Cork - Thursday 19th March 2026
LYNCHES KNOCK is already a winner having landed an academy hurdle and he has run well to be placed in two maiden hurdles since. The form of his third at Naas has been boosted, with the runner-up Dschingis Desire scoring subsequently, and he had Fred Winter winner Saratoga behind when runner-up at the Kildare venue previously. Dawn Coming bumped into a nice sort in Charme De Faust at Thurles, with the winner going on to run well to finish fourth in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Genealogy was second to Fred Winter runner-up Winston Junior on his penultimate outing and is another who has to come into calculations.
Jack Kennedy is an eyecatching booking for ORLANDO SPIRIT. The Paul Power-trained gelding ran a big race on his handicap debut at Thurles when losing out by just a neck to Campbell Black. That was a significant improvement on his maiden form and, despite a 4lb hike, there looks to be a race of this standard in him. Wild Wild Wind has been knocking on the door and ran another solid race when runner-up at Limerick last month. She should be thereabouts again. Poets Oath found just one too strong at Punchestown and is another to consider.
Placed on all three previous starts over flights, SPECULATEUR can make the breakthrough. A point-to-point winner, the Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old came with a decent reputation and was sent off favourite on his first two runs over hurdles. Having shaped with promise once again at Clonmel last time, he can finally open his account. Bumper runner-up Royal Gladiator made a nice start to his timber career when fourth at Leopardstown over Christmas. He is entitled to have improved for that experience. Winner of his only point-to-point, the long-absent Captains Speech should be monitored in the betting on his Rules debut.
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4:00 PM - Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series At Punchestown Festival 2026 Qualifier Handicap Hurdle
The locally-trained KOBALT ST GEORGES can gain a fourth win of the campaign. Twice successful over fences before Christmas, Robert Tyner's charge reverted to hurdles when scoring at Punchestown in January. Fourth in a Listed novice handicap chase on his latest start, the six-year-old has further scope for improvement now back over flights. Dameauscottlestown has shaped well enough in recent starts to suggest that she won't be far away. With the Gavin Cromwell horses back in decent form, she looks a major contender. Gowran Park second Onlymammycanloveme should also be capable of making his presence felt in what looks quite a competitive affair.
Despite his relative inexperience, the Gordon Elliott-trained PUMA'S DREAM is taken to make a winning start to life in handicaps. Successful in a maiden hurdle at Thurles last time, the form of that race has been nicely advertised subsequently. Although up against some established handicappers here, the five-year-old could be well treated, especially with his rider's claim. With the Henry de Bromhead stable now firing on all cylinders, Kir has to be a leading contender. Fitted with first-time cheekpieces, the six-year-old is likely to try to make all. Connections of He's Home Again reach for the same headgear and the C&D winner has to be respected.
MACIVER is a five-time winner who is ideally suited by testing ground and this distance. The winner of four consecutive races last year, he has finished second on his last two hurdle starts and although his rating has now climbed to 96, his rider claims 7lb and he contests a winnable handicap. Dancing After Dark is a dual point-to-point winner who is also well suited by conditions. She ran satisfactorily at Punchestown last month and a reproduction should see her involved. Previous course winner Lep Around ran nicely over fences on a recent return from a break.
Willie Mullins' EMERALD ENIGMA makes a belated debut aged six but could be capable. By the same sire as Al Boum Photo, her dam won a bumper on debut and is closely related to the high-class Identity Thief, as well as two other smart performers. The Besty Woman has progressed with racing and although well held in two hurdle runs, she has bumped into some smart types and finished a place ahead of a subsequent winner when fourth at Naas in January. Fromjago'stomilan makes some appeal on breeding and is worth a look.
LYNCHES KNOCK boasts an experience edge on his rivals and sets the standard on form. His penultimate start has worked out very well and with his previous victory coming over this bit further on decent ground he should be tough to beat given the drying surface. Genealogy finished well behind the future Fred Winter runner up on his penultimate start. He has a bit to find with the selection on a line through the winner of the Cheltenham contest but he is better than he showed on unsuitable testing ground last time. Back on a sound surface he looks the obvious danger ahead of the consistent Dawn Coming whose latest effort also took a boost at Prestbury Park last week.
The consistent JAY PEE M can defy top weight here. He placed off 1lb lower when last seen over hurdles in a race which has worked out extremely well and he is 16lb lower than when racing off fences last time. He can take advantage of this generous mark at the expense of Qaasid who is probably a bit flattered by his recent claiming run but still looks well treated back in a handicap. It is notable that Danny Mullins keeps the ride. Hillstar Blues failed to stay 2 1/2m last time having been ridden too aggressively but is also respected back down in trip on favourable drying ground.
A decent maiden can go the way of SPECULATEUR who sets a clear standard on form. He has beaten beaten by some potentially classy rivals on his last couple of starts and his point win suggests that this longer trip on a quicker surface should be of benefit. Royal Gladiator shaped well in a strong maiden which has been boosted at Listed level on his only start over hurdles so far and looks an obvious danger with improvement likely. The form of Captains Speech and Mor Go Leor's point victories have worked out well so they are worth following in the betting.
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4:00 PM - Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series At Punchestown Festival 2026 Qualifier Handicap Hurdle
A pair stand out as ahead of the handicapper here in Kobalt St Georges and DAMEAUSCOTTLESTOWN. The former racked up a hat trick over hurdles and fences before running a big race in a Listed chase last time where he would've been a fair bit closer but for a late mistake. Racing off a lower mark in this discipline he has to be respected but it is the latter of the pair who is preferred. He hit the front too soon off a strong pace and was caught late on his chase debut last time over further but is expected to make amends down in trip. On his last hurdles run he was a touch unlucky to finish runner up at Listed level at the DRF conceding first run after meeting trouble and he's only 5lb higher here. The consistent Onefortheditch finished a few places behind the selection that day and should be on the premises once again.
TOOR KHOV was a recent winner over fences and is fancied to make a successful hurdles return. The form of his penultimate hurdles outing here in the autumn has worked out well and he's 4lb lower here so holds obvious claims. Well Del found the race coming too soon on his follow up attempt last time but he remains well treated on his chase form so could bounce back having been freshened up. The Edward Cawley yard snapped a long losing run last time and He's Home Again is on a dangerous mark if building on his latest revival in first time cheekpieces so is also of interest.
MACIVER bounced back to form when runner up on his hurdles return last time and still has plenty of mileage in mark on his chase form. He's not yet fully exposed at 3m and is chosen to defeat Dancing After Dark who caught the eye finishing well under tender handling last time having been left poorly positioned in a race dominated from the front. The quicker ground will suit here and she looks the biggest danger while Mistyburn is fancied to run a bigger race at a bigger price. The point winner is yet to fire under rules but he showed more over fences last time and has been given a basement opening mark now stepping up to staying trips.
THE BESTY WOMAN brings in some hurdling experience and she ran well at a huge price last time splitting a pair of future winners. That sets the standard on form and she is chosen to make a winning debut in this discipline. Her greatest threats may be newcomers in the form of Emerald Enigma, Dadou Part Two and Whizz Bizz. The former's dam won a bumper first time out while the latter is a half sister to a Martin Pipe winner.
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