18:45 Galway

Thursday 30 July 2020

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

Guinness Galway Hurdle (Grade A Handicap)

Off time: 18:45 | Winning time: 3m 41.2s

Aramon³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| D

7/1

Grade 1-winning novice in 2018. Won a Grade 3 contest at Tipperary on return to action last month winning over a similar trip. Leading player once again.

Form: 2/6452-1

Petit Mouchoir^p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 155| BF| D

25/1

Versatile and a fine servant to Henry De Bromhead over the years but it is now nearly three years since his last win. Ran well behind Aramon at Tipperary last month and can go well at an each-way price.

Form: 42235-2

Felix Desjy^h²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 151| CD

4/1

Taken time to get his act together over hurdles, but much improved last spring, building on solid effort in Supreme by winning G1 novice at Aintree from Aramon. Won a weak race on return to action last month.

Form: 52151/2-

Tudor City^t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 147| CD

22/1

Winner of this contest 12 months ago, landing the spoils off an 8lb lower mark. Well held on return to action on the Flat at Cork recently. Place claims.

Form: 2582/21-

Charli Parcs^h1¹⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: A A Howard| OR: 144| D

20/1

Won a Leopardstown hurdle over 2m2f when last seen in March. First time hood worn and worth a check in the market as post time approaches.

Form: 00P40/1-

Wonder Laish³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: R M Power| T: C Byrnes| OR: 144| D

7/1

Was in progressive form over hurdles last winter before never getting into race when last seen at Leopardstown in February. Better effort behind a couple of these at Tipperary last month.

Form: 17110/3

Buildmeupbuttercup^t¹³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143| C| D

11/2

Useful on the Flat and may have won on her return to hurdles at Leopardstown if jumping the last better, before a fine effort in a Grade 3 contest at the Cheltenham festival when last seen in March.

Form: 00/P254-

Mt Leinster^h³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| C| D

5/1

Useful bumper winner before quickly making up into a smart winning 2m hurdler last season. Won a maiden on the Flat here on Monday.

Form: 2/72134-

Moon Over Germany¹³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 137| D

22/1

Better known as a chaser and while he ran well enough at Leopardstown over Christmas and in a Grade 3 contest at the Cheltenham festival, there is still plenty to prove here.

Form: 413286-

Aramax^p1¹⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| D

17/2

Gradual progress for this yard after being a winner in this sphere in France and confirmed his previous promise when winning a couple of contests in the spring including at Grade 3 level at the Cheltenham festival.

Form: 31F311-

Hearts Are Trumps³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: J S McGarvey| T: D McDonogh| OR: 136| C| D

40/1

Three-time winner over hurdles who ran with credit in defeat in a number of starts between August and December last year before a dismal effort at Tipperary last month.

Form: 3/6346-0

Pakens Rock^t¹³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: O R Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: B T Murphy| OR: 136| C| D

50/1

Three wins since September over timber and ran well behind Abacadabras at Navan in November before finishing down the field in Grade 3 company at the Cheltenham festival.

Form: 34P150-

Shanning³⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| BF| C| D

14/1

Lightly raced daughter of Spanish Moon. Last seen in this contest 12 months ago running off a similar mark behind Tudor City. Looks up against it.

Form: 322/017-

Hunters Call²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: O Murphy| OR: 135| D

12/1

British invader, Winner of three of his 11 starts over hurdles including a facile victory at Southwell earlier this month. One to keep safe.

Form: 94531/1

Fair Mountain²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: J J Slevin| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| D

66/1

Listed winner and Group 1 placed on the Flat in Germany but well beaten in his last few starts in that sphere for previous yard in 2016. Won a Market Rasen 2m handicap hurdle earlier this month but more needed in this company.

Form: 2112/2

Play The Game^h²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 134| D

66/1

The future looked promising following a win Listowel in June but never got on terms under a penalty in this contest 12 months ago finishing well behind Tudor City off a 2lb higher mark. Tough ask.

Form: 7/1073-3

Tiger Tap Tap^h³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134

50/1

Two from nine over hurdles. Last of 20 over 2m1f on the Flat at this meeting on Tuesday. Could be vulnerable behind better handicapped sorts.

Form: 411060-

Hannon^t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: C D Maxwell| T: J C McConnell| OR: 131| D

80/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Musselburgh on first start after joining this trainer in January 2019 and also second in Grade 2 novice afterwards. Not jumped a hurdle since September and looks opposable once again.

Form: 21206/4-

Zoffalee^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: A McNamara| OR: 131| D

50/1

First Reserve: Improved last summer over hurdles, winning twice before falling at Listowel during Harvest Festival in September. Pleasing effort on latest start at Bellewstown earlier this month.

Form: 1211U-2

Non-Runners

Turnpike Trip²

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: C Byrnes J: C A Landers

Due Reward²⁶

Weight: 10-6| Age: 7

T: H De Bromhead J: Rachael Blackmore

Fan De Blues¹⁸⁰

Weight: 9-12| Age: 5

T: W P Mullins J: Reserve 2

Diamond Hill²⁷⁰

Weight: 9-12| Age: 7

T: W P Mullins J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Felix Desjy (4/1), Mt Leinster (5/1), Buildmeupbuttercup (11/2), Aramon (7/1), Wonder Laish (7/1), Turnpike Trip (8/1), Aramax (17/2), Hunters Call (12/1), Shanning (14/1), Charli Parcs (20/1), Diamond Hill (20/1), Fan De Blues (20/1), Tudor City (22/1), Moon Over Germany (22/1), Petit Mouchoir (25/1), Due Reward (25/1), Hearts Are Trumps (40/1), Tiger Tap Tap (50/1), Pakens Rock (50/1), Zoffalee (50/1), Fair Mountain (66/1), Play The Game (66/1), Hannon (80/1)

Trainer Gordon Elliott can land his first victory in the Galway Hurdle with the classy, FELIX DESJY. The trainer can land the spoils with the seven-year-old following a facile win on the Flat at Navan on return to action earlier this month. The French bred can get the better of the Charles Byrnes-trained Wonder Laish who will strip fitter for his recent effort behind Aramon at Tipperary last month. The top weight won won by 2L at the track with Petit Mouchoir in second. There is no reason why the form of that race cannot stand up in this contest.