20:25 Galway

Friday 3 August 2018

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

Guinness Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:26 | Winning time: 3m 47.60s

Dr Mikey²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: Ms M Flynn| OR: 140| D

10/1

Didn't run badly in Grade 3 at Tipperary last time, first start in handicap company over timber and will handle the soft ground that is forecast.

Form: 5215/1-7

On The Go Again^t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: M Mulvany| OR: 134| D

11/4

Smart Flat performer (rated 108) and has 2-7 record over timber. Booking of Davy Russell a positive and is race-fit from recent Flat exploits. Player.

Form: 67/1595-

Top Othe Ra²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 133| CD

9/2

Winner of this race last year in soft going, rated 15lb higher now but the dual purpose performer has been in decent enough form and can have his say in this.

Form: 110850-

Bhutan^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 126| BF| D

11/2

Good second at Bellewstown last month and has been notched up another 3lb for his trouble. Should stay competitive from new mark.

Form: 165-472

Stormey^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Paul Townend| T: S J Mahon| OR: 125| D

16/1

Edged out last month at Bellewstown (had Dixie Lee behind), capable of being in the mix with a repeat effort for locally-based trainer.

Form: 13259-2

Runyon Rattler⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 124| D

22/1

Has run well on the Flat in soft ground, just 2-22 over timber and recent efforts include a fall. Easier to look elsewhere.

Form: 215UF-7

St Lawrence Gap^p,t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Doyle| OR: 124| D

11/1

Finished second back over hurdles at Limerick early last month. Could play a role here, albeit that form may not amount to all that much.

Form: 6U/172-2

Golden Jewel⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Danny Mullins| T: E Cawley| OR: 120| D

11/2

Scored nicely at Tipperary in May sporting a first-time tongue tie (discarded now). Has been bumped up 10lb for the privilege but cannot be ruled out.

Form: 01615-1

The Granson¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 118| D

14/1

Maiden hurdle winner on heavy going at Limerick in March but hasn't really progressed since and looks up against it once more.

Form: D1-3546

Voices Of Spring^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 115| D

8/1

Decent effort last time out at Killarney in fourth, interesting if building on that now and Tony Martin has booked a handy 7lb claimer to assist.

Form: 44FP-04

Non-Runners

Dixie Lee²⁷

Weight: 10-11| Age: 7

T: D A McLoughlin J: M A Enright

Political Policy¹²

Weight: 10-8| Age: 7

T: G P Cromwell J: A E Lynch

Due Reward¹⁴

Weight: 10-5| Age: 5

T: H De Bromhead J: Rachael Blackmore

Forecasts

On The Go Again (11/4), Top Othe Ra (9/2), Golden Jewel (11/2), Bhutan (11/2), Political Policy (13/2), Due Reward (15/2), Voices Of Spring (8/1), Dr Mikey (10/1), Dixie Lee (10/1), St Lawrence Gap (11/1), The Granson (14/1), Stormey (16/1), Runyon Rattler (22/1)

Last year's winner Top Of The Ra loves Galway and shouldn't be crossed off despite being 15lb higher in the ratings this evening. He has been in good tune on the Flat lately. Voices Of Spring posted a decent effort last time at Killarney and any betting support for him would have to be noted. Due Reward is on a hat-trick but treads in deeper water this time around. Stormey and Dixie Lee make some appeal on their Bellewstown form but POLITICAL POLICY is on the upgrade and could make a winning handicap start for Gavin Cromwell, with any drying ground likely a plus.