18:10 Galway

Wednesday 31 July 2019

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

Sign Up For A Tote Account Irish EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:11 | Winning time: 3m 51.30s

Like An Open Book²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: J M Burke| OR: 121| D

11/1

Winner of two of her 22 starts over hurdles including a win over this trip but the Well Chosen mare races 14lb higher than her last winning mark and her current struggles look set to continue.

Form: 3F5-553

Bercasa³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 123

10/1

More recently seen on the Flat and the daughter of Casamento has been running well over hurdles since the turn of the year including a win at Ballinrobe in April. Worth a market check.

Form: 31-03

So Lonely^h,t⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 117| D

9/1

Solid and consistent British raider who landed the third win of her career from nine hurdle starts at Warwick in May. This race clearly her target since and very much one to respect.

Form: 3P11-31

Ena Baie^h³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: H Fry| OR: 116| D

8/1

Took a Grade 3 bumper when trained in France, gradually getting the hang of hurdles. Off the mark for current connections in a 2m handicap at Southwell last month off an 8lb lower mark. British trained mare holds leading claims.

Form: 214/4-21

Dolly Dancer^h,t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Brian Hayes| T: E Mullins| OR: 115

11/1

Well held, beaten 20L behind Ming Dynasty at the recent Bellewstown meeting earlier this month when making her handicap debut. Could be more to come representing a yard among the winners this week.

Form: 324-126

Buttons And Bows⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Flynn| OR: 113| D

8/1

Landed the second win of her hurdling career from eight starts at Wexford last month off a 5lb lower mark. Repeat of recent efforts should see her in the hunt for more prize money.

Form: 0038-21

The Last Indian³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: A A Howard| OR: 111| D

14/1

Running well in defeat of late in a couple of spins on the Flat. Two from nine over hurdles and has appeared to struggle from her current mark 15lb higher than her last win at Ballinrobe over 14 months ago.

Form: 211U3-0

Gotthenod⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 109| BF

25/1

Has been running with a great deal of consistency in bumpers and over hurdles since April. Latest start can be readily ignored given the rider dislocated his shoulder. Likely to be in the mix.

Form: 02-213P

Walking In Memphis⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 109

6/1

Off the mark for connections at the sixth time of asking over hurdles when landing a Downpatrick maiden hurdle over 2m3f last month. Carries a penalty for recent deeds but far from certain to halt a big effort in this contest.

Form: U00-251

Beat Of The Sea¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: S Fahey| OR: 106

33/1

Has failed to build on her win at Kilbeggan last month when well held and never nearer in a couple of starts at Downpatrick and Sligo earlier this month. Capable of bouncing back.

Form: 2-27174

Miss Sassie^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 106| D

10/1

One from 13 over hurdles and currently on a seven race losing run over hurdles as the daughter of Yeats attempts to come to terms with her higher mark since winning at Wexford two years ago. Plenty of questions to answer at present.

Form: 45-9334

Stormy Tale^h¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: M Mulvany| OR: 112

33/1

Scored in the mud at Roscommon last month, but struggled off her revised mark since being well beaten in a number of starts including a desolate run on the Flat at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Hard to fancy.

Form: 57543-7

Ballydunblaze¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: M A Enright| T: G Elliott| OR: 103| D

20/1

Daughter of Arcadio impressed when getting off the mark for connections at the third attempt over hurdles in a Limerick maiden over 2m earlier in the month. No surprise to see a big run once again.

Form: 19-541

Pivotal Flame⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny Mullins| T: W J Lanigan| OR: 103

20/1

Nine-race maiden over hurdles who produced a career best on her latest start at Kilbeggan last month. The daughter of Pivotal kept on well over 2m to finish third of 13 beaten 4¾L. Place chances if events go her way.

Form: 409/7-P3

Lucky Phil^h1,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Donagh Meyler| T: T Cooper| OR: 101| BF

14/1

Solid and consistent seven-race maiden hurdler who deserves a change of fortunes having hit the frame on no less than five occasions. Holding her form recently and a notable contender here.

Form: 2539-32

Touch Of Gold^p1,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: M Kennedy| OR: 100| D

33/1

Daughter of Papal Bull has come right back down to be racing off her last winning mark achieved when landing a Tramore handicap over 2m two years ago. Makes limited appeal but any market move would be worth noting in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 900-594

Dandjira¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 104

12/1

Three-race maiden who needs to improve on what she has shown so far. Worth a check in the market representing a yard that landed the spoils here 12 months ago with Rovetta.

Form: 333

Iamastartoo^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: N P Madden| T: N Meade| OR: 95| BF

14/1

Five-race maiden hurdler who has been running well in defeat in a couple of recent starts at Wexford and Roscommon earlier this month. Should be a leading contender in this company.

Form: 8400-24

Something Sweet¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: R J McGrath| OR: 94| BF

16/1

Solid and consistent hurdler who has won one of her 17 starts over timber as well as hitting the frame on a further nine occasions. Holds place claims if things fall her way.

Form: 22-3F13

Sand Fly^h1,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: P Neville| OR: 93| D

33/1

Six-race maiden hurdler who has produced a couple of career best efforts recently both at Killarney. Needs to keep the improvement going in a competitive contest.

Form: 078-054

Non-Runners

Sizing Malbay⁸

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: S J Mahon J: Reserve 1

Mistheatre¹⁷

Weight: 9-10| Age: 7

T: P J Gilligan J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Walking In Memphis (6/1), Ena Baie (8/1), Buttons And Bows (8/1), So Lonely (9/1), Bercasa (10/1), Miss Sassie (10/1), Like An Open Book (11/1), Dolly Dancer (11/1), Dandjira (12/1), Iamastartoo (14/1), The Last Indian (14/1), Lucky Phil (14/1), Something Sweet (16/1), Sizing Malbay (16/1), Pivotal Flame (20/1), Ballydunblaze (20/1), Gotthenod (25/1), Touch Of Gold (33/1), Sand Fly (33/1), Stormy Tale (33/1), Beat Of The Sea (33/1), Mistheatre (50/1)

Preference is for the British raider SO LONELY who has been progressing nicely for trainer Dan Skelton since being dropped in trip to win three of her last four starts over hurdles. The daughter of So You Think can land the spoils ahead of the solid and consistent Something Sweet under jockey Brendan Powell, Iamastartoo fro trainer Noel Meade and the Jessica Harrington-trained Dandjira who is better than her beaten distances suggest.