19:55 Galway

Friday 3 August 2018

All17:1017:4518:1518:5019:2519:5520:25

Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase

Off time: 19:56 | Winning time: 5m 34.8s

Road To Riches^t¹¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 140| C

14/1

Won the Galway Plate over C&D in 2014, didn't get into that race this week. Fair effort in Aintree National when last spotted but not getting any younger.

Form: 5/090P6-

A Rated⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: D Robinson⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 139| BF

8/1

Made fine start for this yard at Punchestown and possible he simply wasn't right when disappointing at Listowel latest. One to note in the betting.

Form: U1142-8

Vieux Morvan^b¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 138

8/1

May well have needed the recent hurdles outing at Killarney off a layoff, interesting to see him back over fences and player here on best form.

Form: 2F6/52-8

Attribution^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 137

16/1

Made the frame with remote third at this meeting last year, well held latest at Limerick and hard to be overly positive on chances back here.

Form: 1315-03

Thunder And Roses^p,t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: I J McCarthy| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| D

16/1

2015 Irish National winner, appeared in need of the run on recent debut for his trainer at Kilbeggan, one in the field that should relish any rain that falls.

Form: PFFP0-9

Killaro Boy⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: A Murray| OR: 134

25/1

Promising over hurdles at Punchestown in the spring, though rather tame in Connaught National at Roscommon in June back over fences. Will have to leave that form behind here.

Form: 1/94B3-9

A Sizing Network^p¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 131| D

22/1

Hasn't found his best form of this term so far, though recent fourth of 2m4f at Tipperary was a step in the right direction.

Form: P4-73P4

Dysios^p,t¹²³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Paul Townend| T: D Cullen| OR: 129

33/1

Tame run at Fairyhouse in April on heavy going sporting array of new headgear (discarded here) and has something to prove on form.

Form: 10935P-

Snugsborough Benny²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: L P Cusack| OR: 128| BF

5/1

Won three times last season and good third of 12 in handicap chase at Limerick (2m6f, good to firm) 26 days ago, doing good work at the death. Ideal prep and needs considering here.

Form: 374-613

Miss Eyecatcher^h⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D J Mullins| T: R J McGrath| OR: 127| C

10/1

Scored over timber at this meeting last year, 2-8 over fences but tougher task here and now rated 12lb higher over these obstacles compared to last year.

Form: 2259-65

Riviera Sun^p⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: B J Geraghty| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 127| CD

8/1

May well have needed the spin around Roscommon in June, took this contest a year ago. Rated 5lb higher today and not out of it.

Form: 3U145-0

Spider Web⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Mark Walsh| T: T Mullins| OR: 127| BF

5/1

Promising, winner at Leopardstown in March and most recently finished creditable second of 16 in handicap chase at Ballinrobe in May in sole start since. Respected.

Form: 68161-2

Mine Now²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 125

8/1

0-3 over fences but has shown promise, has course form having been narrowly denied in valuable handicap over timber here last year. Likely has more to offer in this code.

Form: 810-833

Top Of The Town¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 125| D

8/1

Has been shaping nicely enough over timber since joining Gordon Elliot, never competitive in this race last year but has dropped 5lb in the handicap if this trainer can improve fortunes in the jumping department.

Form: 957-543

Fenlon's Hill¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: P Stafford| OR: 124| C

20/1

Finished ahead of a couple of these rivals at Tipperary last time and is a previous course winner here. Needs to pull out more however.

Form: 26-5123

Peoples Park^p⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: J S McGarvey| T: T J Taaffe| OR: 124

33/1

Failed to complete twice in his last five starts and cheekpieces didn't improve fortunes last time. Headgear is retained and goes up in distance but tough ask.

Form: 6P34P-8

He Rock's^b,t¹⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Donagh Meyler| T: S J Mahon| OR: 123| CD

25/1

Former C&D winner but not scored anywhere since 2016. May relish the ground but off 177 days and could have done with a run perhaps.

Form: U/383P5-

Mighty Stowaway^b1⁹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Brian Hayes| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 123

14/1

Cannot match the experience of plenty of these but excellent second of 10 in novice chase at Ballinrobe (2m1f, heavy) when las spotted and interesting on handicap chase bow.

Form: 22954-2

Baily Moon^b1,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: M F Morris| OR: 122

40/1

Has been toiling of late and hard to recommend as such. Blinkers go back on if getting (First Reserve).

Form: 19P-5P0

Steel Wave³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 122| C

14/1

Has won at this track for previous handler and was sent off 4/1 at Kilbeggan last time out, didn't get too far (brought down). Not out of it (Second Reserve).

Form: 570-14B

Non-Runners

Jarob²⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 11

T: G O'Loughlin J: Mr C J Orr

Eiri Na Casca¹²

Weight: 10-8| Age: 9

T: D Hogan J: S A Mulcahy

Concordin⁶⁶

Weight: 10-6| Age: 10

T: R Tyner J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Snugsborough Benny (5/1), Spider Web (5/1), A Rated (8/1), Mine Now (8/1), Riviera Sun (8/1), Top Of The Town (8/1), Vieux Morvan (8/1), Miss Eyecatcher (10/1), Steel Wave (14/1), Road To Riches (14/1), Mighty Stowaway (14/1), Jarob (14/1), Attribution (16/1), Eiri Na Casca (16/1), Thunder And Roses (16/1), Fenlon's Hill (20/1), A Sizing Network (22/1), Killaro Boy (25/1), He Rock's (25/1), Dysios (33/1), Peoples Park (33/1), Baily Moon (40/1)

Not for the faint hearted this one, Snugsborough Benny was well-backed at Limerick last time and might well have obliged had he got going sooner. He's respected alongside Spider Web who has shown good form recently. Forgiving A Rated a no-show last time is deemed the correct course of action, he can bounce back, while last year's winner Riviera Sun should be fitter for his reappearance. Gordon Elliott's ability to improve one could be demonstrated with TOP OF THE TOWN, who has been going along quietly over hurdles since joining the yard and could be set for a big tilt here under Davy Russell, who steered him to his sole chase win last year.