Matchbook 50:50 Graduation Series Maiden Hurdle – Punchestown

Punchestown

13:40

Matchbook 50:50 Graduation Series Maiden Hurdle

Date 2026-02-18

Distance 2m157y

Class

Going Soft

Type Hurdle

Surface Turf

Age Band 5yo+

Prize €5,900

Weather Overcast

Temp 4.2°C

Wind 10mph SE

Rain 18%

Runners (19)

EW Terms: 4 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
11	Straight John Bay J:Jack Kennedy T:Gordon Elliott	J:Jack Kennedy T:Gordon Elliott	158	t	62	-	133	102	23d	—	0W/1P 1 run	-43	25	0.08/1	3/10 77%
Ran as well as could have been expected behind a hot favourite last month, should collect
5	Bulgaden Castle Bay J:Simon Torrens T:P J Rothwell	J:Simon Torrens T:P J Rothwell	158	—	53-032	116	123	64	60d	—	—	+3	22.2	0.88/1	7/2 22%
One of the more appealing runners following a 20-1 second at Thurles in December
1	En Or Bay J:Daniel King T:A J Martin	J:Daniel King T:A J Martin	166	t	/92-70	110	117	77	53d	—	—	+6	18.6	2.00/1	8/1 11%
Six-time Flat winner, needs to improve on this term's handicap form to win a maiden hurdle
6	Doctor Elvis Chestnut J:Danny Gilligan T:Gordon Elliott	J:Danny Gilligan T:Gordon Elliott	158	—	3/6	-	-	-	24d	—	—	-2	3.7	4.00/1	16/1 6%
Fine effort at this venue on debut in 2023, tailed off in a bumper after very long absence
7	Lord Of The Locke Bay J:Philip Byrnes T:C Byrnes	J:Philip Byrnes T:C Byrnes	158	—	6-957	-	106	38	20d	—	—	-3	1.3	6.25/1	25/1 4%
Ran well in a sales bumper last year, can probably improve on the form of two hurdle runs
13	Zam Bobbler Bay J:Tiernan Power Roche(3) T:P J Rothwell	J:Tiernan Power Roche(3) T:P J Rothwell	158	—	5	-	108	45	144d	—	—	-2	0.9	12.50/1	50/1 2%
Shaped quite well on debut, improvement on the cards but is likely to need more experience
9	Poppycon Bay J:Phillip Enright T:Eoin Doyle	J:Phillip Enright T:Eoin Doyle	158	—	623-30	-	101	79	20d	—	—	-2	0.7	20.00/1	80/1 1%
Remote third on hurdle debut at Tramore, big price when in rear at Thurles last month
2	Cherry Pink Bay J:Alyse Clarke(7) T:William Durkan	J:Alyse Clarke(7) T:William Durkan	159	—	4	-	107	69	23d	—	—	-2	0.8	16.50/1	66/1 1%
Five wins on the Flat, fair fourth on hurdling debut, well held by runner-up Straight John
10	Silver Salute Grey J:Josh Williamson(5) T:Ian Patrick Donoghue	J:Josh Williamson(5) T:Ian Patrick Donoghue	158	—	5-3789	-	115	103	15d	—	—	-2	0.7	20.00/1	80/1 1%
Placed in points, not a bad effort on hurdling debut, modest form on his last two starts
3	Sylkie Chestnut J:Cian Quirke T:Daniel John Howard	J:Cian Quirke T:Daniel John Howard	159	—	09	-	74	22	23d	—	—	-1	0.5	31.25/1	125/1 1%
Three wins on the Flat, all at Galway, no encouragement from two maiden hurdle outings
16	Thecouncillorswife Bay J:Benjamin P Kennedy(7) T:D Deacon	J:Benjamin P Kennedy(7) T:D Deacon	151	—	43-005	-	68	48	37d	—	—	-1	0.5	31.25/1	125/1 1%
Remote fifth of seven finishers here last time, can be left out of calculations
R17	Let It Settle Bay J:Conor Stone-Walsh T:Gavin Cromwell	J:Conor Stone-Walsh T:Gavin Cromwell	151	—	546F00	-	76	30	15d	—	—	-1	0.5	37.50/1	150/1 1%
First reserve, two fair runs in bumpers, confidence possibly damaged by a fall at Cork
12	Your Out Of Line Grey J:Donagh Meyler T:Ross O'Sullivan	J:Donagh Meyler T:Ross O'Sullivan	158	h	00	-	98	13	14d	—	—	-1	0.4	37.50/1	150/1 1%
Weak form on the Flat, no sign of winning potential in his first two races over hurdles
4	Ballyhasty Bay J:Eoin Staples(5) T:W J Austin	J:Eoin Staples(5) T:W J Austin	158	—	00	-	90	15	20d	—	—	-1	0.4	75.00/1	300/1 0%
Can be safely ruled out on the evidence of runs at Fairyhouse and Thurles last month
14	Ballinaboola Gold Bay J:Danny Mullins T:R Donohoe	J:Danny Mullins T:R Donohoe	151	—	0007U	-	85	33	14d	—	0W/0P 1 run	-1	0.4	62.50/1	250/1 0%
Unseated here two weeks ago, nothing in her previous form provides any encouragement
15	Ode To Joy Bay J:Gavin Brouder T:William J McLernon	J:Gavin Brouder T:William J McLernon	151	—	8000	-	93	19	20d	—	0W/0P 1 run	-1	0.4	75.00/1	300/1 0%
Has contested two bumpers and two maiden hurdles without showing any worthwhile form
NR	Market Ready Bay J:Sean O'Keeffe T:Sean Aherne	J:Sean O'Keeffe T:Sean Aherne	158	—	40-3	-	105	96	108d	—	—	—	3	—	—
Capable of holding his own here if reproducing the form of a third placing at Cork
NR	Dictionary Corner Brown J:TBC T:Eoin Christopher McCarthy	J: T:Eoin Christopher McCarthy	151	—	RP	-	-	-	83d	—	—	—	0	—	—
Second reserve, failed to complete two starts for her previous trainer, best watched
NR	Salvador Peps Bay J:Michael J Doyle(7) T:Gordon Michael Doyle	J:Michael J Doyle(7) T:Gordon Michael Doyle	158	t	—	-	-	-	—	—	—	—	0	—	—
Third reserve, half-brother to two Flat winners, family associated with stamina on Flat

Horse	bet365	William Hill	Boyle Sports	Ladbrokes	Unibet
Straight John	1/4	1/4	2/7	1/4	3/10
Bulgaden Castle	7/2	10/3	10/3	3/1	7/2
En Or	8/1	7/1	7/1	13/2	15/2
Doctor Elvis	16/1	14/1	14/1	14/1	16/1
Lord Of The Locke	25/1	22/1	22/1	22/1	22/1
Zam Bobbler	50/1	40/1	40/1	40/1	40/1
Poppycon	80/1	66/1	66/1	66/1	80/1
Cherry Pink	66/1	50/1	50/1	50/1	50/1
Silver Salute	80/1	66/1	66/1	66/1	80/1
Sylkie	125/1	100/1	100/1	100/1	100/1
Thecouncillorswife	125/1	100/1	100/1	100/1	100/1
Let It Settle	150/1	100/1	100/1	100/1	100/1
Your Out Of Line	150/1	125/1	125/1	125/1	125/1
Ballyhasty	300/1	250/1	250/1	250/1	250/1
Ballinaboola Gold	250/1	200/1	200/1	200/1	200/1
Ode To Joy	300/1	250/1	250/1	250/1	250/1
Market Ready	-	-	-	-	-
Dictionary Corner	-	-	-	-	-
Salvador Peps	-	-	-	-	-

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Straight John

OR: 0 Form: 5 Odds: 20

3/10

2nd

Bulgaden Castle

22.2

OR: 16.5 Form: 0 Odds: 5.7

7/2

3rd

En Or

18.6

OR: 15 Form: 0 Odds: 3.6

8/1

Doctor Elvis

3.7

OR: 0 Form: 2.1 Odds: 1.6

16/1

Market Ready

OR: 0 Form: 3 Odds: 0

—

Lord Of The Locke

1.3

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 1.3

25/1

Zam Bobbler

0.9

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.9

50/1

Cherry Pink

0.8

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.8

66/1

Poppycon

0.7

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.7

80/1

Silver Salute

0.7

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.7

80/1

Sylkie

0.5

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.5

125/1

Thecouncillorswife

0.5

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.5

125/1

Let It Settle

0.5

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.5

150/1

Your Out Of Line

0.4

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.4

150/1

Ballyhasty

0.4

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.4

300/1

Ballinaboola Gold

0.4

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.4

250/1

Ode To Joy

0.4

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.4

300/1

Dictionary Corner

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0

—

Salvador Peps

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0

—

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Bulgaden Castle	116	123	64
En Or	110	117	77
Straight John	—	133	102
Doctor Elvis	—	—	—
Lord Of The Locke	—	106	38
Zam Bobbler	—	108	45
Poppycon	—	101	79
Cherry Pink	—	107	69
Silver Salute	—	115	103
Sylkie	—	74	22
Thecouncillorswife	—	68	48
Let It Settle	—	76	30
Your Out Of Line	—	98	13
Ballyhasty	—	90	15
Ballinaboola Gold	—	85	33
Ode To Joy	—	93	19
Market Ready	—	105	96
Dictionary Corner	—	—	—
Salvador Peps	—	—	—

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Your Out Of Line	14d ago	Fit
Ballinaboola Gold	14d ago	Fit
Silver Salute	15d ago	Fit
Let It Settle	15d ago	Fit
Lord Of The Locke	20d ago	Fit
Poppycon	20d ago	Fit
Ballyhasty	20d ago	Fit
Ode To Joy	20d ago	Fit
Straight John	23d ago	Fit
Cherry Pink	23d ago	Fit
Sylkie	23d ago	Fit
Doctor Elvis	24d ago	Fit
Thecouncillorswife	37d ago	Fit
En Or	53d ago	Fresh
Bulgaden Castle	60d ago	Fresh
Dictionary Corner	83d ago	Fresh
Market Ready	108d ago	Long break
Zam Bobbler	144d ago	Long break
Salvador Peps	—	—