17:40 Galway

Wednesday 1 August 2018

All17:1017:4018:1018:4519:2020:0020:30

thetote.com Handicap Hurdle (81-123)

Off time: 17:40 | Winning time: 5m 16.4s

Dorans River^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: S J Mahon| OR: 122

20/1

Won two minor events for Gordon Elliott in 2017 before joining current yard. Returned from 300-day absence and only faded late on over 3m at Roscommon three weeks ago, so drop back in trip should suit.

Form: 21653-4

Victoria Bay⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: C Bowe| OR: 120

9/1

Raised a total of 25lb in last three starts having won at Fairyhouse in April and Downpatrick in June, impressing with the mamner of her latest success. 10lb higher now than that day but is still respected.

Form: 6061-21

Black Key²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 118| BF

10/1

Frustrating over hurdles until winning at Listowel on penultimate start over 2m. Couldn't follow up off same mark month later and steps back up in trip here.

Form: 2326-13

Dawn Raider^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D N Russell| T: P G Kelly| OR: 118

12/1

Only win in 17 starts came at Killarney last July when successful over similar trip to this but off 9lb lower mark. Disappointed at same track recently having run well at Roscommon time before but lacks consistency.

Form: 41P-026

Hey Little Boy^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 118| D

13/2

Only win came in Tramore maiden hurdle last year and isn't one of the better horses in his top yard. Up 2lb having finished close third at Bellewstown last month so is in decent nick and may well be thereabouts in this company.

Form: F50-5F3

Just Get Cracking^t⁷⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: J Dullea| OR: 117| D

16/1

Won over both hurdles and fences during the last calendar year and might have been given enough to do when staying on well into second last time at Killarney. Should go well if ridden a little closer to the pace this time.

Form: 32616-2

Aydoun^p⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: M J Bolger| T: D K Weld| OR: 116| C

15/2

Fair staying handicapper on Flat and has shown decent form in both hurdles starts, including winning a maiden hurdle at this fixture last year over two miles. Step up in trip shouldn't harm and ran well at Curragh latest. Solid claims.

Form: 31-

Powersbomb^h⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: D F O'Regan| T: B McMahon| OR: 116| C

8/1

Caught the eye staying on strongly under quiet ride over two miles last time after a summer break and this previous C&D winner is fairly handicapped on the pick of his form. Has decent each-way claims.

Form: F245/F-4

Venezia^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Phillip Enright| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 116

25/1

Formerly fair staying handicapper on Flat who also bagged a hurdles win at Gowran Park last June and a beginners chase at Clonmel on penultimate start. Ran decent race on Flat last time and may not be too far away.

Form: 6/190-71

Denham Sound^p⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 115| D

33/1

Won at Wexford and Limerick last summer but now 12lb higher than last success and looks in handicapper's grip. Fair effort latest on Flat but this looks tough.

Form: 113365-

Mill Quest^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 115

16/1

Won well at Limerick and Cork last month before failing to fire when fourth at Limerick just 24 hours after previous win and probably hadn't recovered. Top jockey back on board so despite 8lb higher mark does come into the reckoning.

Form: 55-4114

Plouios²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 115

10/1

Comfortable landed Kilbeggan maiden hurdle in May and possibly raced a little too freely when below up last time out. Still open to improvement and a bold show is not dismissed.

Form: 794U-14

Steelambition^p1³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: P W Flynn| OR: 115| D

66/1

Popped up at 33/1 first time tongue-tie at Tramore in June but failed to stay 3m1f last time when well beaten late on. Drop back in trip makes sense, jockey booking is interesting, and wears first time cheekpieces.

Form: 471-614

Santiago de Cuba^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 113| BF

14/1

Cost connections 210,000 guineas in 2014 but didn't run until last year making winning bow in Killarney bumper. Not disgraced in two further outings last year but beaten odds-on at both Kilbeggan in June and Roscommon last time.

Form: 125-325

Glendine River⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Brian Hayes| T: Dermot P O'Brien| OR: 112| D

50/1

All three NH wins have come at Tramore and hasn't shown much away from that track this year. On balance others make far more appeal.

Form: P1-7774

Newsworthy¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr S Cavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 111

12/1

Rated higher over fences and landed Ballinrobe handicap chase in the spirng. Not disgraced over fences at Kilbeggan last time but doesn't seem as capable over timber.

Form: UP-1575

Sweet Home Chicago³⁰⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: C Bowe| OR: 110

25/1

Won 3m maiden hurdle at Wexford in June 2017 but not so hot in his last two outings that summer. 10-month absence to overcome and probably will be better for the outing.

Form: 9/36173-

Border Control^b⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 109

25/1

Yet to score in 10 starts but has some ability and failed by less than a length when runner-up at Wexford last month. Disappointed latest but not out of it if in the mood getting weight from most of his rivals.

Form: 65-4324

Apparition^p1³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 114

12/1

Scrambled home by a hair's bredth at Thurles in maiden hurdle last October but didn't really build on that in four runs since. Went close on Flat at Navan in June and first time cheekpieces may liven him up.

Form: 313678-

Ballybrowney Jack^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: S A Shortall| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 109

25/1

Won at Wexford in June but has looked in handicapper's grip in two starts since then and may struggle here.

Form: 43-5136

Non-Runners

Cosmo's Moon¹³³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: R P McNamara J: R J Condon

The White Volcano⁶⁸

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: J Woods J: Reserve 2

Touch Base¹⁹

Weight: 10-10| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Hey Little Boy (13/2), Aydoun (15/2), Powersbomb (8/1), Touch Base (8/1), Victoria Bay (9/1), Black Key (10/1), Plouios (10/1), Dawn Raider (12/1), Newsworthy (12/1), Apparition (12/1), Santiago de Cuba (14/1), The White Volcano (14/1), Mill Quest (16/1), Just Get Cracking (16/1), Dorans River (20/1), Cosmo's Moon (20/1), Ballybrowney Jack (25/1), Border Control (25/1), Venezia (25/1), Sweet Home Chicago (25/1), Denham Sound (33/1), Glendine River (50/1), Steelambition (66/1)

Dermot Weld has a tremendous record at this meeting over the years and his AYDOUN looks just the type to go well in this open and well contested handicap hurdle. Victoria Bay has shot up the weights but will make a bold bid for the hat-trick, while Doran's River, Hey Little Boy, Mill Quest and Steel Ambition all have claims. The expensive purchase Santiago De Cuba has cost supporters dear the last twice but a bold show is certainly not out of the question this time.