17:45 Galway

Monday 27 July 2020

All16:1016:4017:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

Galmont.com & Galwaybayhotel.com Handicap (50-80) (Div 2)

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 1m 32.53s

(10)

Fridtjof Nansen^b¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Colin Keane| T: K P Cotter| OR: 79

7/1

Just a lone success from 27 career starts; tends to run solid enough races and might have a shout for place money but others preferred.

Form: 500-309

(1)

She's A Babe^b⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: S M Crosse⁽³⁾| T: A Fogarty| OR: 79| D

14/1

Yet to win on turf but went close penultimate run at Bellewstown over a mile and this is not as strong as the Curragh race she contested since.

Form: 9-35930

(9)

Phoenix Open^t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: S Foley| T: S M Duffy| OR: 77

33/1

Son of Scat Daddy prove a bit disappointing following win in 1m Limerick maiden and left Ger Lyons after landing Dundalk claimer in January; may be sharper for comeback at Navan this month when easy enough to back.

Form: 2763-19

(3)

Atlas^b¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁵⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 75| D

9/2

Took advantage of slipping mark to score at Leopardstown (7f, good; 6-1) this month, getting up strongly for narrow win under Joey Sheridan's claim. Effectively 8lb higher for this assignment.

Form: 5-60561

(12)

Khafaaq¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: A J Slattery⁽³⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 75| BF| D

17/2

Returned to action with good second at the Curragh over a mile last month; unable to hold on from the front since in 7f Leopardstown contest won by Atlas when sporting first-time blinkers (off here); faded to 4¼L seventh.

Form: 4271-27

(7)

Mandolin Wind⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: K J Manning| T: L Breen| OR: 75| D

28/1

Long-standing maiden in France; shaped with some promise on debut for Leanne Breen at the Curragh (5f, good to yielding; 33-1) last week; uncertain to see this trip out strongly.

Form: 40604-7

(2)

The Mpex Kid³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: M P Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 75| D

5/2

Handicapper has taken no chances by giving him an 11lb rise for comfortable reappearance win at Fairyhouse (7f; good). However, he has only had the five starts and is unexposed in handicaps so there could be more to come.

Form: 8306-1

(5)

War Hero^t,v¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 73| D

16/1

0-19 on turf and while he has dropped below previous AW win-mark; four runs this summer on grass haven't been hinting he's going to get his head in front. Eased another 3lb now.

Form: 120000

(11)

Tanseeq¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Rory Cleary| T: J C McConnell| OR: 72| D

7/1

Dual AW winner in Britain for William Haggas; 1L third in Leopardstown race won by Atlas 16 days ago on second start for new connections. Should be in the mix from 2lb higher perch.

Form: 687473

(13)

Eastern Racer^b¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Sean Davis| T: S Byrne| OR: 71

22/1

Had done all his winning in sprints prior to pair of mile successes on AW/turf last year; shaping with promise in three recent runs and while still 6lb clear of most recent win-mark he cannot be discounted.

Form: 565043

(6)

Qaabil^p1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 68

14/1

10-race maiden having raced in Britain and France previously; improving in each of three recent runs for latest trainer and not beyond the realms he can go close if first-time cheekpieces have a positive effect now.

Form: 24-3086

(4)

Foreign Legion^t³¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: C D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: J Larkin| OR: 59| D

80/1

Four-time AW winner in the UK in early 2019 in low-grade stuff; 0-9 on turf however and that includes wide-margin defeats here and at Listowel last year for this trainer; hard to see a winning return from 318-day absence.

Form: 482600-

(8)

Lizbuncon²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: L F Roche| T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary| OR: 56

16/1

Lightly-raced Vocalised mare took a big step forward when second on handicap bow at Naas (6f, yielding to soft; 33-1) this month. Up 5lb in against better rivals but should be suited by longer trip and one to note.

Form: 000-2

Forecasts

The Mpex Kid (5/2), Atlas (9/2), Fridtjof Nansen (7/1), Tanseeq (7/1), Khafaaq (17/2), She's A Babe (14/1), Qaabil (14/1), War Hero (16/1), Lizbuncon (16/1), Eastern Racer (22/1), Mandolin Wind (28/1), Phoenix Open (33/1), Foreign Legion (80/1)

Atlas had a host of these in behind when scoring at Leopardstown recently but Denis Hogan's charge has plenty more on his plate this time and may do well to follow up. TANSEEQ was one of them on what was only his third career start on turf. He's certainly got the scope to be in the firing line from his 2lb higher mark and should go well. Both Fairyhouse winner The Mpex Kid and bottom-weight Lizbuncon also appeal as having more to offer while Qaabil can be involved if the new headgear works.