17:15 Galway

Saturday 1 August 2020

All14:3515:1015:4516:1516:4517:1517:45

Galway Shopping Centre Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 17:17 | Winning time: 2m 40.06s

(11)

Halimi^p⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 98| CD

11/1

Naas handicap winner in October and running well off higher marks this term, including at Navan and the Curragh last month, not beaten far on each occasion.

Form: 123-352

(15)

Lynwood Gold²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 93

14/1

Winner over hurdles during the winter and improved on seasonal bow when third behind Dalton Highway in 2m handicap before improving again landing the spoils at the same track last month over 1m6f. Another bold bid expected.

Form: 046-631

(3)

Edification²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: C P Hoban| T: M Fahey| OR: 92| D

50/1

Game winner of 1m4f handicap here in June but struggled off 7lb higher mark when 8L eighth at Navan before a defeat at the Curragh last month. Not out of it.

Form: 270-186

(10)

Insignia Of Rank⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 92

66/1

Sound efforts in handicaps at Curragh (1m) and Navan (1m2f) before disappointing at this meeting on Monday, well beaten 16th of 20 runners over 2m1f. More needed.

Form: 9-56670

(16)

Questionare²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S M Crosse⁽³⁾| T: L Comer| OR: 91

125/1

Lightly-raced winner in the UK for John Gosden. Well held in three starts since racing resumed in June and is considered in this contest.

Form: 1220-80

(14)

Princess Zoe⁵^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁵⁾| T: A Mullins| OR: 83| C| D

2/1

Winner of a Curragh 1m4f handicap before landing the odds at this meeting on Monday over 2m1f off a 7lb lower mark. Likely to produce once again.

Form: 722-211

(4)

Pearl Warrior²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Shane Kelly⁽³⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 88| D

16/1

Front runner who has won four out of his last six starts. Not beaten far at Cork last month and has it all to do in this contest but yard in good nick so can go well.

Form: 1110-16

(12)

War Diary²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 87| BF| D

7/2

Distance winner, fourth of 12 beaten 3¾L on penultimate start at this festival 12 months ago. Solid effort on return to action at Cork over 1m4f last month which may have him spot on for this.

Form: 32/114-2

(6)

Baltic Song²⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Rory Cleary| T: L Comer| OR: 86| D

125/1

81-rated handicapper in five starts for trainer John Gosden. Second at Leicester on final start for the handler in October and looks up against it on Irish debut off this mark.

Form: 8/1342-

(13)

Emperor Of The Sun^h1⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Gavin Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 96| C

12/1

Galileo colt. Half-brother to multiple winners. Winner on second start at this festival 12 months ago. Running well in defeat in a couple of starts since racing returned in June. One for any shortlist in first time hood.

Form: 313-45

(5)

Melburnian²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Robbie Colgan| T: A J Martin| OR: 84| D

12/1

French import left previous form behind when readily winning at Leopardstown in October. Well held on seasonal debut at Cork over 1m4f last month and may find this tough off current mark.

Form: 36421-0

(8)

Memorabilis¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 94| D

16/1

Career best to win a maiden at Fairyhouse on return in June. Beaten since at the Curragh last month when firmly put in his place in group 2 company. This is more his level.

Form: 73-14

(1)

Takarengo⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Billy Lee| T: T Mullins| OR: 83| D

11/2

Won twice on heavy ground last year and posted some respectable efforts over hurdles since but well beaten on a number of recent Flat outings. Needs a few to falter.

Form: 211-950

(9)

Excelcius³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: James J Doyle| T: T Mullins| OR: 77

50/1

10-race maiden produced a career best effort on turf at the Curragh last month running Njord to 2L in an 18-runner handicap over a similar trip. May be capable of better still.

Form: 4433-02

Non-Runners

(2)

Latoyah Of North⁸

Weight: 8-13| Age: 7

T: M Mulvany J: Leigh Roche

(7)

Tudor City²

Weight: 8-11| Age: 8

T: A J Martin J: Chris Hayes

Forecasts

Princess Zoe (2/1), War Diary (7/2), Takarengo (11/2), Tudor City (10/1), Halimi (11/1), Emperor Of The Sun (12/1), Melburnian (12/1), Lynwood Gold (14/1), Latoyah Of North (14/1), Pearl Warrior (16/1), Memorabilis (16/1), Excelcius (50/1), Edification (50/1), Insignia Of Rank (66/1), Questionare (125/1), Baltic Song (125/1)

There is no doubt the Jim Bolger-trained HALIMI deserves a change of fortune following a near miss at the Curragh on his latest start after bumping into Patrick Sarsfield on return to action at Navan last month. The four-year-old is the highest rated in the contest by 5lb with the Jessica Harrington-trained Lynwood Gold, next best and likely to emerge as the biggest danger. The Aidan O'Brien-trained, Memorablis looks on a handy mark for handicap debut while Latoyah Of North and Princess Zoe, winner at this meeting on Monday should not be taken lightly.