14:15 Galway

Thursday 3 August 2017

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1518:00

Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 27.10s

Townshend⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146

7/2

Won three of his five previous chases, looking an increasingly class act in the process. Travelled strongly when recording a bloodless win at Roscommon (2m, soft) last time out and remains on the upgrade. An obvious player.

Form: 1/21F-11

Don't Touch It⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Geraghty| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 150

7/2

Grade 1 hurdle winner who wasn't convincing initially over fences but is really getting his act together now. Improved in first-time cheekpieces to bravely defy a big weight in a valuable handicap at Punchestown (2m, good to yielding) in April and will take some stopping back in novice company.

Form: 331221-

Peregrine Run²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: R Loughran| T: Peter Fahey

9/2

Classy 142 rated hurdler who beat all bar Townshend on his chasing debut at Roscommon last month. Has since done everything asked of him by justifying favouritism in successive events at Wexford (both 2m, good) and likely to figure prominently.

Form: 130-211

Our Dougal¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: A E Lynch| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 130

16/1

Not the easiest to win with but good effort to finish a 4L third behind Peregrine Run at Wexford (2m, good) in June before finding improvement to score in good style at Killarney (2m, good to yielding). This may just prove too much, however.

Form: F2-4F31

Potters Point^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 132| C

9/1

Wonderfully consistent sort and has wins over both hurdles and fences to his name. Has twice found Townshend too good this year but produced arguably his best effort when short-headed by Conrad Hastings over 2m6f (good) at Killarney latest.

Form: 15-2332

Rathvinden²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

7/2

Class act who has been blighted by injury problems but, even so, had enough about him to score effortlessly on his third chase start at Wexford (3m1f, good) last month. Dangerous to dismiss as he steps up in grade.

Form: F23/P-21

Rocky Court^t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: R T Dunne| T: S J Mahon| OR: 116

100/1

Winner over fences at Ballinrobe (good) in May but has found things tougher in better company since, most recently when finishing a 9L third behind Attribution (2m2f, good) at Limerick. Likely to struggle in this company.

Form: 86P-163

Landofhopeandglory^p1,t³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: J S McGarvey| T: J P O'Brien| C

11/2

Flat winner who developed into a leading juvenile hurdler last season, finishing fifth in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. No match for Townshend at Roscommon on his chasing debut but improved to score at Kilbeggan (2m4f, soft) next time.

Form: 2352-41

Forecasts

Rathvinden (7/2), Townshend (7/2), Don't Touch It (7/2), Peregrine Run (9/2), Landofhopeandglory (11/2), Potters Point (9/1), Our Dougal (16/1), Rocky Court (100/1)

A fascinating contest in which Willie Mullins inevitably boasts a strong hand, saddling both the talented Rathvinden and the highly-progressive Townshend. There was much to admire about the latter's recent wins at Punchestown and Roscommon but it may just prove too big an ask to concede 3lb to DON'T TOUCH IT considering Jessica Harrington's gelding had enough about him to defy a big weight against seasoned handicappers at the Punchestown Festival last time out.