13:50 Gowran Park

Thursday 24 January 2019

All12:4513:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 6m 22.8s

Bapaume²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152

11/2

Winner of four of his 17 hurdle starts including a Grade 2 contest at Auteuil in June. Place claims at best in this company.

Form: P5-2143

Coquin Mans^h²⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 158| D

7/1

Distance winner who failed to finish on most recent start in May at Auteuil. Winner of a Grade 2 contest at Fairyhouse in April and one to note in the betting.

Form: 22S14-P

Presenting Percy^t³¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: D N Russell| T: P G Kelly| OR: 157| CD

9/4

Ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Last seen landing the RSA at the Festival following a win in this contest 12 months ago.

Form: 131121-

Bleu Berry²²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148

20/1

Winner of the Coral Cup at last season Festival but badly out of form over timber since. Hard to make a case for on return to action here.

Form: 5/0143-0

Darasso²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 151

9/2

Winner over hurdles and fences in his nine race race career in France and finished runner up to Bachasson in a five horse contest at Punchestown last month. Likely to run well once again.

Form: 21116-2

Don Poli⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| C| D

33/1

Classy 160-rated chaser who currently looks a shadow of his former self. Others make more appeal now reverting to hurdling.

Form: 23P23/P

Killultagh Vic²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| D

10/1

162-rated chaser who weakened when last seen in a Punchestown hurdle last month finishing last of five behind Bachasson and Darasso. Makes little appeal in this contest.

Form: 1FP5-P5

Mala Beach²⁹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 146| BF| CD

28/1

C&D winner of this contest five years ago. Has developed in to a smart chaser since but likely to find this a tough ask returning to hurdles.

Form: P/21P12-

Prince Of Scars⁶⁸³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G Elliott| OR: 150| D

50/1

Winner of the Grade 1 Christmas hurdle at Leopardstown in December 2015. Not seen since March 2017 and has plenty to prove on return to action.

Form: 3236P3/

Shaneshill²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| CD

16/1

Smart and versatile sort who never got to win a Grade 1 hurdle contest at his best. Now in to the veteran stages of his career and unlikely to play a part in the finish here.

Form: P3-3885

Limini²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151| BF

6/1

No match for Apple's Jade on return to hurdling before a 6L defeat in a Grade 3 contest at Leopardstown last month. Likely to find it tough going here.

Form: 3213/33

Non-Runners

Dortmund Park⁵³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: M A Enright

Forecasts

Presenting Percy (9/4), Darasso (9/2), Bapaume (11/2), Limini (6/1), Coquin Mans (7/1), Killultagh Vic (10/1), Dortmund Park (14/1), Shaneshill (16/1), Bleu Berry (20/1), Mala Beach (28/1), Don Poli (33/1), Prince Of Scars (50/1)

Winner of this contest 12 months ago the opposition to PRESENTING PERCY looks a little on the weak side here and the eight-year-old should have enough ability to overcome the lay-off on return to the track. The Willie Mullins pair of Coquin Mans and Bapaume could muster some resistance, while Darasso could improve on his run at Punchestown last month.