Punchestown - Tue 15 Sep 2026
EXCEPTIONALLY has progressed with each run and should prove difficult to beat back in maiden company. The half-sister to City Of Troy was placed behind better-fancied stablemate Ibelieveicanfly at the Curragh before keeping on well in a Group 3 over a mile at the same venue. Silver Kiss has been placed on all three outings and had The Good Wife and Wunderschon both behind at the Galway Festival. Harita cost 550,000gns as a yearling and is from the family of Harzand, while Whytemontella won a barrier trial at Leopardstown.
NOBLE EXHIBIT made a promising debut at the Curragh last month behind the highly-regarded Monogram and, with the benefit of that experience and this longer trip, can open his account. Francillon caught the eye when finishing well on debut in a mile Killarney maiden that has worked out well, and probably ran to a similar level of form when beaten at odds-on in Leopardstown. Dancinginthecity stayed 1m1f well when beating all bar better-fancied stablemate Zarak Pasha at the Curragh last month, while Imposing and Jacob B Good are two newcomers to note in the market.
ZARAAHMANDO won three times last year, including over this trip at Cork, and has been running consistently well this season. The Andy Slattery-trained gelding had Frank Pickle and No More Porter behind when fourth in a similar handicap won by Sonoran at Navan earlier this month. Motta Alta was placed at the Galway Festival on her first start for current connections and should go well if staying this extra furlong, while Sagasti opened her account at Roscommon and Colin Keane is again in the saddle. Follow Me drops back in trip and is another to consider.
QUEEN OF THE BOGS won a Curragh maiden over this trip last year and should benefit from her seasonal reappearance at Fairyhouse when runner-up to Cowardofthecounty. Dial Me In wasn't disgraced in competitive handicaps at Royal Ascot and Goodwood before shaping well in a conditions race at Roscommon, while the market should provide a guide to the chance of stablemate Golden Splendour, who won a Chantilly maiden on her only start last year. Puppet Master won the Lingfield Derby Trial for Aidan O'Brien last year but hasn't reached those heights since, while Minella Rockett is on a four-timer after a couple of narrow handicap wins.
VICO ROAD was slowly away before arriving from off the pace to finish a never-nearer fifth on his racecourse debut at Navan and looks sure to build on that effort. Back Straight ran promisingly in a useful maiden on this card 12 months ago and has to command plenty of respect. Fleur De Provence has an excellent pedigree but needs to bounce back from a below-par effort at Leopardstown in June.
REST YOUR MIND has a fine pedigree and should be competitive in her first handicap, having won a maiden at Galway in August. By Wootton Bassett, the selection is a half-sister to Cheltenham bumper winner A Dream To Share and Group 3 winner Raise You and she may now progress from what appears to be a very fair mark. Harana has proven ability for handicaps and is entitled to be competitive once again, while the slow-starting Lady Arwen has been in excellent form of late.
Four-time winner RAMPAGE has useful recent form and would be aided by an easing in ground conditions. Well suited by this type of distance, he was narrowly beaten under today's 7lb claimer at Gowran recently and has every chance of going one better from an unchanged mark. Spiritofthedawn ran well on her handicap debut at Navan and remains open to further progression being a lightly-raced three-year-old. Ohmali has won just once from 17 starts but should go well under his 10lb claimer, having been stretched stamina-wise on two of his last three starts.
Three-year-old NEPHIN MOUNTAIN has obvious claims on recent form and makes plenty of appeal as he attempts to make it two wins from his last three outings. Four-time winner Gloriously Glam has dropped in the handicap of late and could pose a solid threat, while Believe Believe completes the shortlist on his return from a break after finishing second at Gowran in May.
The steadily progressive EXCEPTIONALLY sets the standard having shown steady progression on each start to date. She boasts an experience edge and is suited by 1m so should be tough to beat. Wunderschon built on her debut effort last time where she shaped as if in need of this step up in trip. She can fill the places with the well bred stablemate of the selection Beach. She was too green to show much first time out but should make significant improvement here.
FRANCILLON was a shade disappointing last time given his short price but the form looks strong and his debut runner up effort sets the standard. That form has been franked at Listed level and a repeat should be enough to see off Dancinginthecity who showed good form when runner up on debut. However that rival may not be ideally suited by this drop back in trip and will need a stiff test to figure. Noble Exhibit also shaped well first time out and is open to plenty of progress for top connections so is also feared.
The consistent Zaraahmando has run well in stronger contests than this throughout the summer at around 1m on good ground or softer. He holds fair claims but he has wasted a number of good opportunities recently so the top weight MOLTO AMICHI is marginally preferred on his return from hurdling. He did too much too soon on his follow up attempt on his last Flat run but he could get an easy lead here from a good draw. Veteran No More Porter has a poor strike rate but he has dropped in the weights while proving he retains most of his ability and can also play a part.
This can go to QUEEN OF THE BOGS who was only beaten by a class dropper last time and should come on for that outing. Her maiden victory came over 9f so she should appreciate the step back up in distance and continue her progress. Former Listed winner Puppet Master has returned to form over hurdles for his new stable recently. If getting a decent test on his Flat return he can chase the selection home ahead of the Joseph O'Brien pair Dial Me In and Golden Splendour. The former sets the standard and the latter won her only start in France for her old stable.
The standard is probably set by Back Straight who finished runner up to a more experienced rival on debut. That form has been franked and his jockey booking suggests a big run is expected but he may just need his first run of the year. FLEUR DE PROVENCE was disappointing last time when doing too much too soon but her previous placed efforts give her strong claims. She is picked to improve again in the first time cheekpieces and defeat Xirivella whose penultimate placed effort has been boosted.
The progressive LADY ARWEN was let down by a slow start in her hat trick bid last time but looks well treated on returned to handicaps so can gain some compensation. That latest run was boosted over the weekend and she should appreciate the step back up in distance. The consistent Neo Smart is another who looks on a generous mark back in a handicap and she proved her stamina for even further last time so looks an obvious danger. 10f maiden winner Harana returned to form last time over a stiff mile shaping as if in need of this step back up in distance and can also play a part in the finish.
SPIRITOFTHEDAWN showed improved form when upped to 1m on her handicap debut last time. She is only 1lb higher here and is bred to appreciate the step up in trip so gets the verdict. Veteran Rampage has returned to form of late off a reduced mark and was only just out-battled late last time having looked the winner. He looks the biggest danger ahead of Patrick Street who has been in good form in both codes but will need a decent test to figure.
This can go the largely consistent MISS AMERICANA whose latest placed effort is worth marking up as she was forced to switch. She has a good draw from which to attack and can lead home Medieval Night who has been running back into form of late and will appreciate the step back up in distance. The consistent Nephin Mountain is only 1lb higher than when placing in a better race last time and should also be thereabouts.
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