14:45 Galway

Sunday 4 August 2019

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

Kenny Galway Handicap Hurdle (88-123)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 6m 10.50s

Dawn Raider^t⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: D J Mullins| T: P G Kelly| OR: 122

8/1

Struggled in two starts over fences and returned to his best with a good fourth over hurdles here on Wednesday. Only one win so far but consistently placed last year and could go well again for last year's winning stable.

Form: 308-PP4

Suinda²⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr A McMahon⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 119| C

10/1

Took a big step forwards when comfortably winning over 2m6f here last October. Remains lightly raced and unseen since. Returns off 10lb higher and likely to be ready to fire. Could be competitive and mark support would be interesting.

Form: 154341-

Ballyegan Hero¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 118| C

16/1

Now 4lb lower than last winning mark but both his wins came back in 2017, including over 2m7f at this meeting. Has largely struggled since and while his latest run was better, it would still need improving on.

Form: 5UF0-P6

Kilkishen^b,p²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 118

16/1

Much better third at Bellewstown last start although he's still without a win over hurdles since May 2016. More still needed in this company but he wouldn't mind it turning into a stamina test.

Form: 74P-P83

Kilbarry Lilly¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Keeffe| OR: 117| BF| D

16/1

Won a maiden hurdle in March and has run to a consistent level of form in defeat since. Remains on a high enough mark and may find this tough. Others look stronger candidates.

Form: 414-567

Spring Watch³⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: M F Morris| OR: 117| D

16/1

Beat Dawn Raider into second when completing back-to-back race wins in July last year. Unraced since and returns off an 8lb higher mark. More needed again off his new mark and market likely best guide as to the expectations.

Form: 8780/11-

Blottos^v¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 116

28/1

Three-time winner over hurdles for Sue Smith in the UK and a bit below that form although not disgraced on stable debut last month. Struggled over fences in two starts since and although this is tougher, he's on a fair mark. Place possibilities.

Form: P93-4B3

Monbeg Chit Chat²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 116| D

33/1

Maiden hurdle winner in 2017 and won two chases last year. Needs to improve on four hurdle starts this year and stamina a question on this sharp rise in distance.

Form: 48-9756

Goodnightngodbless^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: J Motherway| OR: 115| BF| D

6/1

Has proven to be a consistent mare over the last year an arrives off the back of a career best win and second the last twice. Stays well and should be up to handling 3lb rise. Rates a leading contender.

Form: 3392-12

Poker D'Ainay³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 114

7/1

In consistent form in maiden hurdles with three placed runs and a latest win. Now makes handicap debut and step back up in distance a likely plus. Leading and in form stable also runs Suinda and likewise a market move should be noted.

Form: 0P3-221

Rovetta⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 114| C

11/2

Won at this meeting last year and a good second at Limerick in December. Not in the same form in three beaten starts since, including here on Monday. Others preferred on current form.

Form: 615208-

An Fearchan^p¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Scott| OR: 113| D

20/1

Won a Cork maiden hurdle and improved again with a third over this trip at Limerick last month. More needed again in this company but going the right way and stays well. Holds place possibilities.

Form: 26-3013

Brogine⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Phillip Enright| T: S Braddish| OR: 110| D

14/1

Returned from an absence of 305 days as an improved mare with back-to-back wins over 2m4.5f at Ballinrobe and then over this trip at Limerick. Likely has more still to offer at this distance and a leading contender.

Form: 0/063-11

Chess Grand Master^p,t⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 107

10/1

Eased when hampered here over 2m1f on Monday but had never looked like getting involved. Takes a huge step up in distance which adds a further question to answer. Others look more reliable at present.

Form: 21750/9-

Bye Bye O Bye^t¹⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-9| J: D N Russell| T: Michael C Griffin| OR: 106| D

10/1

Ended a losing run dating back to May 2016 with back-to-back wins at Kilbeggan and Limerick. Finished second in this race in 2016 off 1lb higher and another big run on the cards. Rates a leading hope.

Form: 5-64311

Young Dev¹¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: D Hogan| OR: 101| D

16/1

Stays well and 6lb higher than March Limerick win. Ran to a similar standard when third at the same track and proving consistent when there's a stamina test. First run since April and although this requires more, he's capable of being competitive.

Form: 000213-

Helly Hansum¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 100| D

33/1

Inconsistent this year with a good second in a maiden hurdle and a handicap win off 6lb lower but disappointing in her other four starts. Below par off this new mark last time and others preferred.

Form: 672916

Oh'herewego^p¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: K J Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 100| D

50/1

Remains 4lb higher than when winning over this distance at Tipperary last October but has really struggled in his five starts since. Best watched in a race this competitive.

Form: 1U08-00

Mr Smith^p⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 95

8/1

Landed a gamble on the Flat at Carlisle in June. Returns to hurdling on a plenty high enough mark. Third reserve.

Form: 050157/

Non-Runners

Polished Rock⁵⁹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 9

T: J Farrelly J: Sean Flanagan

Whatsyourstatus⁴

Weight: 10-7| Age: 6

T: G O'Loughlin J: Sean O'Keeffe

Ocean Glandore²

Weight: 10-3| Age: 10

T: D Hogan J: Reserve 1

Theatre World³²⁴

Weight: 10-1| Age: 7

T: R O'Sullivan J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Rovetta (11/2), Goodnightngodbless (6/1), Ocean Glandore (7/1), Poker D'Ainay (7/1), Mr Smith (8/1), Dawn Raider (8/1), Chess Grand Master (10/1), Bye Bye O Bye (10/1), Suinda (10/1), Brogine (14/1), Whatsyourstatus (14/1), Theatre World (14/1), Kilkishen (16/1), Spring Watch (16/1), Ballyegan Hero (16/1), Young Dev (16/1), Kilbarry Lilly (16/1), Polished Rock (20/1), An Fearchan (20/1), Blottos (28/1), Helly Hansum (33/1), Monbeg Chit Chat (33/1), Oh'herewego (50/1)

An open race and a number of chances. The Willie Mullins pair of Poker D'Ainay and Suinda are both interesting, in particular the former on handicap debut and which way the market reacts could prove informative. It may pay to take a chance with BYE BYE O BYE who has returned back to some very good form and has gone close in this race previously. Brogine is an in form mare who is hard to ignore while Goodnightngodbless is a very reliable performer and she too is hard to keep out of calculations. Dawn Raider backs up quickly after a good run at this meeting and is another to consider.