18:45 Galway

Monday 27 July 2020

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

Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap (70-100)

Off time: 18:49 | Winning time: 3m 57.74s

(12)

Time To Study²⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr J J O'Neill⁽⁷⁾| T: L Comer| OR: 100

125/1

Won twice last autumn over 1m6f (soft) for Ian Williams before coming up well shy in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket; has gone well fresh before but tough challenge under this weight on first start for new connections.

Form: 300110-

(6)

Dalton Highway²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr J J Codd| T: D K Weld| OR: 96

11/2

Very useful sort on the Flat and over hurdles and looked a thorough stayer when game winner over 2m at the Curragh last month. Up 9lb for that but has the able Jamie Codd on board and may go well again having finished second in this last year.

Form: 12224-1

(16)

King's Vow^b,t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr N Bashford⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 94

66/1

Distance winner on the AW at Dundalk, finished a long way behind Dalton Highway at the Curragh last month though has since run more encouraging race there over 1m6f. Blinkers/tongue strap back on.

Form: 711907

(7)

Sharjah^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 94| C

5/2

Top-class hurdler, second to Epatante in the Champion at Cheltenham in March; 8L behind Dalton Highway last month at the Curragh when caught too far back and meeting traffic problems. Big run likely under Patrick Mullins.

Form: 12300/4

(22)

Insignia Of Rank^b²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr E Dwan⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Murphy| OR: 92

66/1

Sound efforts in handicaps at Curragh (1m) and Navan (1m2f) recently; a Listed winner last summer and handicap mark is fine; stamina an unknown factor.

Form: 89-5667

(5)

Grandmaster Flash¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 88

20/1

Australia colt entitled to have needed run when seventh in Curragh contest won by Dalton Highway last month; came on for that when third there over shorter since and has the ability to get involved back up in distance.

Form: 2122-73

(9)

Great White Shark¹³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jodie Townend⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 88| CD

10/1

Won this last year from a mark of 80 under this claiming rider; not disgraced next Flat start in Newmarket's Cesarewitch and off since fine third over hurdles at Cheltenham Festival in March. Should be ready to roll again.

Form: 64/5100-

(17)

Tiger Tap Tap^h¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr D G Lavery⁽³⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 88

33/1

Twice a winner over hurdles this year and likely found 1m4f at Leopardstown sharp enough on return to action this month; eased 2lb and forms part of a strong challenge for trainer Willie Mullins.

Form: 1/0

(19)

Aircraft Carrier¹⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr C J Gorman⁽⁷⁾| T: L Comer| OR: 87| D

125/1

Did well on the AW in Britain after leaving Ballydoyle in 2018 as a maiden winner; out of form over hurdles for this trainer however and not especially well handicapped back on the level after a break.

Form: 050680-

(23)

Zenon^b²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 86

50/1

Surprising to see him losing his way after leaving John Gosden for this powerful trainer; pair of 2m runs at the Curragh last month did little to suggest he'll turn a corner soon. Stable have more pressing claims elsewhere.

Form: 3526/00

(11)

De Name Escapes Me^t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: N Meade| OR: 85| D

9/1

Veteran, travelled like a dream at the Curragh last month before finishing close second to Dalton Highway; has gone up 6lb for that effort but excellent jockey booking and looks set to play a part.

Form: 123-2

(8)

Run For Mary²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr P Byrnes⁽⁷⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 85| D

11/1

Dual bumper winner in 2018 and maiden hurdles score following year; now thriving over this sort of trip on the Flat having made winning h'cap bow at Bellewstown this month. Up 5lb but has run well here before and looks a contender up in class.

Form: 2841-01

(2)

Mister Blue Sky⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ms M J Horsman⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 84

25/1

Smart hurdler ran pleasing race over 1m4f at Fairyhouse on first Flat run since 2017 last month; hood worn then is left off but this trip ought to suit and a big run wouldn't be any sort of shock.

Form: 17713/0

(20)

Dalileo^p⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr A P Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 83| D

28/1

Good run in third behind Run For Mary at Bellewstown early in the month and did well down in distance at the Curragh since in first-time cheekpieces (retained); trainer enjoying a nice spell.

Form: 15-0036

(14)

Golden Spear^t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Harvey⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 83| C

66/1

Five-times a winner at this meeting, three of them on the Flat; a while now since we've seen his best and tailed off effort at the Curragh (2m) last month leaves him with a lot to find on a few of these re-opposing rivals.

Form: 020/30-0

(3)

Mutadaffeq³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr M J O'Hare| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 83| D

40/1

Versatile sort; got up late to score over 2m at the Curragh last month and run well since over timber; 6lb higher Flat mark to contend with in what is a deep race so more demanded but not had many tries in this code for Gavin Cromwell.

Form: 4099/0-1

(15)

Princess Zoe⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr F Maguire⁽³⁾| T: A Mullins| OR: 83

7/1

German import was runner-up at Navan (1m5f, soft) on stable bow last month and since gone one better in good style at the Curragh (1m4f, good to yielding; 4-1). Handicapper asks a serious question as she tackles increased trip for the first time.

Form: 3722-21

(13)

Takarengo⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Ms L O'Neill| T: T Mullins| OR: 83

12/1

Won twice on heavy ground last year and posted some respectable efforts over hurdles since but well beaten on two recent Flat outings; latest when 7½L fifth behind Princess Zoe at the Curragh. Much better off on these terms.

Form: 5211-95

(1)

A Wave Of The Sea³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr T Hamilton| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 82

10/1

Grade 1-winning novice hurdler at Dublin Racing Festival in February (fortunate) and not disgraced in the Triumph; ran well at this meeting last year and on fair mark over a trip that ought to suit. Poor in Grade 3 Tipperary hurdles race last month.

Form: 31164-

(21)

Machine Learner^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Miss A B O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 82

80/1

Exposed UK handicapper; well beaten in two start at the Curragh (1m4f/1m6f) recently for new trainer; handicapper has eased him but others better placed.

Form: 2366-00

Non-Runners

(4)

Great Bear¹³⁴

Weight: 10-10| Age: 4

T: T Gibney J: Reserve 1

(18)

The Mouse Doctor²²

Weight: 10-7| Age: 7

T: A J Martin J: Reserve 2

(10)

Foveros³¹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 5

T: W P Mullins J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Sharjah (5/2), Dalton Highway (11/2), Princess Zoe (7/1), De Name Escapes Me (9/1), Great White Shark (10/1), A Wave Of The Sea (10/1), Run For Mary (11/1), Foveros (11/1), Takarengo (12/1), Grandmaster Flash (20/1), Great Bear (20/1), Mister Blue Sky (25/1), Dalileo (28/1), Tiger Tap Tap (33/1), Mutadaffeq (40/1), Zenon (50/1), The Mouse Doctor (50/1), Golden Spear (66/1), King's Vow (66/1), Insignia Of Rank (66/1), Machine Learner (80/1), Aircraft Carrier (125/1), Time To Study (125/1)

Having given the likes of Dalton Highway (won this last year) and De Name Escapes Me too much rope last time at the Curragh, the classy hurdler SHARJAH finished to good effect in fourth. Patrick Mullins takes over here and his mount can reverse that form. His father has a strong team; with Great White Shark and Tiger Tap Tap much-respected in a very open contest where Princess Zoe, Dalileo and Run For Mary all merit some consideration.