 - 6 declared to run
Heavy (prec inspection 7.30am)
Draw Advantage: None
Forecast: Moderate showers
Temperature: 4.1° - 5.7°
Rainfall: 3.29mm
Wind: 12.1 mph E
Last Update: 17/02/2026 17:00x
- Winner
- Top 2 Finish
- Top 3 Finish
- W/O Ontheropes
- W/O Ontheropes And Small Town Hero
- W/O Small Town Hero
- Top 4 Finish
Bookies best price percentage = 109.07%
AT THE RACES is not liable for any services or information offered or provided by its bookmaker partners. Please note: Whilst every effort is made to ensure odds and information are up to date and correct, differences between these and actual odds/information available from bookmakers at time of placing a bet may occur.
Forced to switch and flew home when returning to form over a longer trip, beaten 1 1/4l off a 3lb lower mark at Gowran Park last time. Effective over 3m+, has tumbled down the weights and is on a good mark on chase form. Could build on that latest effort.
He has won a hurdle race, a chase and a point-to-point from 2m 5f to 3m on soft and yielding - soft ground. Beaten 1 1/4l by The Lovely Man when second of 15 at 50-1 on his latest outing in a hurdle race at Gowran Park over 2m 7f (heavy) last month.
Forced to switch and flew home when returning to form over a longer trip, beaten 1 1/4l off a 3lb lower mark at Gowran Park last time. Effective over 3m+, has tumbled down the weights and is on a good mark on chase form. Could build on that latest effort.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 26 | 2 | 6 | 7.7% | |
| Hurdle | 3 | 1 | 1 | 33.3% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Course | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| D | Distance | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| G | Similar Going | 16 | 2 | 4 | 12.5% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 20 | 3 | 6 | 15% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Class | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 12 | 1 | 1 | 8.3% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Mr C Mullins | 8 | 1 | 1 | 12.5% |
| T | T Mullins | 10 | 1 | 3 | 10% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Scored by 4l off a 10lb lower mark at Haydock three starts back. Did too much too soon and stopped quickly on testing ground when pulled up in a Listed Handicap Hurdle latest. Effective at 3m and suited by a sound surface. Progressive as a stayer until that run.
Winner of four hurdle races, a chase and a point-to-point from 2m to 3m 1f on ground varying from good to yielding. Pulled up at the last when 28-1 at Leopardstown over 3m (heavy) in a hurdle race won by Saint Le Fort earlier this month on his latest outing. Has won 3 times this season.
Scored by 4l off a 10lb lower mark at Haydock three starts back. Did too much too soon and stopped quickly on testing ground when pulled up in a Listed Handicap Hurdle latest. Effective at 3m and suited by a sound surface. Progressive as a stayer until that run.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 16 | 5 | 2 | 31.3% | |
| Hurdle | 12 | 4 | 1 | 33.3% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| D | Distance | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| Similar Going | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Headgear | |||||
| HG | Today (T & P) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| HG | Cheek Pieces | 7 | 5 | 1 | 71.4% |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Class | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Mr J Dunne | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | Ian Patrick Donoghue | 8 | 5 | 1 | 62.5% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Up in trip and did not stay on unsuitable testing ground when finishing down the field in a handicap hurdle at Gowran Park most recently. Effective from 2m to 2m4f and acts on soft and good ground. Wants a drop back in trip.
He has won four hurdle races from 2m 1f to 2m 6f on ground varying from good to good - yielding. Well beaten at 80-1 behind The Lovely Man when 9th of 15 on his latest outing in a hurdle race at Gowran Park over 2m 7f (heavy) last month.
Up in trip and did not stay on unsuitable testing ground when finishing down the field in a handicap hurdle at Gowran Park most recently. Effective from 2m to 2m4f and acts on soft and good ground. Wants a drop back in trip.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 21 | 4 | 2 | 19.1% | |
| Hurdle | 19 | 4 | 2 | 21.1% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Similar Going | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (P only) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Class | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 8 | 1 | 1 | 12.5% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Adam Leahy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| T | J J Hanlon | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Did plenty early when finishing down the field in a handicap hurdle at Gowran Park most recently. Effective from 2 1/2m to 3m and acts on any ground. Has shown that he is better over fences.
A winner of a chase at 2m 3f on good ground. Well beaten at 4-1fav behind The Lovely Man when 10th of 15 on his latest outing in a hurdle race at Gowran Park over 2m 7f (heavy) last month. Having his first run for a new stable today, previously with Declan Queally in Ireland.
Did plenty early when finishing down the field in a handicap hurdle at Gowran Park most recently. Effective from 2 1/2m to 3m and acts on any ground. Has shown that he is better over fences.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 11 | 1 | 2 | 9.1% | |
| Hurdle | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| G | Similar Going | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 10 | 1 | 2 | 10% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Class | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Calum Hogan | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | David K Walsh | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| BF Was beaten favourite last time out | |||||
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Had no obvious excuse when comfortably held in a handicap hurdle at Cork last time. Returns from a short break and is effective up to 3m, acting on heavy and soft ground, and likes Cork. His profile is inconsistent.
A winner of a hurdle race at 3m on soft - heavy ground. Well beaten at 25-1 behind West Cork Wildway when sixth of 15 on his latest outing in a hurdle race at Cork over 3m (yielding - soft) in November last year.
Had no obvious excuse when comfortably held in a handicap hurdle at Cork last time. Returns from a short break and is effective up to 3m, acting on heavy and soft ground, and likes Cork. His profile is inconsistent.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 14 | 1 | 2 | 7.1% | |
| Hurdle | 11 | 1 | 2 | 9.1% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| C | Course | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| G | Similar Going | 12 | 1 | 2 | 8.3% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Class | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Philip Byrnes | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | E Cawley | 14 | 1 | 2 | 7.1% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Ran to form when comfortably held in a point at Dromahane last time. Returns from a short break. A point winner who has yet to show much under rules.
She has won four point-to-points at 3m on ground varying from soft to soft - heavy. Well beaten at 8-1fav behind Wrappedupinmay when sixth of 10 on her latest outing in a point-to-point race at Dromahane over 3m in December last year. Having her first run for a new stable today.
Ran to form when comfortably held in a point at Dromahane last time. Returns from a short break. A point winner who has yet to show much under rules.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Hurdle | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Similar Going | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 11 | 3 | 1 | 27.3% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Class | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Phillip Enright | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | Miss Lalor | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Verdict
With cheekpieces reapplied, SMALL TOWN HERO might be able to bounce back from a disappointing effort at the Dublin Racing Festival. In first-time blinkers, the Ian Donoghue-trained six-year-old pulled up at Leopardstown but had been a model of consistency prior to that, winning five times from July to December. Better known for his exploits over fences, Ontheropes is the second choice. On what was just his third start over the smaller obstacles, the 12-year-old ran a huge race to finish second to The Lovely Man at Gowran on Thyestes day, and had the reopposing Well Del and Portnacoo behind. Well Del was sent off favourite on that occasion and it'll be interesting to see how he fares now starting off for David Walsh.
Expert View Verdict
ONTHEROPES bounced back to form when placed last time out and will be tough to beat if building on that. He flew home from an unpromising position and all of his previous form suggests this longer trip will suit. He is thrown in on his best chase efforts and can prove a class apart from his rivals. The heavy ground is a slight concern for Small Town Hero but he did go to fast on it last time so is worth another chance. Prior to that run he had proven progressive over staying trips so looks the obvious danger. He's Home Again looked in need of the run on his reappearance but was far from disgraced so could also make his presence felt if building on that.
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Previous Winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Heavy | 12 | Rokathir | 6 | 10 3 | 97 | 4143-0F | 43 days | H De Bromhead (89 miles) | Darragh O'Keeffe | 5/ 2 | 7:03.07 |
Race Favourite Stats
| Year | Favourite Finish Position | Winner Market Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1 |
Race Record
| Distance | Record Time |
|---|---|
| 3m 183y | 7:03.07 |