← Honest Record · Pick Winner · Mr Fox

Matchbook €50,000 Graduation Series Maiden Hurdle

14:10 Punchestown Wed 14 Oct 2026 2m0f95y Good 16 runners

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Mr Fox’s call

Fiveandahalf silks

Fiveandahalf

MEDIUM Advised 15/8 SP 6/5F Est. 35%

🏆 WON

Mr Fox says

Fiveandahalf (SR:157, 15/8) is the highest-rated runner in a field where quality falls away sharply below the top two, and crucially carries 11-11 — the same weight as Apache Peak (SR:158, 5/2) — so there is no meaningful weight disadvantage to explain away. The form line '4-1' shows a recent win on return from a break, trainer Gavin Cromwell runs a dual-runner yard and has deployed Keith Donoghue, his more experienced booking at 13% career strike rate versus Ben Harvey (7%) on stablemate Caprison — a clear signal this is Cromwell's number one. The market at 15/8 has held without drift, contrasting sharply with Apache Peak's Mkt:out7%, where the money is gently moving against the favourite on a 206-day absence. Each-way alternative: Thinkitdontjinxit. Main danger: Apache Peak — Apache Peak carries the highest SR in the field at 158, has proven distance fitness (DistFit:+), and runs for a yard with a solid 10% strike rate — a 206-day absence and a gentle market drift are the only flags against what is otherwise a formidable profile.

Verify· #23317

Full result

Winner: Fiveandahalf (IRE) at SP 6/5F. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

  1. 1 Fiveandahalf silks Fiveandahalf Fox #1 Gavin Cromwell · Keith Donoghue 9/4
  2. 2 Quest For Answers silks Quest For Answers M F Morris · Josh Williamson(3) 33/1
  3. 3 Whisky Lads silks Whisky Lads Fox #4 Henry de Bromhead · Darragh O'Keeffe 6/1
  4. 4 Apache Peak silks Apache Peak Fox #2 Ross O'Sullivan · Danny Gilligan 2/1
  5. 5 Caprison silks Caprison Gavin Cromwell · Ben Harvey 125/1
  6. 6 Highland Call silks Highland Call Timothy Doyle · Mr D Doyle(5) 80/1
  7. 7 Marine Tycoon silks Marine Tycoon A. J. Martin · Kevin Sexton 66/1
  8. 8 Deralo Ir silks Deralo Ir A. J. Martin · Daniel King 80/1
  9. 9 Thranduil silks Thranduil Paul Nolan · Ross Berry(7) 150/1
  10. 10 River Ore silks River Ore John Joseph Hanlon · Donagh Meyler 100/1
  11. 11 Ragstoriches silks Ragstoriches Gerard Keane · Eoghan Finegan(5) 50/1
  12. 12 Silken Thomas silks Silken Thomas Barry Connell · Sean Flanagan 14/1
  13. 13 Two Grand Sweeney silks Two Grand Sweeney P J Rothwell · Tiernan Power Roche 20/1
  14. 14 Issy's Lad silks Issy's Lad W J Austin · Eoin Staples(5) 125/1
  15. 15 Magna Gee Gee silks Magna Gee Gee Patrick J Flynn · Aidan Kelly 125/1
  16. — Thinkitdontjinxit silks Thinkitdontjinxit Fox #3 Gordon Elliott · Jack Kennedy 9/4

Top 4 — how each finished

  1. 1 Fiveandahalf silks Fiveandahalf 15/8 SP 6/5F 🏆 WON
  2. 2 Apache Peak silks Apache Peak 5/2 🏁 4TH
  3. 3 Thinkitdontjinxit silks Thinkitdontjinxit 3/1
  4. 4 Whisky Lads silks Whisky Lads 9/1 🥉 3RD