3:42 Punchestown
This 19-runner Lily & Wild Mares Maiden Hurdle over 2m5f139y at Punchestown on good to yielding ground features a mix of hurdling debutants, lightly-raced sorts and a few with solid placed form to their name. The KTB Fit scores identify a clear top two with Crossbar Getaway heading the list on 66 and Julie Liath next on 62, while the remainder are rated in the low-to-mid 50s or below, suggesting the principals hold the key. With no course form for the selection and several runners unproven on the surface or at the trip, the race poses multiple unknowns.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is likely given two or more habitual front-runners, with Some Pretender and Prophetess Miriam both tending to make the running or race prominently. Julie Liath usually races handily while others such as Bold Reflection and Santa Paula like to be on or close to the lead, which could set the race up for those coming from off the pace. The pace looks as though it could collapse late, which would favour hold-up horses. The key question is whether the prominent runners can sustain their effort or if the race will fall into the lap of a patient rider.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Crossbar Getaway KTB Selection66/100RPR 112 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 2Julie Liath62/100RPR 111 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 3Likeyouhaveplenty56/100No RPR available — neutral score applied
- 4Hello Below54/100No RPR available — neutral score applied
- 5Between Friends51/100RPR 106 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 6Working Away49/100RPR 105 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 7Tenacious Spirit49/100RPR 94 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 8Some Pretender49/100No RPR available — neutral score applied
- 9Prophetess Miriam46/100RPR 92 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 10Santa Paula45/100No RPR available — neutral score applied
- 11Barstool Prophet45/100No RPR available — neutral score applied
- 12Fennors Rose45/100No RPR available — neutral score applied
- 13Bold Reflection42/100No RPR available — neutral score applied
- 14Latopix41/100RPR 93 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 15Royal Order41/100No RPR available — neutral score applied
- 16Yolanda's Star40/100RPR 85 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 17Free A Minute39/100No RPR available — neutral score applied
- 18Bossy Bird39/100RPR 87 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 19Cherry Red38/100RPR 87 — field comparison calculated at page load
The contenders
Crossbar Getaway KTB Fit 66/100
Crossbar Getaway is a smart performer who showed his best yet when second at Fairyhouse last time and arrives in form off a career-high RPR of 112. He has recent form figures of 2349-2 and steps up in trip for the first time today which asks a fresh question while the yard's solid 13 percent strike rate at Punchestown from a huge sample offers encouragement. Gordon Elliott and Paddy Cleary combine with a 3/45 record at this track. The horse typically settles in midfield and has been placed twice from three runs on good to yielding ground, making him competitive though without a win on that surface. First run here is neutral given the horse's overall profile and high data confidence.
Julie Liath KTB Fit 62/100
Julie Liath is a smart performer who made a winning start under rules in a point at Dromahane in April before finishing a solid third on her hurdling debut at Killarney over 2m7f. She has recent form figures of 2341-3, holds an RPR of 111 and has placed once from one run at today's trip. The 11-year-old usually races handily on or close to the lead and has been placed once from two runs on good to yielding ground though without a win. P J Healy has an 8% strike rate at Punchestown from 12 runs while Alan O'Sullivan is aboard; the small going sample leaves that side of her profile unknown.
Likeyouhaveplenty KTB Fit 56/100
Likeyouhaveplenty is a lightly-raced 5-year-old with just one completed run and a pulled-up effort on debut at Tramore. This is his second start with recent form figures of P- and the step up to 2m5f poses a fresh question while the small sample makes it impossible to judge his ability or ground preference with any confidence. He usually produces his effort late having been held up and has no RPR available with a neutral score applied. Sean O'Brien has a 12% strike-rate from 57 runs at Punchestown and Mark McDonagh takes the ride.
Hello Below KTB Fit 54/100
Hello Below makes her hurdling debut for Colin Bowe who has a solid 15% strike rate from 109 runs at Punchestown. She showed fair form in points with runner-up finishes in her last two starts though her overall point record reads 0-7 and recent form figures read P7P-22. With no RPR or Topspeed ratings and low data confidence this remains very much an unknown on her first run under rules. She is by Harzand and has no course win on record.
Between Friends KTB Fit 51/100
Between Friends is a smart performer who showed promise when fifth in a big-field maiden hurdle here last year and has a solid RPR of 106 to her name. She has recent form figures of 25/6P- and has failed to build on that since, finishing tailed off then pulled up on her handicap debut at Cork, and steps up in trip today for the first time. Enda Bolger has a 15% strike rate from 522 runs at Punchestown while Aidan Kelly is aboard with the pair showing a 0/10 record together. She usually produces her effort late having been held up and has no runs on good to yielding ground.
The rest of the field
Working AwayKTB Fit 49/100
Working Away is a smart performer who showed promise when placed over this trip on his second start. He has been off since and returns from another break with a bit to prove after two modest efforts last season with recent form figures of 1/93-. Gordon Elliott strikes at 13% here from a huge sample of runners.
Tenacious SpiritKTB Fit 49/100
Tenacious Spirit is a useful performer on the figures with an RPR of 94 from just four runs. She steps up markedly in trip today having last been seen over 2m and that distance increase remains an unknown with recent form figures of 06/46-. The yard has a 6% strike rate from 51 runs at Punchestown.
Some PretenderKTB Fit 49/100
Some Pretender showed useful bumper form last season with a Galway festival win and three solid Listed thirds but was then well beaten in a Grade 3 at this track. She now switches to hurdling up in trip which asks a fresh question with recent form figures of 13338-. The yard's strong 23% strike rate at Punchestown is a clear positive though her own course run was poor and the small overall sample limits what can be read into her.
Prophetess MiriamKTB Fit 46/100
Prophetess Miriam has shown useful ability with an RPR of 92 backed by placed efforts including a second here over hurdles. She was poor on her latest start though and the first-time hood suggests something was amiss last time with recent form figures of F224-8. The trainer’s 5% strike rate from 60 runs at Punchestown is modest while the jockey has limited course experience.
Santa PaulaKTB Fit 45/100
Santa Paula has shown very little in two bumpers and fell in a point-to-point last time after a long absence with recent form figures of 07/F. The step up to 2m5f today asks a fresh question of this lightly-raced 4-year-old. Trainer Dermot A McLoughlin operates at a 7% strike rate from 184 runs at Punchestown while Alix Balfe is on board.
Barstool ProphetKTB Fit 45/100
Barstool Prophet showed nothing on her bumper debut here over 2m, finishing 19th with recent form figures of 0-. She steps up markedly in trip today as a fresh question while having only one run on the board. The yard's 11% strike rate from 1371 runs at Punchestown offers some encouragement but this is a lightly-raced filly who needs to improve a lot on what she has shown so far.
Fennors RoseKTB Fit 45/100
Fennors Rose is a Jukebox Jury filly who was unsold for 10,500 euros as a foal. She is a half-sister to six winners including the useful dual-purpose performer Fennor Cross. Connections are modest at this track with the trainer operating at a 5% strike rate from 60 runs. On debut she looks one to watch rather than get involved with.
Bold ReflectionKTB Fit 42/100
Bold Reflection has shown ability in points and a bumper but her only recent run after a long absence saw her pulled up at Hexham with recent form figures of 218/P-. She was well backed that day so there is a chance she will improve for the outing though the small sample of just three career runs makes her hard to weigh up. The trainer has a 4% strike rate from 214 runs at Punchestown while she finished eighth on her only previous start here.
LatopixKTB Fit 41/100
Latopix is useful on his figures with an RPR of 93 and has shown enough in three hurdle starts to suggest he can make his mark at this level with recent form figures of 70/38-. He steps up in trip today having last run over 2m which asks a fresh question of him. Henry De Bromhead has an 11 percent strike rate from 994 runs at Punchestown while Dylan Whelan is aboard.
Royal OrderKTB Fit 41/100
Royal Order is a debutant with a pedigree that suggests stamina rather than early sparkle. The dam won over 2m4f over hurdles and he is half-brother to a couple of jumping winners, yet the family note indicates he is unlikely to make an immediate impact. Trainer P J Rothwell has a 4% strike rate from 639 runs at Punchestown while jockey Dylan Robinson is unproven here.
Yolanda's StarKTB Fit 40/100
Yolanda's Star showed only modest signs on debut at Downpatrick when finishing tenth of 15 at 100-1 with recent form figures implied by one run. The fair level of ability suggested by his RPR of 85 has to be treated with real caution given just one career run and low data confidence. Trainer Edward F Power has a 0% strike rate from eight runs at Punchestown while this represents a new trip and the going remains an unknown.
Free A MinuteKTB Fit 39/100
Free A Minute has shown very little in four starts under rules and remains winless from eight point-to-point runs with recent form figures of P7-PP4. The switch to 2m5f poses a fresh question while the small sample makes it impossible to judge whether the ground or track will suit. Trainer Keegan is operating at a 0% strike rate from ten Punchestown runs.
Bossy BirdKTB Fit 39/100
Bossy Bird has shown little in three runs so far with an RPR of 87 that marks him as fair at best with recent form figures of 0/88-. He steps up markedly in trip today having last run over 1m7½f and has already been beaten at this distance once without looking particularly promising. The yard’s 5% strike rate from 215 runs at Punchestown adds to the negatives.
Cherry RedKTB Fit 38/100
Cherry Red has shown very little under rules with a string of pulled-ups and a tailed-off effort, recording a career-high RPR of just 87 that marks him as fair at best with recent form figures of /P/U-P. He was well beaten on his only previous run at Punchestown and the yard operates at a 4% strike rate here from 102 attempts. Stepping up markedly in trip is an unknown and the overall profile remains modest.
KTB verdict
Crossbar Getaway is the KTB Selection. He showed his best yet when second at Fairyhouse last time, arrives in form off a career-high RPR of 112 and is backed by the yard's solid record at Punchestown. The step up in trip is the main question but his overall profile carries high data confidence. Julie Liath is the obvious danger having posted an RPR of 111 and shown placed form at the trip, while Between Friends and the lightly-raced Hello Below cannot be entirely dismissed if they improve for the new distance.
KTB Selection Crossbar Getaway
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 05:01 UTC, 7 Jun. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Crossbar Getaway | 4/1 | Bet Victor |
| Julie Liath | 10/1 | Bet Victor |
| Hello Below | 28/1 | BetMGM |
| Between Friends | 17/2 | Coral |
| Tenacious Spirit | 60/1 | BresBet |
| Some Pretender | 11/8 | Unibet |
| Prophetess Miriam | 9/1 | Ladbrokes |
| Santa Paula | 80/1 | Bet Victor |
| Barstool Prophet | 80/1 | Bet Victor |
| Bold Reflection | 12/1 | Betfred |
| Latopix | 15/2 | Ladbrokes |
| Yolanda's Star | 80/1 | BetMGM |
| Free A Minute | 80/1 | Bet Victor |
| Bossy Bird | 100/1 | BetTom |
| Cherry Red | 125/1 | Ladbrokes |
This is the narrative read of the 3:42 Punchestown. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Punchestown racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is making its hurdling debut in this race?
Hello Below makes her hurdling debut having shown fair form in points.
How many front-runners are in the field and what does this mean for the pace?
Two or more habitual front-runners are present so a strong pace is likely which could collapse late and favour hold-up horses.
Which runner has course form at Punchestown including a placing?
Prophetess Miriam has a second on her only previous run here over hurdles.
Who has the strongest trainer strike rate at Punchestown among the principals?
Colin Bowe has a 15% strike rate at Punchestown from 109 runs for Hello Below while Enda Bolger also has a 15% strike rate from 522 runs for Between Friends.
Which horse steps up markedly in trip from 2m to 2m5f?
Tenacious Spirit steps up markedly in trip today having last been seen over 2m.
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