17:35 Galway

Wednesday 2 August 2017

All15:1515:5016:2517:0017:3518:1518:5019:20

TheTote.com Galway Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade A)

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 5m 23.0s

Ballycasey⁷⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160

20/1

Has refound some of his better form this spring, winning a Grade 2 event at Fairyhouse and then following up in a Grade 3 at Killarney in May. Jury still out as to whether this is his best trip but a hard task under top weight all the same.

Form: 13115-1

Alelchi Inois^t1¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156| CD

33/1

High class chaser, comes with plenty of risks attached now but no argument over mark, and likes this track. Warmed up for this with a run on the Flat at Killarney and if the first time tongue-tie has the desired effect, could go well at a price.

Form: 1447PP-

Lord Scoundrel^t1¹⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 156| CD

25/1

Winner of this from an 11lb lower mark last year, kept fresh for this and warmed up for it with a run in April. Goes well after a break and although task harder this year, track clearly suits and he should put up a good showing.

Form: 51F230-

Road To Riches^b1¹⁷¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 156| C

12/1

Possible that physical issues have held him back over the past year or so, and he's now well handicapped on the best of his form. Disappointed when hot favourite for this last year but a change of headgear now, and trainer reports quite bullish.

Form: 2/FP285-

Sandymount Duke²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Mullins| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 156| C| D

12/1

1-1 at Galway courtesy of a win in a novice hurdle here in 2015, in absolutely cracking form at present and showing his versatility by winning at a variety of trips. Up again in the handicap but in such rude health, very hard to rule out.

Form: 1145-11

Rock The World^t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Geraghty| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 155| BF| C

25/1

Classy handicap chaser on his day and took the Grand Annual at this year's Cheltenham Festival, but that 2m is his best trip and may well find his stamina ebbing away late here.

Form: 8014-25

Devils Bride^p,t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Ms L O'Neill⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 154| C

33/1

Has bounced back to form on last couple of starts and holds a chance of reversing earlier form with Sandymount Duke, but possibly not as progressive as that one at present. Jockey takes a useful 5lb off, but on balance, others hold stronger claims.

Form: 95F-332

Sadler's Risk³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: A E Lynch| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 153

33/1

Holds a victory over Lord Scoundrel to his name but inconsistent, and recent efforts rather suggest he's gone off the boil. Needs to refind best form and even then, that may not be enough.

Form: 2144-38

Shaneshill⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153

3/1

Top class over hurdles, third in French Champion Hurdle on latest start and has to be of interest as an unexposed chaser here. Been given a very fair mark to work from and although this is a tough ask so early in chasing career, a clear round surely sees him go close.

Form: F1P0-13

A Toi Phil^t1⁹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott| OR: 149| D

9/1

Didn't run badly in a Grade 1 chase at Punchestown in April although looked a bit one paced. Possible this trip suits better than slightly further does and not ruled out, but others have stronger claims, despite the tongue tie going on today.

Form: 515124-

Balko Des Flos⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 146

6/1

Classy hurdler that made a good start to chasing career last year when an easy winner at Fairyhouse in January. May have gone close in the JLT but for a fall four from home and form of that looks solid, so still well handicapped on that. Still not fully exposed and a good chance.

Form: 2133F3-

Arbre De Vie⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| BF

14/1

Looked like making up into a useful chaser but too may short-priced reversals on his dance card now to make him a solid proposition here, trip and likely ground fine but another heavy defeat at 4/7 latest is not what you want to see coming into this.

Form: 22UB2-7

Haymount¹⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145

10/1

Third in the National Hunt four miler at the Cheltenham Festival so clearly stays well, couldn't reproduce that form in the Irish National but has won after a break before and should have more to offer this season. Not ruled out.

Form: 124337-

Three Kingdoms³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: J J Burke| T: D K Weld| OR: 143| C

25/1

Has plenty of speed about him, and was a very useful 2m chaser for John Ferguson a few seasons back. Well beaten in this last year and despite coming here off the back of a hurdles win (again, 2m) hard to see why he should do any better this year.

Form: 00/0540-

Ballybolley^t⁶⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 142| BF

16/1

Looks very good on his day, as he did when destroying a field at Haydock in April and may well have won at Uttoxeter last time out but for falling. However, still a question mark over this trip and on that, others look stronger.

Form: P341-3F

Slowmotion⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: J S McGarvey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 142| BF

14/1

Slowly improving and has been doing well in small fields, but showed he was just as happy in a big field when second to Definite Ruby in a Mares Handicap Chase at Punchestown last time. Up another 4lb for that and this is tougher, but on an upward curve and not discounted.

Form: 211212-

Marinero^b1¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 141| D

33/1

Not progressing as was expected and no surprise to see some headgear wheeled out here, possible to make an excuse for last effort as he was hampered but in truth, form has fallen away a bit and he needs to bounce back now.

Form: U4P-247

Shanpallas³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: N P Madden| T: C Byrnes| OR: 141

20/1

Likes the track and finished fifth in this a couple of years ago (when quietly fancied) and does have the look of one laid out for this again this year, but you get the feeling his best chance may have passed now.

Form: 1445-44

Vintage Vinnie^t³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: J M Moore| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 140| D

25/1

Looked much more like his old self when thrashing a small field at Aintree and possibly had a bit too much use made of him at Uttoxeter last time out. Trip and ground fine here but hard to make all in such a competitive event.

Form: P875-16

Deans Road⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Donagh Meyler| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138

16/1

Needed all of Listowel's 2m3f to win last time out and this step back up in trip looks a positive move, up another 6lb for that which looks harsh on the face of it but still not fully exposed as a chaser and at the right end of the handicap.

Form: 34128-1

Heron Heights^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Phillip Enright| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138

25/1

Had some good early-season form last year but it rather tailed off towards the end of the year, although third at Punchestown in April a solid effort. Early departure latest not his fault, but does need to return to best form.

Form: 16P3-0B

Bentelimar²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J R Barry| OR: 137

12/1

Good winner of a little novice chase at Wexford in June (soft ground) but not so good latest, although drop back to 2m not in his favour. Likely to have more to offer over this longer trip and carries little weight.

Form: 533F-13

Non-Runners

Shadow Catcher¹¹

Weight: 10-1| Age: 9

T: G Elliott J: Reserve 1

Sambremont⁶⁴

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: W P Mullins J: Reserve 2

On Fiddlers Green⁵¹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: H De Bromhead J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Shaneshill (3/1), Balko Des Flos (6/1), On Fiddlers Green (7/1), A Toi Phil (9/1), Haymount (10/1), Sandymount Duke (12/1), Road To Riches (12/1), Bentelimar (12/1), Slowmotion (14/1), Arbre De Vie (14/1), Ballybolley (16/1), Deans Road (16/1), Shanpallas (20/1), Ballycasey (20/1), Lord Scoundrel (25/1), Vintage Vinnie (25/1), Rock The World (25/1), Heron Heights (25/1), Three Kingdoms (25/1), Sadler's Risk (33/1), Marinero (33/1), Alelchi Inois (33/1), Devils Bride (33/1), Sambremont (33/1), Shadow Catcher (33/1)

A terrific renewal of the Galway Plate and with bookmakers going 8-1 the field, that gives an indication of how wide open it is. Shaneshill should find this sort of test ideal and for one that has a bit of quality about him, looks nicely weighted here. Balko Des Flos is another that will improve this season but he's well enough found in the market, and the value may lie with HAYMOUNT, who will stay every yard of this and after a break may be the time to catch him. As a Mullins "second string" he looks a bit overpriced. Deans Road could go well at a price too and his chance shouldn't be dismissed.