13:53
Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series At Punchestown Festival 2026 Qualifier Novice Handicap Hurdle
2m4f86y, Hurdle, 4yo+, 19 runners
Winning time 5m 6.30s
- Going
- Yielding
- Surface
- Turf
- Jumps
- 10 hurdles
Result
James Smith (5)
Ian Patrick Donoghue
Settled just behind the pace - locked in battle with rival 3 out - pushed along still tight for the lead before 2 out - fought back level 2 out - inched clear late and stayed on strongly to win
Harry Sexton (7)
E D Delany
Sat behind the pace - 5th at halfway - pushed along to contest the lead after 3 out - edged in front before 2 out - fresh challenger came alongside at that point - shifted left approaching the last then overtaken and just kept short of victory late
Shane O'Callaghan (5)
P J Rothwell
Sat handy behind pace - 4th at halfway - still in touch approaching two out - pushed along in 4th with two left - unable to gain on third by the last - stayed on to finish third
Keith Donoghue
Gavin Cromwell
Held up towards back of field - moved into contention 4 out - up to 6th 3 out - stumbled a touch when asked to go on 2 out - held 4th before last and stayed on same gear to finish
Ms L A Byrne (7)
William Harvey
Settled rear of field - headway into the straight - outpaced and unable to land a blow from 2 out - plugged on one-paced before a minor error at the last - fifth
Philip Byrnes
C Byrnes
Held a midfield spot early - moved into 7th four out then pushed along but unable to close in on the front group before 2 out - stayed on at the same rate - clipped the last fence before finishing sixth
Mr S Connor (7)
S R B Crawford
Held up towards the back - unable to threaten turning for home - edged closer from before the last - finished 7th well beaten
Daniel King
A J Martin
Held up towards the back - pushed along into 11th after 3 out - unable to find more before the 2nd last - finished well held in 8th
Paddy Cleary (7)
Nigel Thomas Slevin
Settled around midfield early - improved into 6th by halfway - pushed along but flattened out turning into the straight - eventually well held
Kevin Healy (7)
S G Carey
Set the pace early - come under pressure and lost front spot approaching 3 out - dropped away steadily late finishing well beaten
Sean Flanagan
W R Crawford
Tracked the pace early - held a midfield spot at halfway - pushed along in the straight without response and dropped away late
Mike O'Connor
Conor David Maxwell
Held up in the pack throughout - minor error 3rd - pushed along with no response entering straight and dropped away
Phillip Enright
M A Molloy
Settled midfield - knocked at the second before pushed into 8th after 3 out - faded without response and well held late
Simon Torrens
Mrs John Harrington
Tracked the pace early - 6th at halfway - pushed along but couldn't find more turning for home and dropped away
Alix Balfe (7)
Dermot A McLoughlin
Settled in the pack early - drifted right at the 2nd and clipped another runner then unbalanced briefly at the 5th - lost ground from 4 out and trailed home well held
Jack Kennedy
Gordon Elliott
Held up towards the back for much of the way - still back there with nothing to offer approaching the straight - dropped away and finished a distant last
J J Slevin
S R B Crawford
Held up towards the back - pressed for effort with no response after 4 out - eased out of contention before 2 out
Conor Stone-Walsh
Gavin Cromwell
Held up in the pack early - pressed for effort before 4 out with nothing left to give - eased and pulled up before 2 out
Sean Cleary-Farrell (7)
Seamus Neville
Sat close to the front group early - third at halfway - shared the advantage after 3 out - pushed along soon after - unable to find more in 5th 2 out - stumbled and lost rider at the last
Non-runners: Speakasyoufind (coughing)
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.