17:30 | Punchestown | Thursday 30th April 2026 | Racing971

1 17:30 Punchestown (IRE) 30 Apr 2026

Specialist Group Novice Hurdle (4YO plus)

2m 90y Yielding

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Winner €12,000

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Temp: 10.3° - 17.2°

Rain: 2.38mm

Wind: 8.7 mph SE

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Colcannon 25

b g ; Berkshire - She's A Star

Donagh Meyler

N Meade

Star rating: 3

13-2641 6 11-12 125

CD G HG

Form Snapshot: He has won a hurdle race and two NH flat races at 2m on soft and yielding - soft ground. Won on his latest outing in a maiden hurdle race when 5-2fav at Fairyhouse over 2m (yielding - soft) earlier this month, beating Brother Walfrid by 4l.

Fort Dino (FR) 334

bay g ; Doctor Dino - Scarletts Fortune

Mike O'Connor

H De Bromhead

Star rating: 2

41 5 11-12 -

Form Snapshot: A winner at 9-1 in a hurdle race at Auteuil over 2m 1f (heavy) on his latest outing in May last year, beating Litleangel Duseuil by 7l. He is wearing a tongue-tie for the first time. Having his first run for a new stable today, previously with Hugo Merienne in France.

Friary Road 158

b g ; Finsceal Fior - Summer Star

Shane O'Callaghan (5)

T M Walsh

Star rating: 2

157-1PF 6 11-12 120

CD G HG

Form Snapshot: He has won a hurdle race and two NH flat races at 2m on ground varying from good - yielding to yielding. Fell 2 out when 11-1 here over 2m 1f (soft - heavy) in a hurdle race won by Kotkito Bello in November last year on his latest outing.

Gameball 151

b g ; Yeats - By The Hour

Darragh O'Keeffe

H De Bromhead

Star rating: 5

114 6 11-12 133

CD G

Form Snapshot: Finished 9l behind Koktail Brut when fourth of 8 at 5-1 on his latest outing in a Grade 2 hurdle race in the Group 2 BAR 1 Betting Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse over 2m (yielding - soft) in November last year.

Leader D'allier (FR) 25

b g ; Cokoriko - Fromentine

Paul Townend

W P Mullins

Star rating: 4

111214 5 11-12 -

CD G HG BF

Form Snapshot: Winner of a hurdle race and five NH flat races from 1m 4f to 2m on good to soft and heavy ground. Well beaten at evens fav behind Koktail Brut when fourth of 7 on his latest outing in a Grade 2 hurdle race in the Group 2 Donohue Marquees Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse over 2m (yielding - soft).

Nadia's Boy 216

br g ; Getaway - Just Janice

Sean O'Keeffe

W P Mullins

Star rating: 4

1/11 6 11-12 -

D G

Form Snapshot: A winner at 6-5 in a maiden hurdle race at Listowel over 2m 2f (good - yielding) on his latest outing in September last year, beating Frankie John by 6l.

Ionian 53

b g ; Blue Bresil - Tearsofclewbay

N de Boinville

N J Henderson

Star rating: 2

6-6243 5 11-5 114

D G

Form Snapshot: Placed in two hurdle races from five starts. Third of 10 behind Cosmic Connection beaten 2 1/2l at 4-1 on his latest outing in a hurdle race at Warwick over 2m (good to soft) last month.

Techno Davis (FR) 40

b g ; No Risk At All - Clarinet Davis

J J Slevin

J P O'Brien

Star rating: 2

1 5 11-5 -

Form Snapshot: A winner at Kirkistown over 3m (yielding) last month, beating The Two Four by 1 1/4l. Having his first run for a new stable today, previously with Tom Dreaper in Ireland.

Beauvallon 30

b g ; Camelot - Maria Lee

Danny Mullins

W P Mullins

Star rating: 2

51 4 11-4 -

D G

Form Snapshot: Won on his latest outing in a maiden hurdle race when 6-4fav at Limerick over 2m (soft) last month, beating Manoir De Mirande by 5l.

Immediate Effect (GB) 67

b g ; Study Of Man - Alinstante

Jack Kennedy

G Elliott

Star rating: 4

155 4 11-4 128

CD G HG BF

Form Snapshot: Finished 19l behind Majolique when last of 5 at 11-10fav on his latest outing in a hurdle race at Naas over 1m 7f (heavy) in February. He is wearing cheekpieces for the first time.

Alwaysgoinhome

b g ; Dawn Approach - Madam Anna

Shane Fitzgerald

Brian Francis Cawley

Star rating: 1

4 10-11 -

Form Snapshot: Dam won in NH flat race at 2m 2f.

2025: (12 ran) Casheldale Lad , Age 5 , Wgt 11-12 , SP 13/2 - Jordan Gainford / G Elliott

Forecast: 15/8 Leader D'allier , 3/1 Gameball , 5/1 Colcannon , 6/1 Nadia's Boy , 10/1 Beauvallon , 10/1 Fort Dino , 12/1 Techno Davis , 16/1 Immediate Effect , 16/1 Ionian , 33/1 Friary Road , 150/1 Alwaysgoinhome

Last Updated: 29 Apr 2026 17:06:33

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CD Course & Distance
D Distance
C Course
Hcp Today’s Official Rating or Higher

G Going
HG Headgear
Cl Class
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BF Beaten favourite last time out
MM Horse is within the top 10 steamers for the day
MM Horse is within the top 10 drifters for the day
ATR Horse is being backed by one of our tipsters

90 Official Rating

v/b/h Visor / Blinkers / Hood
es/ec Eye Shield / Eye Cover
p Cheek Pieces
t Tongue Strap

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WS This horse received Wind Surgery prior to this run
WS2 This was the horse's second outing after receiving Wind Surgery

2 Horse is due to go xlb down in future race
2 Horse is due to go xlb up in future races

AT THE RACES is not liable for any services or information offered or provided by its bookmaker partners. Please note: Whilst every effort is made to ensure odds and information are up to date and correct, differences between these and actual odds/information available from bookmakers at time of placing a bet may occur. Read more

Verdict

Verdict

LEADER D'ALLIER can end a somewhat frustrating season on a winning note. A five-time scorer in his native France, the Willie Mullins-trained gelding made a satisfactory Irish debut at Leopardstown over Christmas, at a time when his stable wasn't firing on all cylinders. An impressive winner at this circuit next time, the five-year-old had been a Supreme Novices' Hurdle contender before suffering a last-minute setback. Although well beaten at Fairyhouse earlier this month, a bad mistake three out all but ended his chances and he can show his true ability here. Royal Bond fourth Gameball has to be a strong candidate on his first start since November. Unbeaten in a point-to-point, a bumper and a maiden hurdle, Nadia''s Boy also holds claims.

Top Tip: Leader D'allier (5)
Watch out for: Gameball (4)

GAMEBALL hasn't been seen since the autumn but the form of his midfield effort in the Royal Bond has been franked emphatically since. The ground has come in his favour and he's open to further progress in a first time hood so is taken to get the better of the well regarded Leader d'Allier who went too fast when upped in class last time. His debut effort has been boosted at the top level and he is worth another chance dropped in class. He can fill the places with unbeaten stablemate Nadia's Boy who has been kept off since the autumn in search of better ground.

1-2-3 Selections

Previous winners

Year	Going	Ran	Winner	Age	Weight	OR	Form	Last run	Trainer (Distance)	Jockey	SP	Time
2025	Yielding	12	Casheldale Lad	5	11 12	-	1-152	29 days	G Elliott (49 miles)	Jordan Gainford	13/ 2	4:00.70
2024	Soft	14	Eagle Fang	4	11 6	-	223010	52 days	W Durkan (19 miles)	O R Brown	22/ 1	4:15.10
2023	Yielding	9	Monbeg Park	6	11 12	-	213P2D	20 days	S Doyle (82 miles)	J J Slevin	15/ 8	3:57.80
2022	Good - Yielding	9	El Fabiolo	5	11 12	-	73-12	21 days	W P Mullins (47 miles)	Paul Townend	8/ 13	3:55.50
2021	Yielding	15	El Barra	7	12 0	-	2-10421	26 days	W P Mullins (47 miles)	Sean O'Keeffe	12/ 1	4:03.30
2019	Good - Yielding	9	Gardens of Babylon	4	11 4	-	412232	11 days	J P O'Brien (62 miles)	Mr Derek O'Connor	5/ 2	3:54.40
2018	Soft	17	Antey	5	11 12	-	13-3621	36 days	W P Mullins (47 miles)	Ms K Walsh	9/ 1	4:05.30
2017	Good - Yielding	9	Montalbano	5	11 12	-	342-153	26 days	W P Mullins (47 miles)	Mr Patrick Mullins	11/ 4	3:52.90
2016	Yielding	8	Koshari	4	11 2	-	51	125 days	W P Mullins (47 miles)	Paul Townend	7/ 4	4:04.80
2015	Good - Yielding	8	Snake Eyes	7	11 12	-	2446-10	103 days	N J Henderson	Mark Walsh	9/ 2	4:02.80
2014	Good - Yielding	13	Arctic Fire	5	11 12	-	1-1S342	49 days	W P Mullins (47 miles)	Ruby Walsh	4/ 5	4:01.00
2013	Heavy	10	Un De Sceaux	5	11 12	-	1-11	65 days	W P Mullins (47 miles)	Ruby Walsh	5/ 4	4:16.00
2012	Heavy	11	Oscara Dara	7	11 12	-	12-14	14 days	N J Henderson	B J Geraghty	11/ 8	4:18.40
2011	Good	15	Kid Cassidy	5	11 12	-	13-132	70 days	N J Henderson	A P McCoy	5/ 2	3:47.20
2010	Good	23	Arvika Ligeonniere	5	11 12	-	2-4124	35 days	W P Mullins (47 miles)	Paul Townend	3/ 1	3:54.90
2009	Heavy	16	Copper Bleu	7	11 12	-	5-31242	27 days	P Hobbs & J White	Richard Johnson	7/ 4	4:11.90
2008	Good	25	I Hear A Symphony	6	11 5	-	2-01F22	32 days	P Hobbs & J White	Tom O'Brien	10/ 1	3:53.50
2007	Good	28	Sizing Europe	5	11 11	-	2-51135	17 days	H De Bromhead (89 miles)	Denis O'Regan	4/ 1	3:54.90
2006	Good	19	Kinger Rocks	5	11 6	-	131133	211 days	D K Weld (19 miles)	A P McCoy	4/ 1	3:51.00
2005	Soft	28	Snoopy Loopy	7	11 12	-	1-13339	44 days	Miss V Scott	P W Flood	16/ 1	3:54.40