Punchestown
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Uniquely Champion Hunters Chase
Starts in
Awaiting result
All Runners — sorted by TrackLab Score
Good Value
TrackLab Insight
This is the standout on paper: the best career win rate in the field by a distance — winning nearly one in every two races — and crucially, a perfect three-from-three record at this exact course, all on today's type of wet ground. He was only ninth at Aintree last time out, but his second place at Cheltenham before that and a course and distance win here make him the one all others have to beat.
Has won over this course and distance
Best record on this ground (3 from 3)
Best record at this trip (3 from 4)
Best career win rate in field (1 in 2)
Trainer Quotes
Feb 2026
"It will be his fourth attempt at the Hunters' Chase at Cheltenham. Fingers crossed, we can tweak one or two things and get him across the line in first. He ran a good race at Down Royal over Christmas against most of the Irish big guns. Panda Boy has come on the scene since. Its On The Line is as good as ever, though, there's no doubt about that. 19-02-26"
TrackLab Insight
One of only a handful of course winners in this field, having won here at Punchestown before, which is a meaningful advantage when others haven't been around the track. He won back-to-back races before a below-par run at Cheltenham 49 days ago, and the jockey-trainer partnership has clicked three times from just seven outings together — a strong ratio.
One of few course winners (1 wins here)
TrackLab Insight
The editorial verdict marks this as the one to watch, and with good reason — he won at Cheltenham last year and has been kept relatively fresh since. The problem is stark in the data: zero wins from seven races on soft, wet ground, which is precisely what he faces today, making his task here a genuine puzzle despite the obvious class.
Never raced on soft ground
Trainer Quotes
Feb 2025
"He had some good form for the Bowens and has won two open points for us. He's qualified for the race now and we're looking forward to running him. 20-2-25"
TrackLab Insight
Three straight top-three finishes including a win at Gowran Park and a solid second at Aintree just 22 days ago show this 11-year-old is running the race of its life right now. The jockey and trainer have already won together in their one previous outing, which is a small but encouraging sign heading into this competitive field.
3 straight top-3 finishes
Trainer Quotes
Nov 2024
"He ran very well to a point at Galway but he really ran a cracker to finish third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday. That race was the plan and he gave an exhibition of jumping. We could look at going back there in December but we haven't discussed it yet. 18-11-24"
TrackLab Insight
Three straight top-three finishes show this nine-year-old is in the form of his life, including a near-miss at Cork just 25 days ago when beaten less than a length. The concern is that he has never won on a right-handed track with a big galloping layout — and Punchestown is exactly that, with zero wins from eight attempts on such courses.
3 straight top-3 finishes
Trainer Quotes
Nov 2024
"This guy was a nice surprise last season. He won a point, so he looks a real nice type to be going novice chasing with. He surprised me with how fast he was last season and even in the Supreme he showed plenty of speed. If he can bring that sort of quick jumping to fences, we will ask him the question as to whether he is an Arkle horse or not. I'm looking forward to seeing what the answer is. He would look more like a stayer on paper, but we'll see if he's an Arkle horse first. 25-11-24"
TrackLab Insight
One of the more accomplished horses in the field with five career wins — winning roughly one in every three and a half races — and two close second-place finishes in his last two completed runs suggest he is in decent nick. The worry is that today's wet ground has been his kryptonite, with zero wins from three attempts when conditions turn heavy and soft.
One of the more successful in the field (5 career wins)
TrackLab Insight
Won his last race and has finished in the top three in three of his four career outings — a striking record for such a young horse. The critical unknown is that he has never raced on soft, wet ground before, so today's conditions are a genuine test of whether that early promise translates to a muddier challenge.
Never raced on soft ground
3 straight top-3 finishes
TrackLab Insight
At 12 years old, this veteran arrives on the back of a win at Fairyhouse 26 days ago, and the jockey-trainer duo have already won together in their only previous outing. He has never raced on soft ground before, which is a concern today, and his record on left-handed galloping tracks like Punchestown reads zero wins from six attempts.
Never raced on soft ground
TrackLab Insight
Three straight top-three finishes and a solid record on soft, wet ground — two wins from seven attempts in these conditions — make this 11-year-old interesting on paper. However, he is returning from a three-month absence and has never won on a left-handed galloping track like Punchestown across six attempts, which is a stubborn pattern to ignore.
3 straight top-3 finishes
TrackLab Insight
Like Wonderwall, this eight-year-old has never raced on soft, wet ground before, so today is a completely unknown test of whether he handles the conditions. His odds have drifted sharply on the day — from 11s out to 19s — and the result of his most recent run at Fairyhouse 26 days ago is not yet recorded, which limits what we can say with confidence.
Never raced on soft ground
TrackLab Insight
The most lightly raced horse in the field with just two career runs, which makes her almost impossible to assess in a race of this nature against more seasoned rivals. She has never raced on soft, wet ground and has never faced a test like this — though her trainer has been in excellent form recently, winning three from 17 in the last two weeks.
Never raced on soft ground
Lightly raced (2 career races)
3 straight top-3 finishes
Trainer in best form (3 from 17 last 2wk)
TrackLab Insight
The least experienced horse in the field with just 10 career races, this seven-year-old is still finding its feet at this level. His odds have drifted on the day, and recent form — a pull-up followed by a distant third — doesn't inspire confidence, though he does hold a solid one-from-three record in soft, wet conditions.
Relatively inexperienced (10 career races)
TrackLab Insight
The longest absence in the field — seven months off the track — is a serious question mark, and his last two runs before that break resulted in a fall and a pull-up. Wearing cheekpieces to sharpen his focus, he has a decent record on better ground but today's wet conditions are an unknown and he faces a very steep comeback task.
Absent 211 days (longest in field)
TrackLab Insight
At big odds, this 11-year-old faces an uphill battle: zero wins from five attempts on soft or yielding ground, and zero wins from six races on a left-handed galloping track — both of which apply today at Punchestown. His recent form also includes a pull-up and a distant fourth, making it hard to find a compelling reason to fancy him here.
Placed in 2 of last 3 races
TrackLab Insight
With 31 career races and just two wins, this is among the most experienced but least successful horses in the field — winning roughly one in every 16 outings is a tough record to look past. More damaging still, he has never won on soft or wet ground across seven attempts, and today's conditions at Punchestown are squarely against him.
Among the more experienced (31 career races)
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