20:00 Galway

Wednesday 31 July 2019

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

Bet With The Tote At The Galway Races Handicap

Off time: 20:00 | Winning time: 1m 51.36s

(1)

Colfer Me^b²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: S M Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 97

25/1

Last of four on comeback run at Leopardstown earlier this month following a break of 109 days. Blinkers back on and holds claims if having a positive effect.

Form: 2-13504

(8)

Tauran Shaman¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 90

7/2

€100,000 yearling, Shamardal colt. Half-brother to smart 1m2f-1m7f winner Fergus McIver and 7f winner Dariga. Winner on debut at Killarney beating Time Tunnel ½L. Difficult to dismiss given the form of the yard.

Form: 1

(11)

Zander⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 90| C

7/1

Will have disappointed connections in a number of laboured efforts this season but in the right hands to claim a win soon. Trainer boasts a 43% strike rate in this contest in the last eight years winning the contest on three occasions.

Form: 12-0893

(7)

Cosmic Horizon^p1,t²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Gary Halpin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 88

9/2

Genuine sort running well in defeat in a couple of starts at Fairyhouse in May and Leopardstown earlier this month. First-time cheekpieces hoping to have productive effect.

Form: 35-5722

(9)

Giga White⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: D W O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 87

12/1

Winner of a 7f maiden at Gowran Park on his final start of last season but has found himself out of luck this term. Very much respected for yard who are three from seven in this contest in the last eight years.

Form: 31-2833

(3)

Aurora Moon⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Leigh Roche| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 85

20/1

Failed to follow up on a pleasing win at Tipperary when losing all chance blowing the start at Limerick last month. Looks to be up against it but no surprise to see an improved run.

Form: 8514

(4)

Balefire^p²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 83

6/1

Winner of two of his last four starts landing the spoils at Cork and Leopardstown over 1m. Likely to be popular in the market for leading connections.

Form: 621321

(5)

Blyton³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Rory Cleary| T: L Comer| OR: 83

50/1

Won his last two starts for Tom Dascombe in the autumn, but he hasn't beaten many rivals in three starts for current yard this term. Form doesn't warrant support here.

Form: 311-900

(10)

Leagan Gaeilge^p⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 81

9/1

Landed the second of two wins in eight at Naas last week beating four rivals a neck. More needed but requires plenty of respect for trainer/jockey combination among the winners this week.

Form: 034331

(13)

Insane Bolt^v1⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: A J Farragher⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 77

10/1

Slade Power gelding who has kept his form since winning a Gowran Park handicap in May. Can go well again in first-time visor but has negative draw to overcome.

Form: 413252

(6)

Engles Rock²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Wayne Lordan| T: M M McNiff| OR: 76| BF

7/1

Disappointed when sent off as joint favourite here on Monday only to finish seventh of 15 beaten 3¾L. Needs to step up here to get involved.

Form: 70-0127

(12)

Frosty Beach³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 70

12/1

Off the mark at the seventh time of asking for connections at Naas last month. Leading player for respected yard who have saddled two winners from nine runners in the last eight years with a further three hitting the frame.

Form: 526-661

Non-Runners

(2)

Gee Rex¹³

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: J C Hayden J: Billy Lee

Forecasts

Tauran Shaman (7/2), Cosmic Horizon (9/2), Balefire (6/1), Engles Rock (7/1), Zander (7/1), Leagan Gaeilge (9/1), Insane Bolt (10/1), Frosty Beach (12/1), Giga White (12/1), Aurora Moon (20/1), Gee Rex (20/1), Colfer Me (25/1), Blyton (50/1)

FROSTY BEACH for the Dermot Weld yard appears to be improving with every race and can grab a second career win here. The daughter of Footstepinthesand will look to follow up on her win at Naas last month and cement the already solid record of the yard in this contest. Trainer Ger Lyons has a similar strong record in the race landing the spoils with Espere last year and Tony The Gent in 2016 while Sacrificial won for the yard four years ago. Giga White can emerge as the biggest danger with Balefire and Insane Bolt battling for prize money.