16:45 Galway

Thursday 30 July 2020

All16:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Guinness Novice Hurdle

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 3m 47.80s

Politicise^p¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: A McGuinness| OR: 123| BF

14/1

Off the mark for connections at the seventh time of asking over hurdles, landing a Kilbeggan 2m4f contest earlier this month in maiden company. One for any shortlist.

Form: 3625-13

Saint D'Oroux^p1,t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 131| D

7/2

Off the mark for connections at the fifth time of asking at Gowran Park in February before a solid effort in the Grade 3 Fred Winter at the Cheltenham festival in March. Disappointed on return to action at Bellewstown earlier this month.

Form: 44513-9

Very Excellent²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: B J Cooper| T: A McNamara| OR: 120

10/3

Gelding by Casamento. Off the mark for connections at the sixth attempt landing the spoils in a Bellewstown 2m maiden hurdle earlier this month. More needed but not completely ruled out.

Form: 7F227-1

Bear Claws^t¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara

40/1

1m2f winner on the Flat at Navan in October before joining Eric McNamara. Well held on return to action at Gowran Park earlier this month and looks opposable once again.

Form: P5-3

Copia Verborum¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Lambe

100/1

Gives weight away all round on return from 298-day break. Modest strike-rate of just 1-14. Well held at odds of 100/1 on the Flat earlier this month. Tough ask on hurdling debut.

Form:

Final Orders¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Donnelly

125/1

Son of Camelot rated 68 on the Flat. Distant fourth of eight on hurdles bow Bellewstown before a similar effort at Gowran Park earlier this month.

Form: 46

Red Gerry²⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade

15/8

Off the mark at the eighth attempt on the Flat when landing a Tipperary maiden on good/yielding over 1m4½f in August. Encouraging debut over hurdles at Fairyhouse when last seen in November and looks a lively player.

Form: 2-

Shamiyan¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul Townend| T: M Halford

7/1

Pleasing effort on hurdling debut at Roscommon earlier this month on good ground. Worth a check in the market with notable jockey booking.

Form: 3

Guinevere^p⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: R P Cody| OR: 106

15/2

Showed some promise over hurdles last winter; won on the AW at Dundalk in January. Encouraging effort over hurdles on return to action at Cork recently. One for the shortlist.

Form: 537-2

Non-Runners

Anna Bunina⁶

Weight: 11-2| Age: 4

T: J C McConnell J: Sean O'Keeffe

Forecasts

Red Gerry (15/8), Anna Bunina (15/8), Very Excellent (10/3), Saint D'Oroux (7/2), Shamiyan (7/1), Guinevere (15/2), Politicise (14/1), Bear Claws (40/1), Copia Verborum (100/1), Final Orders (125/1)

the Noel Meade-trained RED GERRY can land the spoils on his second start over hurdles. The Canford Cliffs gelding ran well in defeat in a competitive Fairyhouse maiden when last seen in November. The four-year-old can improve to get the better of potential dangers Saint D'oroux for trainer Gordon Elliott and the John McConnell-trained Anna Bunina who won a maiden hurdle at Cork in facile fashion earlier this month. Shamiyan for trainer Mick Halford could be a lively outsider in the hands of interesting jockey booking in Paul Townend.