17:10 Galway

Friday 2 August 2019

All17:1017:4518:1518:5019:2519:5520:25

Guinness Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 3m 40.6s

Avenir D'Une Vie^p,t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 131| D

14/1

Winner of two of his seven starts over hurdles. In good form of late including a 2L win in a three runner contest at Downpatrick last month. Unraced reserve for the Galway hurdle yesterday.

Form: 4030-21

Star Maker²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

10/1

Three from 10 over hurdles winning on seasonal return at Killarney in May. Better than his last run at Bellewstown last month suggests and likely to be a leading player in this contest. Did not make the line-up for yesterdays Galway hurdle.

Form: 1917-1P

St Stephens Green³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Brian Hayes| T: E Mullins| OR: 129| C| D

7/1

Course winner that has also won over this trip but the Diamond Green gelding has been out of form in a number of starts since February. Not in the form required to play a part.

Form: 01/1535-

Light That^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 127| D

20/1

Lightly-raced distance winner of a Punchestown novice chase in May 2018. Two from 12 over timber but makes little appeal given jis lack of racing in the last 12 months. Market possibly best guide.

Form: 62433/1-

Bercasa²^{(ex 7)}

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 123| CD

3/1

Winner of a handicap hurdle over C&D on Wednesday off a 7lb lower mark landing his second win in five starts over hurdles. Life more difficult under a penalty but very much a leading player.

Form: 31-031

Stormey^t³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: K J Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 124| D

10/1

Running well over the larger obstacles of late including a promising second of 18 beaten 3L behind Zero Ten over 2m2f here on Tuesday. Capable of a big run back over hurdles.

Form: 5-F4202

Grapevine^p¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: C Brace⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 120| D

14/1

110-rated handicap hurdler for trainer Nicky Henderson last year before achieving a mark of 85 on the Flat for Charles Hills. Won on stable debut in a Listed contest at Market Rasen last month and makes for an interesting British raider.

Form: 54150/1

Lever Du Soleil¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 125| D

9/2

Run up a four-timer on the Flat in a number of British raids last month, rising over 14lb in the process. Just one from 11 over hurdles but hard to easily dismiss given his current form.

Form: 354227-

Lucky Icon¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 118| D

20/1

Won his second hurdle start in 16 when landing a 2m1f Killarney handicap hurdle last month off a 5lb lower mark. Worthy of a market check with the yard among the winners here this week.

Form: P3-6381

Orgilgo Bay^t⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 118| D

66/1

Lightly raced of late only returning to action in April following a 591 day break at Navan, well beaten on the Flat. Best watched on first hurdle start for two years.

Form: PP5527/

Humaniste¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: B J Cooper| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 118| D

25/1

Won over hurdles at the first time of asking when landing a Fairyhouse maiden over this trip in November. Beaten on the Flat and over hurdles since. Improvement needed if he is to take this contest.

Form: 15-

Kerosin³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 113| D

11/1

Six-race maiden hurdler well held in a number of starts on the Flat since May. Not the most reliable of sorts and others hold stronger claims in this event.

Form: 730P/64-

Wait Here^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: A Leahy| OR: 110| D

16/1

Winner of two of his 16 starts over hurdles the Presenting gelding has been running well in defeat of late and rates a leading contender here.

Form: 8235-33

Whatsinthecorner^t⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 105| BF

10/1

Still to get off the mark in 19 hurdle starts. the Windsor Knot gelding finished fifth of 20 beaten over 8L over C&D on Monday. Liable to find one or two stronger again.

Form: 632255

Forecasts

Bercasa (3/1), Lever Du Soleil (9/2), St Stephens Green (7/1), Star Maker (10/1), Stormey (10/1), Whatsinthecorner (10/1), Kerosin (11/1), Avenir D'Une Vie (14/1), Grapevine (14/1), Wait Here (16/1), Lucky Icon (20/1), Light That (20/1), Humaniste (25/1), Orgilgo Bay (66/1)

The gallant Top Othe Ra landed the spoils in this contest 12 months ago and his yard can take this years renewal BERCASA who can win his second race here in two days. The four-year-old was too good for 19 rivals over a similar trip on Wednesday and can get the better of the J P McManus-owned Wait Here and Stormey second of 18 over the larger obstacles here on Tuesday. Avenir D'une Vie held an entry for the Galway hurdle yesterday and Star Maker for the Gordon Elliott yard are both worthy of further consideration.