Punchestown
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Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed Race)
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All Runners — sorted by TrackLab Score
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TrackLab Insight
The best record in the field on wet ground — two wins from three races in similar conditions — makes this horse particularly interesting given today's soft surface, and the jockey-trainer team of Paul Townend and Willie Mullins wins roughly one in three races together. The last two outings were disappointing, though, with a pull-up at Cheltenham and a fourth at Fairyhouse, so it arrives needing to bounce back. If it returns to its earlier wet-ground form, it could be the one to give the favourite most to think about.
Best record on this ground (2 from 3)
Trainer Quotes
Nov 2025
"She's back in training now and we'll get her out in a suitable maiden hurdle. She displayed talent in bumpers. 17-11-25"
TrackLab Insight
The top-rated horse in the field by a clear margin and the clear market leader, this lightly raced five-year-old has only run twice in its career but made an immediate impression with a win before finishing sixth at Cheltenham — a race the editorial singled out as 'a cracker at a big price.' The big unknown is the wet ground: like Blue Velvet, it has never raced on soft going, so there is a genuine question about whether conditions will suit. If the ground is no issue, this is the one everyone else has to beat.
Top rated by 3lbs
Drops 3 classes from usual level
Never raced on soft ground
Lightly raced (2 career races)
TrackLab Insight
By far the most experienced horse in the field with 20 races under its belt — more than double the field average — but that experience has produced only one win, making it a tough sell at this level. It has never won on anything other than its best ground and has a blank record on left-handed galloping tracks, which is a worry at Punchestown. Honest enough to place regularly, but stepping up against a much higher class of rival here.
Most experienced (20 runs, field avg 9)
TrackLab Insight
The only horse in this field who has already won at Punchestown, which is a genuine edge when others are finding their feet on this track. The worry is that it pulled up at Fairyhouse just 25 days ago and has never once raced on wet ground — and today's soft conditions are unknown territory. Plenty of talent here, but question marks over both its fitness and how it handles the ground make it hard to trust at this price.
Only course winner (1 from 2 here)
Never raced on soft ground
Best record at this trip (1 from 3)
TrackLab Insight
Only five races into its career, this horse has never finished outside the top three — a level of consistency that stands out even in a competitive field. It won at Fairyhouse 26 days ago and arrives in good shape, though it is taking a step up in class against more battle-hardened rivals. The best win rate in the field at roughly one in every two races hints at real ability, but today is its stiffest test yet.
3 straight top-3 finishes
Best career win rate in field (1 in 2)
TrackLab Insight
At eight years old, this horse has finally hit a purple patch — two wins on the bounce heading into today, and a solid 40% win rate on wet ground makes the conditions play right into its hands. The concern is Punchestown itself: this horse has raced here eight times and is yet to win, which is a stubborn blank on a right-handed track. Comes in with momentum but needs to prove it can break that course hoodoo.
One of the more successful in the field (2 career wins)
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