17:00 Galway

Sunday 5 August 2018

All14:1514:4515:2015:5516:3017:0017:3018:00

Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 4m 19.40s

Rock The World^p,t⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: J S McGarvey| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 147| CD

25/1

C&D winner of the Grade 3 Ballybrit in 2015 and victor in the 2017 Grand Annual at Cheltenham - his last win. Market likely to be informative for leading owner.

Form: 5049-70

Woodland Opera^b,t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 147

10/1

Deserves a change of luck following a hat-trick of runner-up positions since May, though well held on each occasion. Each way claims in this grade.

Form: 439-222

Calino D'Airy⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D Robinson⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 145| CD

8/1

Dual C&D winner both coming in October last year. Well down the field in the 'Plate' on Wednesday but shorter trip sure to suit here.

Form: 11303-0

The Game Changer^b1,t³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| D

20/1

Winner of seven of his 26 starts over the larger obstacles and has slipped below his last winning mark. Pulled up here on Thursday in the Guinness Galway hurdle and hard to fancy on latest evidence.

Form: 85-192P

Listen Dear⁴⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| D

9/2

Distance winner who won a Limerick 2m3½f Mares chase when last seen in May 2017. From leading yard and expected to give a good account of herself.

Form: 11144/1-

The West's Awake^p⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: A E Lynch| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 140

12/1

Narrowly beaten last time out Listowel in June but on balance more is needed if he's going to get into the shake-up in this hot contest.

Form: 31560-2

Bel Ami De Sivola¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 137

13/2

Winner at Fairyhouse in April but the handicapper caught up with him and has been well held on a couple of occasions since.

Form: 42813-3

Three Wise Men⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 135| CD

7/1

C&D winner of a beginners chase here 12-months ago. Well beaten in five starts since over a variety of trips and recent form doesn't warrant support here.

Form: 12P30-5

Drumconnor Lad^p1,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: R Loughran| T: A Keatley| OR: 134

33/1

Struggled off his new mark since being upped in trip and winning a Down Royal handicap chase in May and has plenty to prove at present.

Form: 17-1446

Blast Of Koeman^p,t¹⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 132

6/1

Model of consistency over fences but remains one win from six start. Appears well treated and has conditions to suit here.

Form: 413432-

Cocktails At Dawn^t⁶²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 131

40/1

Will have disappointed connections in a series of drab performances over the larger obstacles failing to finish in two of his three starts for leading trainer. Hard to place any faith in.

Form: PF6/9P-F

Coeur Joyeux^t⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: N P Madden| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 127

16/1

Winner of two of his 12 chase starts but is not one to place a great deal of confidence in given his regular mistakes.

Form: 63P02-U

Miss Eyecatcher^h²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: D J Mullins| T: R J McGrath| OR: 127| C| D

11/1

Unseated rider in a handicap chase over 2m6½f on Friday but a winner at the track and over this trip in the past. Place claims.

Form: 259-65U

Eiri Na Casca^b1¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: S A Mulcahy⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 124| CD

20/1

C&D winner in October 2016 and looks in the grip of the handicapper right now. First time blinkers may assist.

Form: 72-4025

Cliff House⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 123

12/1

Not disgraced in a couple of beginners chases' in May but possibly best watched here returning from a break.

Form: 030P-34

Show And Go^p,t⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 119| D

12/1

Winner of a Wexford 2m handicap chase last month month beating six rivals by 14L. Raised 10lb for his facile win and another bold bid looks likely.

Form: 7746-01

Non-Runners

Koshari⁴

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: W P Mullins J: Paul Townend

Kilcarry Bridge¹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 11

T: J P Ryan J: Danny Mullins

Forecasts

Listen Dear (9/2), Blast Of Koeman (6/1), Bel Ami De Sivola (13/2), Three Wise Men (7/1), Calino D'Airy (8/1), Woodland Opera (10/1), Miss Eyecatcher (11/1), Show And Go (12/1), Cliff House (12/1), The West's Awake (12/1), Coeur Joyeux (16/1), Koshari (16/1), Eiri Na Casca (20/1), The Game Changer (20/1), Rock The World (25/1), Drumconnor Lad (33/1), Kilcarry Bridge (33/1), Cocktails At Dawn (40/1)

Although not seen since winning a Limerick 2m3½f Mares' chase in May 2017 the mare LISTEN DEAR can be expected to give a good account of herself here off what looks like a handicap mark. Blast Of Koeman is a model of consistency over fences and was last seen finishing second of 18 beaten a neck in a competitive Punchestown handicap chase in April, the seven-year-old can hit the frame here while C&D winner Calino D'airy and the underrated Three Wise Men can fight for the remaining place.