17:20 Galway

Monday 30 July 2018

All17:2017:5518:2519:0519:4020:1020:40

Galmont.com & Galwaybayhotel.com Novice Hurdle

Off time: 17:22 | Winning time: 3m 49.20s

Cool Colonnade^h¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

8/1

Broke his maiden at the first time of asking when winning a 2m maiden hurdle at Sligo (good) earlier this month. Represents a leading stable.

Form: 1

Count Simon^b1¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 120| BF| D

6/1

Novice hurdle winner at Downpatrick (good) last month. Best effort since came when finishing runner-up at the same venue last time out. Worth a check in the market.

Form: 7-32142

Devil's Glen⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D F O'Regan| T: A Fleming

4/1

Stepped up on sole start in bumpers when making a winning hurdling debut in a 20 runner contest at Tipperary (2m, good) in May. Stepping up in grade.

Form: 8-1

Easy Game¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins

5/4

Maiden hurdle winner over an extended 2m4f at Killarney (good) on debut for this yard a fortnight ago. Represents a leading stable and is one for the shortlist in this contest.

Form: 4-1

Lucky Icon²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: T Mullins| D

14/1

Good ground hurdle winner at Ballinrobe in May. Well held on the Flat in two subsequent outings and interesting to see how he fares.

Form: 1

Shoulda Lied²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins

15/2

Victorious in a 20 runner Tipperary maiden hurdle on good ground earlier this month. Interesting to see how he fares stepping up in class.

Form: 41

Challow²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: A E Lynch| T: T G McCourt

100/1

Maiden after 27 starts on the Flat and rated just 57 in that sphere. Probably best watched on hurdling debut.

Form:

Fontainbleau¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: J J Lambe

33/1

Making his debut for this year when finishing runner-up at Sligo (2m, good) earlier this month. Others hold stronger claims here.

Form: 2

Galtymore^h¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 109

20/1

Placed twice from five starts over hurdles. Placed in a 1m3f Flat handicap on good ground recently but others make more appeal.

Form: D8F42-

Wicket^t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Donagh Meyler| T: D Hogan

200/1

Failed to trouble the judge in eight starts so far including twice over hurdles. Probably best watched on this occasion.

Form: 9-0

Seapoint²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J J Hanlon

100/1

14 race maiden and well held over 1m4f at Fariyhouse (good-to-firm) earlier this month. Likely to struggle on hurdling debut.

Form:

Non-Runners

Conron³⁷

Weight: 11-7| Age: 4

T: Mrs J Harrington J: P D Kennedy

Forecasts

Easy Game (5/4), Devil's Glen (4/1), Count Simon (6/1), Shoulda Lied (15/2), Cool Colonnade (8/1), Lucky Icon (14/1), Conron (14/1), Galtymore (20/1), Fontainbleau (33/1), Challow (100/1), Seapoint (100/1), Wicket (200/1)

Trainer Willie Mullins has won this race three times in the last four years and his COOL COLONNADE impressed when winning on debut in this sphere last time out and he can maintain his unbeaten record in this opening novice hurdle. Stablemate Easy Game is another to have won on debut and he can finish runner-up ahead of Devil's Glen who was also successful on his first hurdles outing.