Green Hint

(Stuart Crawford)

Punchestown, April 29th

Winners of eight of the last nine runnings of the Goffs Defender Bumper at Punchestown have ended up being rated between 130 and 162 (only exception in that period never raced again after winning this) so the big-field sales contest has a history of producing quality types. This year’s runner-up, Green Hint, looks a smashing type to look forward to for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. The Stuart Crawford-trained four-year-old got within a length and three quarters of the impressive winner, Wonderful Everyday, but perhaps he might have finished even closer had he been sent on earlier in the straight. That impression was left after the point-to-point-winning gelding by Crystal Ocean hit the line harder than anything else, quicker than all 17 of his rivals through the final furlong. Nevertheless, this was a highly encouraging rules debut in a competitive field. There are bound to be good days ahead with this €50,000 store purchase if progressing as expected.

Maith An Buachaill

(Willie Mullins)

Punchestown, April 29th

In the same contest, the strong, late support behind Willie Mullins-trained newcomer Maith An Buachaill was striking. Despite being beaten five and a quarter lengths, held in fourth, he might even work out to be as good as any of these in the fullness of time. Available to back at 12/1 in the morning and 8/1 in the ring before returning at 11/2, this Poet’s Word four-year-old couldn’t quicken up to quite the same extent as his winning stablemate but it felt as though he might have had a little too much to do from well off the pace, the winner getting first run on him to a degree. There was promise in how he finished out, though, and his stride was the second longest in the field, both in terms of his average stride length and maximum stride length (as per RaceiQ). This €40,000 store purchase has the makings of a smart novice hurdler in the colours of Jodmart Construction Ltd, also a half-brother to the same connections blacktype performer Loughglynn.

It’s Only A Game

(Martin Brassil)

Punchestown, May 3rd

Emmet Mullins made no secret of the fact he thinks plenty of impressive Saturday bumper winner Vitorio Piel, one who was very well backed on the day into 7/4 favourite, and it was probably a cracking effort in the circumstances from the Martin Brassil-trained runner-up It’s Only A Game in defeat. John Gleeson appeared to judge the fractions well on the front end aboard the winner, as he made all and still finished out quicker than anything else in the field over the final three furlongs. However, the only runner to rival the sort of finishing effort shown by the winner was It’s Only A Game, who was ridden much more patiently from off the pace and would have been a 12-length winner on another day but for the well-supported winner being in the line-up. He’s only a four-year-old, so was a year younger than the winner too, and is by Goliath Du Berlais - the up-and-coming French sire of Goffs Defender Bumper winner Wonderful Everyday. This €160,000 store buy has definitely got a future and is in good hands.

Fraher Field

(John and Thomas Kiely)

Punchestown, May 3rd

Considering where they train in Co Waterford, surely there’s every chance that the name Fraher Field had been saved for a decent youngster in the Kielys’ care, honouring their nearby GAA grounds in Dungarvan. While she may have been beaten a little over 18 lengths on this occasion, the Order Of St George debutante still emerged with credit from finishing fourth in the same bumper as Vitorio Piel and It’s Only A Game. She fared best of the mares in this 20-runner contest and caught the eye coming home well from far off the pace (in a race where the smart winner made all). She didn’t quicken up as well as the front two but did finish off better than everything else in here from three furlongs out to the line, as per Coursetrack sectionals. It was a fair showing to finish where she did after being still sat in 15th at the two-furlong pole. This introductory run under Maxine O’Sullivan ought to have given the newcomer lots of confidence and education with a view to her next assignment. She should have little trouble winning a bumper and certainly has a chance on paper, being out of a maiden hurdle-winning half-sister to the talented Shantou Flyer (peak Timeform rating of 153+), as well as hailing from the same family as three other blacktype performers.