14:15 Galway

Sunday 4 August 2019

All14:1514:4515:2015:5516:3017:0017:3018:00

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (88-116)

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 4.40s

Ilikedwayurthinkin⁴^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽²⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 111| C

5/6

Stepped up considerably on his previous five hurdle starts when winning with plenty in hand over 2m5f here on Wednesday, following a break. 5lb penalty shouldn't be an issue and neither should the drop in trip. Likely contender.

Form: 62/350-1

Paddy Buns³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁴⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 115

50/1

Failed to back up his shock maiden hurdle win in June with two disappointing subsequent efforts. Thrown in at the deep end over fences last time but still hard to fancy at present.

Form: F-21575

Peacocks Secret^b²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: M Hamill| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 115

25/1

Bounced back to form when winning over 2m3f at Downpatrick in June before struggling back on the Flat last time. Likely he'll be better back over obstacles but his win would need improving on off 8lb higher.

Form: 075P-01

Antimatter³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Ricky Doyle| T: D Duggan| OR: 111| D

50/1

Ran well when sixth over this trip at Wexford in June but has put in two poor runs either side. Remains just 1lb lower than his last win but hard to be over confident in at present.

Form: 209-969

Dalton Highway^p⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Cawley⁽⁴⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 111

4/1

Improved with each run over hurdles earlier in the year and heads here in good form from the Flat with a Curragh handicap win and a second in a strong race here on Monday. Likely to improve back over obstacles on handicap debut.

Form: 675-

Shannon Hill¹⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: E T Daly⁽⁴⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 111

33/1

Won a weak 2m6f maiden hurdle at Stratford last November when trained by Alan King and ran to a similar standard in two runs since. Makes handicap and stable debut over a trip that could be an inadequate test.

Form: 1/144-

Broder¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: A McCurtin| T: J J Walsh| OR: 109| D

16/1

Left a very poor effort behind when scoring at Ballinrobe last month. That was close to his best so he can't be discounted but rise of 6lb means he'd need to find more in this company.

Form: 562-001

Charle Brune^h⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D J McInerney| T: T Shanahan| OR: 108

10/1

Handicapper has handed out a 15lb rise following two comfortable wins over this trip at Wexford and Tipperary. However those two wins following a break have raised his game to a new level so another big run is expected.

Form: 009/0-11

Castlehume⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁴⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 106| CD

25/1

Now 3lb higher than when winning this race last year for Noel Meade. Was coming off the back of another win then and while he was better here on Monday, he's not in the same form for his new stable.

Form: 2-80000

Dumhach Thra⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: C P McNamara⁽⁴⁾| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 105

10/1

Bumper winner last year but hasn't translated that form in four starts over hurdles. Safely held on handicap debut here on Monday and improvement needed to be competitive.

Form: 4/1960-0

De Mazzaro^h,t⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C J Orr⁽²⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 104

33/1

Remains a maiden over hurdles following 11 starts but ran better than the finishing position implies when eighth here on Monday. Sweated up beforehand and hampered two out. More needed in this company but place possibilities.

Form: 737-9F8

Motcomb Street^h⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Richard Condon⁽⁴⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 102

50/1

Looked to be improving with better runs over hurdles and then fences at Cork and Killarney last month before a poor tailed off effort at Wexford. Returns to hurdles and remains a maiden under all codes following 17 starts.

Form: 573-339

Ashqar^t⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: K J Brouder⁽²⁾| T: G T Lynch| OR: 106

7/1

Placed three times in a row in handicaps before showing marked improvement when a running on fourth in a novice hurdle here on Monday. Didn't get the clearest of runs late on and he'd be on an attractive mark if building on it.

Form: 0-72324

Back To Bataan^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁴⁾| T: M Torrens| OR: 98

50/1

Remains a maiden over hurdles following nine starts and has an inconsistent profile. Best form has come at Down Royal so far and while he's dropping to a decent mark others look more reliable candidates.

Form: 934-046

Our Brian²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: A W Short| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 96| D

40/1

Gained a first handicap win for his new yard at Downpatrick in June but then struggled off this 7lb higher mark at Sligo. He may be in the grip of the handicapper now and others preferred.

Form: 2/P-0016

Rock On Seamie²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: S E Lewis⁽⁴⁾| T: R Hackett| OR: 99

20/1

Safely held on the Flat last time but his previous fourth at Kilbeggan was a career best over hurdles from five starts. He'd still be needing to find plenty of improvement though in this company.

Form: 0705-4

Mr Jacaranda^t⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: C D Timmons| T: A J Martin| OR: 92

16/1

Six-race maiden over hurdles has shown steady improvement in his last three starts. Stayed on well over 2m4f in a slowly run affair last time and may need a stiffer test than this. More needed to be involved.

Form: 0/070-53

Imperial Choice^h²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁴⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 91

33/1

Has failed to make any sort of impression in five hurdle starts to date and very hard to make a case for at this level.

Form: 07-B70

Crafty Codger⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: R P Treacy| T: E O'Connell| OR: 89

66/1

Struggled twice on the Flat following a return from a 705-day absence and probably best watched returning to hurdles. Second reserve.

Form: 4060S0/

Non-Runners

Empire Burleque²⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: G Elliott J: K Brogan

Zayriyan¹²

Weight: 10-2| Age: 4

T: D Hogan J: T Ryan

Luis Van Zandt¹¹⁹

Weight: 10-1| Age: 5

T: A J Martin J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Ilikedwayurthinkin (5/6), Dalton Highway (4/1), Ashqar (7/1), Dumhach Thra (10/1), Charle Brune (10/1), Luis Van Zandt (14/1), Empire Burleque (14/1), Broder (16/1), Mr Jacaranda (16/1), Rock On Seamie (20/1), Zayriyan (20/1), Peacocks Secret (25/1), Castlehume (25/1), De Mazzaro (33/1), Imperial Choice (33/1), Shannon Hill (33/1), Our Brian (40/1), Antimatter (50/1), Motcomb Street (50/1), Back To Bataan (50/1), Paddy Buns (50/1), Crafty Codger (66/1)

Ilikedwayurthinkin really improved with his recent win here and is a contender backing up quickly. Charle Brune has been winning with ease so could be up to handling this sharp rise in the weights on his hat-trick bid. Narrow preference is for ASHQAR who ran a blinder off unfavourable terms here on Monday. Dalton Highway brings some good Flat form and is a likely improver. Luis Van Zandt would be very interesting if he gets into the race.