19:40 Galway

Monday 30 July 2018

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

Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap (70-100)

Off time: 19:40 | Winning time: 3m 44.76s

(11)

Chelkar⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 100| BF

9/2

Returning from a lengthy absence when finishing fourth over 2m4f at Royal Ascot (good-to-firm) on debut for this yard last month. Represents a leading stable.

Form: 11631/4

(20)

Brutal^b,t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott| OR: 95

40/1

Useful form on the Flat at two and three and a winner over hurdles since joining this stable. Leading jockey booked to ride stepping up in distance.

Form: 5/7361-7

(2)

Torcello⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr M J O'Hare⁽³⁾| T: A McNamara| OR: 93| BF

50/1

Decent performer on the Flat for Andrew Balding and has won over hurdles since. Interesting to see how he fares in this contest.

Form: 311619-

(8)

Bedrock^p,t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 90| D

33/1

Winner over 2m at Musselburgh (good-to-firm) on his penultimate outing. Well held on the AW subsequently and has a promising amateur booked to ride.

Form: 23/5210

(16)

Le Vagabond¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr C J Orr⁽⁷⁾| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 90

25/1

Returned to form when finishing 2L second over 1m6f at Killarney (good) recently. Trip and ground both in his favour on this occasion.

Form: 50-2972

(6)

Benkei⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr E P O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: H Rogers| OR: 89| C

8/1

In good form over hurdles in the spring and was a winner on good ground in that sphere in May. Absent since and market support would be interesting on his return to the Flat.

Form: 048390-

(9)

Limini⁵⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 89| D

2/1

High class hurdler and placed third in a Grade 1 at Cheltenham (2m4f, good-to-soft) in March. Unraced on the Flat in nearly four years but looks a leading contender off this mark.

Form: 325111/

(10)

Golden Spear^t⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss M O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 88| C

14/1

Promising sixth on his return to the Flat at The Curragh (2m, good-to-firm) two months ago. Absent since and represents a shrewd trainer here.

Form: 1551/0-6

(1)

Toulson^p⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: C Byrnes| OR: 88

40/1

Fair fifth in a 1m7f contest at Listowel (good) last time out. Yard adept at placing horses and has a leading amateur booked to ride.

Form: 0454-05

(19)

Brazos⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: J J Murphy| OR: 86

20/1

Twice a winner from five career starts. Successful over 1m6f on soft ground at Killarney in May and one to note with a top jockey booked to ride.

Form: 417-51

(17)

Decision Time³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr D L Queally⁽³⁾| T: J E Kiely| OR: 84| D

16/1

Bidding to complete a hat-trick following two victories over 1m5f. Trip and ground both in her favour and looks one to note stepping back up in distance despite a 7lb rise in the weights.

Form: 541-011

(14)

Wooster^t⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr N McParlan⁽³⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 83

33/1

Ran well on both starts since returning from a break. Finished third over 1m2f last time out but stamina to prove upped in trip.

Form: 31-1553

(3)

Miles To Memphis^t⁹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Mr R P Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 82

12/1

Placed on heavy ground over hurdles on his penultimate outing. Well beaten last time out however and returns to the Flat following a break.

Form: 11544-

(15)

Tudor City^t¹⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 82| C

28/1

Good effort in finishing fifth in a valuable handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (soft) in February. Absent since and worth a check in the mark on this occasion.

Form: 61/3156-

(5)

Waaheb^b¹⁷⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Miss A B O'Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 82

66/1

Lost his way over hurdles last season and others hold stronger claims as he seeks a first victory since October 2015.

Form: 21/

(13)

Uradel¹⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr A McMahon⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 81

12/1

Dual winner over hurdles but proved a disappointment on soft ground at Fairyhouse in April. Worth a check in the market on his return to the Flat.

Form: 160415/

(7)

Grand Partner³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr F Maguire⁽³⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 80

20/1

Placed in a beginners chase at Punchestown (good) on his penultimate start. Well held fourth back on the Flat last time and others make more appeal.

Form: 83714-4

(12)

Treasure Chest^b,t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr T Hamilton⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 80

33/1

Good ground handicap hurdle winner at Kilbeggan last month. Promising second in a maiden at Ballinrobe (yielding) recently and represents a top yard on handicap debut.

Form: 6223/2

(18)

Upgraded^t1²¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Jodie Townend⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 79

66/1

Heavy ground maiden winner last year when trained by John Oxx. Returning from a break and wears a tongue tie for the first time upped in trip on her return to the Flat.

Form: 81350-

Azzuri^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Ms L O'Neill⁽³⁾| T: R O'Brien| OR: 79| BF| D

7/1

Impressive handicap chase winner on good ground at Killarney (2m1f) recently. Placed on all three Flat starts since joining this yard and is one for the shortlist stepping up in trip. First reserve.

Form: 57/9-222

Non-Runners

(4)

Batts Rock⁹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: G Elliott J: Ms L O'Neill

Art Of Security⁶²

Weight: 10-5| Age: 8

T: N Meade J: Reserve 2

Top Othe Ra¹⁸

Weight: 10-5| Age: 10

T: T Mullins J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Limini (2/1), Chelkar (9/2), Azzuri (7/1), Batts Rock (7/1), Benkei (8/1), Art Of Security (8/1), Uradel (12/1), Miles To Memphis (12/1), Golden Spear (14/1), Decision Time (16/1), Brazos (20/1), Grand Partner (20/1), Le Vagabond (25/1), Tudor City (28/1), Bedrock (33/1), Treasure Chest (33/1), Wooster (33/1), Toulson (40/1), Brutal (40/1), Torcello (50/1), Waaheb (66/1), Upgraded (66/1), Top Othe Ra (100/1)

CHELKAR ran well in a highly competitive contest at Royal Ascot last time and he looks capable of taking the feature race on day one of the Festival. The selection should appreciate this drop in trip and he can get the better of stablemate Limini who could be very well in on her return to the Flat. First reserve Azzuri represents a shrewd yard and he can take third if getting a run while Batts Rock who has been in good form since joining this yard is another to consider.