14:20 Gowran Park

Thursday 28 January 2021

All13:1513:4514:2014:5015:2516:0016:30

John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 7m 23.80s

Bacardys^t1³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| D

18/1

Smart hurdler who ran up to best when third in Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Shaped as if needing run in Hattons Grace on return but failed to fire in Christmas Hurdle latest. Tongue tied.

Form: 1243-4P

Burrows Saint^h1,t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| BF| C

7/1

Very smart chaser who was well below form when well-beaten second of 6 to Mary Frances in minor event hurdle at Clonmel (24f) 56 days ago. Should come on for that but needs to. Hood on 1st time.

Form: 11/531-2

Darasso⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 152| C

16/1

Smart chaser. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, 19 lengths second of 4 to Chacun Pour Soi in Hilly Way Chase at Cork (16.7f, heavy, 16/1) 53 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Merits consideration.

Form: 1/420-42

Diol Ker^p1³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 143| D

8/1

Useful hurdler. Didn't need to be at best to win 5-runner minor event hurdle at Limerick (20f, heavy, 6/4) 33 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Will find this much tougher.

Form: 2/1-F341

Kilfenora¹⁰⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: J S McGarvey| T: E P Harty| OR: 149| BF| D

25/1

Shaped as if retaining all his ability when 4½ lengths second of 5 to Sixshooter in minor event hurdle at Punchestown (18.7f, soft) 107 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 31140-2

Sams Profile^h1⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: M F Morris| OR: 148

8/1

Useful hurdler in 2019/19 who posted a respectable third in 11-runner novice chase (5/1) at Fairyhouse (21.2f, soft) 61 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Hood on 1st time.

Form: 225/2-F3

Scarpeta^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149| C| D

25/1

Course winner who shaped as if retaining ability when second of 4 in minor event hurdle (9/1) at Punchestown (19.6f) 28 days ago, though no match for winner. Back up in trip.

Form: 1301/52

Sixshooter⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: N Meade| OR: 147

11/2

Useful hurdler who justified significant support at Punchestown in October. Respectable 3¾ lengths third of 8 to Sire Du Berlais in Lismullen Hurdle at Navan (20f) next time. May have more to come.

Form: 1342-13

Great White Shark¹¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146| D

2/1

Career best when winning big-field Galway handicap hurdle in July and heavily backed when following up in Cesarewitch Handicap on the Flat in October. Returns to hurdling fresh and ought to go well.

Form: 33083-1

Mary Frances³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: R M Power| T: M Hassett| OR: 136| D

11/2

Useful hurdler who was a very easy winner of minor event at Clonmel on reappearance, but went backwards when well held in EBF Mares' Hurdle at Leopardstown (20f, soft) last time.

Form: 7512-15

Forecasts

Great White Shark (2/1), Sixshooter (11/2), Mary Frances (11/2), Burrows Saint (7/1), Sams Profile (8/1), Diol Ker (8/1), Darasso (16/1), Bacardys (18/1), Kilfenora (25/1), Scarpeta (25/1)

This promises to be another interesting renewal of this Grade 2 and GREAT WHITE SHARK, armed with a handy mares' allowance, could be the way to go having shown clear improvement on her last two starts. Darasso merits serious consideration back hurdling, while there could still be more to come from 6-y-o Sixshooter.