16:05 Galway

Monday 30 October 2017

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:35

John Mulholland Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 5m 44.40s

Captainofthefleet¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: E O'Connell| OR: 127

33/1

Smart 3m hurdler at his best but some way short of that last season and basically tailed off on flat after layoff three weeks ago. Handicap at present looks beyond current ability.

Form: 059420-

Mon Lino¹⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: D J McInerney⁽⁷⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 123| D

5/1

One of four for owner JP McManus and he would appear to be second in the pecking order. Won two of last three in the spring including latest run at Killarney. Up 6lb but still on the rise and clearly enjoys this sort of ground.

Form: 43217-1

Carrigmoorna Matt²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: V Halley| OR: 120

5/1

13lb better off with re-opposing Persistent who beat him 2¾L at Tipperary last time out. That was a good handicap debut and he looks capable of going close here.

Form: 5/82-313

Josies Orders³⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: M A Enright| T: E Bolger| OR: 120

33/1

2016 Cheltenham cross-country hero returns from a year off here and will probably be using this to step up his preparations for similar contests this season. This distance looks on the sharp side

Form: 81191/0-

Persistent²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 123| C

5/2

Won back to back races this Autumn at Tipperary and then here. Further 8lb on his back but extra 5f should suit even better and the choice of Barry Geraghty. Could remain ahead of the handicapper.

Form: 518211

Auvergnat²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: D F O'Regan| T: E Bolger| OR: 116

12/1

Another of the Enda Bolger cross-country/banks team. Brought down recently at Limerick after summer break. Fourth at Cheltenham his best run to date. Well beaten in this race last season.

Form: U14-12B

Brave Out¹⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Ruby Walsh| T: J E Kiely| OR: 116| BF

6/1

Won a maiden at Tramore last season but just average ability showed in four starts since. Ruby Walsh takes over here which can't be ignored so market support would be of interest.

Form: 61955-P

Westerner Point²²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Phillip Enright| T: E O'Grady| OR: 114

7/1

Back after a layoff but had a fantastic time last season, winning four of his five races. 9lb higher than last win over hurdles but still well below his chase mark so should go well if he is fully wound up first time out.

Form: 711411-

Turfmans Daughter²⁰⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 111

16/1

Left relatively ordinary bumper form behind when winning maiden hurdle, her lone start over obstacles back in April. Looked like she would appreciate further there and represents yard bang in form.

Form: 03/61-

From Eden^p⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Donagh Meyler| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 114

33/1

Three runs in the summer all pretty ordinary and now tries a different trip for first time. No guarantee it suits and in current form he isn't one to be confident about.

Form: 51-3458

He Is Top Class^p,t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: B J Cooper| T: D Hassett| OR: 107| D

50/1

Broke a blood vessel here in July and unseated rider on return at Cork earlier this month. Plenty of reservations about him at present.

Form: 24P-0PU

Lizzies Champ¹⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: P G Kelly| OR: 107

12/1

Won at Killarney when last seen and did so with something in hand. 10lb hike here makes life considerably tougher but is returning in same vein he could go well.

Form: P3-2031

Freedom Statue²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: S J Mahon| OR: 101

16/1

Won just one of 16 hurdle races, a maiden last September. Handicap mark has been gradually sliding but not seen enough to suggest latest drop will make her competitive.

Form: 037046

Fluspar^b²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: P A Gallagher⁽⁵⁾| T: D Howard| OR: 99

25/1

14L behind Persistent last time here and very hard to envisage him reversing the placings with that improving rival.

Form: 41446-7

Forecasts

Persistent (5/2), Mon Lino (5/1), Carrigmoorna Matt (5/1), Brave Out (6/1), Westerner Point (7/1), Auvergnat (12/1), Lizzies Champ (12/1), Freedom Statue (16/1), Turfmans Daughter (16/1), Fluspar (25/1), Josies Orders (33/1), From Eden (33/1), Captainofthefleet (33/1), He Is Top Class (50/1)

PERSISTENT has landed the odds twice lately but has looked like he could be better still once stepped up in trip as he is today. He is definitely one to stay on the right side of for now and is worth backing again here. Re-opposing Carrigmoorna Matt has been placed in all four hurdle starts and is significantly better off at the weights with Persistent here so he must be a danger. Westerner Point had a fine season last year and he is respected with no obvious reason he can't pick up where he left off.