19:20 Galway

Wednesday 31 July 2019

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

thetote.com Galway Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade A)

Off time: 19:20 | Winning time: 5m 24.0s

Black Corton^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 158| D

12/1

Winner of nine of his 19 starts over the larger obstacles who has hit the frame on a further four occasions. Likely to give another good account of himself from the front.

Form: 2P2221-

Coney Island^t¹³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: J S McGarvey| T: E P Harty| OR: 157

12/1

Never got to fulfill lofty expectations due to a number of injury setbacks. Looks a tall order on handicap debut to make a significant impact in this contest.

Form: 1PP/376-

Peregrine Run^b¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 157| D

14/1

Nine from 16 over fences and returns to the larger obstacles following a narrow win over hurdles at Cork earlier this month. Ninth of 22 in this contest 12 months ago and more needed this time around.

Form: F-11111

Mengli Khan^t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 154

12/1

Not disgraced in Grade 1 company last season when highly tried in a number of contests. Leading player for yard who have won two of the last three renewals of this contest including with Clarcam 12 months ago.

Form: 143334-

Yorkhill⁷⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 154

14/1

Appears to be regressing over hurdles last year and there is no guarantee of improvement on switch to back fences. Trainer is just one win from his last 28 runners in this contest, though a further nine have hit the frame.

Form: P8/692-0

A Toi Phil^t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 148| D

33/1

Nothing of note in a number of disappointing efforts over hurdles and fences since the turn of the year. Tough ask, though yard do have a good record in the race saddling two winners in the last three years.

Form: 54500-0

Heron Heights^p,t⁸⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 147

25/1

Solid and consistent winner of six of his 10 starts over fences, though not at this level. Not easily ruled out for yard who have saddled tow of the last four winners of this contest in Shanahans Turn and Balko Des Flos.

Form: B001/0-1

The West's Awake^p⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Cooper| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 147

25/1

Winner of four of his 11 chase starts but now looks vulnerable off his revised mark following a win at Punchestown on return to action in May after a 263 day break. Fell on latest start last month and plenty to prove in this contest.

Form: 0/20F-1F

Azzuri^t¹⁰⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 144

16/1

British raider had shown nothing in three starts for the yards since joining from the Richard O'Brien yard before landing the spoils at Ayr when last seen in April. Looks to have been the target since that success.

Form: 1/18401-

Modus¹³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144

20/1

Winner of four of his 11 starts over the larger obstacles. British raider appears to be regressing of late and was last seen tailing off in the Grade 3 Brown Advisory Plate at the Cheltenham festival in March.

Form: 5/10370-

Regal Encore⁸⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 144

33/1

Three from 21 over fences but has been well beaten in a number of starts since returning to action in February. Has gone off the boil in recent efforts and is hard to fancy in this company.

Form: 1P/637-2

Snugsborough Benny¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: D F O'Regan| T: L P Cusack| OR: 144| CD

8/1

C&D winner at this festival 12 months ago landing the Blazers handicap by 1L at odds of 5/1. Difficult to dismiss and goes well in fields of this size.

Form: 19U14-9

Auvergnat^p⁷⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 143

25/1

Winner of six of his 23 chase starts and ran well on his latest start in a Killarney handicap over 3m2f on good ground finishing second of 12 behind Swingbridge. Has more to offer.

Form: 001PP-2

Pravalaguna¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

12/1

Solid and consistent winner of two of her six starts over fences. Worthy of a big run representing a yard with a 36% win and place strike rate in the last eight renewals of this contest.

Form: 192-F72

Crosshue Boy^t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Mr H D Dunne⁽⁵⁾| T: S Doyle| OR: 140

50/1

Winner of four of his 16 starts over the larger obstacles with the Brian Boru gelding last win coming at Ayr 12 months ago. Out of form in a number of runs since, despite finishing positions and may find it tough here.

Form: 053F6-3

Poker Party⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138

12/1

Two from eight over fences, third of 12 at Punchestown when last seen in May. Worthy of consideration from a yard who have two wins and a place in this contest in the last four years.

Form: U5211-3

Barra^t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

14/1

Winner of a Kilbeggan beginners contest 12 months ago and was in command when falling last time out. One for the shortlist representing leading yard who have saddled two winners and two runners to hit the frame in the last three years.

Form: 13-P26F

Valseur Lido^p,t1¹⁰⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 137

33/1

18th of 22 in this contest 12 months ago and this looks a tall order despite fine record of yard in this contest winning two of the last four renewals.

Form: 09300P-

Borice^t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 136| D

9/1

Winner of two of his 19 starts over fences and has recently landed a double over hurdles. Switches from timber to fences for a yard with a dominant 36% win and place strike rate in the race in the last three years.

Form: 7509-11

Ravenhill¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: J J Burke| T: G Elliott| OR: 136

20/1

Three from five over fences including a win over a similar trip. Not easily ruled out for a yard with a couple of wins and two runners hitting the frame in this contest since 2016.

Form: 21-3121

Pylonthepressure⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136

9/1

Bounced back to form at Ballinrobe in May when second of 15 beaten head by Peregrine Run over 2m7f. Possibly not consistent enough for serious consideration.

Form: 15PP/F-2

Movewiththetimes¹⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 135

8/1

Useful hurdler but has struggled to make an impact over fences and had failed to finish in three starts before finishing well down the field in the Close Brothers handicap at the Cheltenham festival in March. Others more convincing.

Form: 23P/UF8-

Non-Runners

Some Neck⁸⁸

Weight: 10-10| Age: 8

T: W P Mullins J: Non Runner

Drumcliff³⁶⁴

Weight: 10-5| Age: 8

T: A A Howard J: Non Runner

Mill Quest¹²

Weight: 10-1| Age: 9

T: G Elliott J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Snugsborough Benny (8/1), Movewiththetimes (8/1), Borice (9/1), Pylonthepressure (9/1), Black Corton (12/1), Pravalaguna (12/1), Coney Island (12/1), Mengli Khan (12/1), Poker Party (12/1), Peregrine Run (14/1), Barra (14/1), Yorkhill (14/1), Some Neck (14/1), Azzuri (16/1), Ravenhill (20/1), Modus (20/1), Auvergnat (25/1), The West's Awake (25/1), Drumcliff (25/1), Heron Heights (25/1), Mill Quest (25/1), Valseur Lido (33/1), A Toi Phil (33/1), Regal Encore (33/1), Crosshue Boy (50/1)

Trainer Henry De Bromhead can maintain his fine record in this race with his 10-year-old gelding HERON HEIGHTS taking the prize in the Galway Plate. The trainer has landed this race in two of the last four years and this son of Heron Island can see off the attentions of British raider Azzuri for the Dan Skelton yard, the Enda Bolger-trained Auvergnat and Pravalaguna for trainer Willie Mullins. Trainer Gordon Elliott has won the Plate in two of the last three renewals and his Gigginstown House Stud pair of Mengli Khan and Barra should not be underestimated.