18:15 Galway

Wednesday 28 July 2021

All16:3517:1017:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Tote Galway Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade A)

Off time: 18:15 | Winning time: 5m 25.0s

Samcro^p1,t⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Jordan Gainford⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 158| BF

22/1

High-class chaser who was as good as ever when winning Killarney Grade 3 (20f, good) in May by neck from Cilaos Emery. Faded after mistake 3 out at Listowel since. Cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 1/3PP-16

Easy Game⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 157| C

28/1

Eight wins from 22 NH runs. Three wins from 7 runs last season. 4/1, pulled up in Grade 3 at Killarney (20f, good) 79 days ago won by Samcro, weakening when bad mistake 5 out.

Form: 27U15-P

Battleoverdoyen^t⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 156| CD

16/1

C&D winner. Respectable third of 6 in handicap chase at Punchestown (2m, soft, 8/1) 60 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Respected.

Form: 4/1466-3

Brahma Bull⁸⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: J B Foley⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 154| D

22/1

Eight wins from 16 NH runs. Career best when winning 20-runner handicap chase (14/1) at Punchestown (24.6f, good to soft) 88 days ago.

Form: 1/2UP01-

Royal Rendezvous^h⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| C

5/1

Runner-up in this off 7 lb lower last year. Arrives on the back of an all-the-way hurdle win at Ballinrobe and could be primed for another bold bid.

Form: 351/20-1

The Shunter^h,t⁸⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Simon Torrens⁽³⁾| T: E Mullins| OR: 152| BF

11/2

Massive improver last term, including taking the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival. Second in Grade 1 novice chase at Aintree in April and good third over hurdles at Punchestown in May. Big player.

Form: 131123-

Annamix^t⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151

14/1

Latest win in chase at Gowran in November. Fifth of 24 in handicap chase at Punchestown (20f, good to soft, 25/1) 91 days ago.

Form: 143445-

Darasso^b,t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 150

20/1

10/3, creditable 2 lengths second of 8 to Sole Pretender in Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary (16.2f, good to soft) 27 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Represents last year's winning yard.

Form: 330-112

Home By The Lee¹¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 149

14/1

Three wins from 6 runs last season. Bit below form twelfth of 28 in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (29.2f, good to soft, 25/1) 114 days ago. Back down in trip.

Form: 113P10-

Livelovelaugh^t⁹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148

40/1

8/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Punchestown (20f, good to soft) in April but had been an impressive winner of Topham at Aintree prior to that. Freshened up ahead of this.

Form: 72321P-

Off You Go¹¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: J S McGarvey| T: C Byrnes| OR: 148| C

12/1

Avoided the mistakes which have sometimes held him back over fences when landing a nice pot at Leopardstown in February. Respectable sixth in Irish Grand National on sole outing since.

Form: 4/24F16-

Assemble^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 147

14/1

9/1, running well fell in handicap chase at Killarney (17f, good) 12 days ago, looking sure to be placed. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 12FF5-F

Mitchouka¹²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Ricky Doyle| T: G O'Loughlin| OR: 144

33/1

Latest win in chase at Leopardstown in March. Good third of 10 in minor event hurdle (9/2) at Downpatrick (18.8f, good to soft) 129 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase.

Form: 6/36513-

Snow Falcon^p²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 144| BF| D

33/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2019. Second of 4 in minor event chase (5/4) at Tramore (21.4f, good) 24 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 30-3222

The West's Awake^b,t²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 143

50/1

Latest win in chase at Kilbeggan in June. 15 lengths seventh of 9 to Top Moon in handicap chase at Wexford (20f, good to soft, 6/1) 26 days ago. Must improve.

Form: 479-317

Top Moon^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 143

15/2

10/3, didn't need to improve to win 9-runner handicap chase at Wexford (20f, good to soft) 26 days ago by 2½ lengths from Somptueux, well on top finish. Respected for last year's winning connections.

Form: 022P7-1

Visioman⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Mike O'Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 142

50/1

Good ½-length second of 8 to The West's Awake in handicap chase (17/2) at Kilbeggan (19.9f, good) 44 days ago, staying on well. This demands more, though.

Form: 11P00-2

Ben Dundee^t⁷⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: D F O'Regan| T: G O'Loughlin| OR: 141

66/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2018. 11/1, bit below form 20¼ lengths seventh of 14 to Snugsborough Hall in handicap hurdle at Killarney (22.2f, good) 79 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase.

Form: 275/50-7

Modus²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: E Bolger| OR: 141

20/1

33/1, first run since leaving Paul Nicholls when 20 lengths third of 8 to Sole Pretender in Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary (16.2f, good to soft) 27 days ago. Well handicapped on his best British form.

Form: 06/130-3

Koshari^b1⁸⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

15/2

Career best when winning 24-runner handicap hurdle (25/1) at Punchestown (20f, good to soft) in May. Blinkered first time. Interesting back chasing off 2 lb lower.

Form: 02/1601-

Snugsborough Hall^h¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: E Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: L P Cusack| OR: 140

16/1

Third of 11 in maiden (22/1) at Killarney (14.1f, good) on flat debut 15 days ago, left poorly placed. Switches from Flat to chase.

Form: 5774P-1

Somptueux²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 140

11/1

Three wins from 6 runs last season. 6/1, good 2½ lengths second of 9 to Top Moon in handicap chase at Wexford (20f, good to soft) 26 days ago, no match for winner. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 2141-F2

Forecasts

Royal Rendezvous (5/1), The Shunter (11/2), Koshari (15/2), Top Moon (15/2), Somptueux (11/1), Off You Go (12/1), Assemble (14/1), Home By The Lee (14/1), Annamix (14/1), Snugsborough Hall (16/1), Battleoverdoyen (16/1), Modus (20/1), Darasso (20/1), Brahma Bull (22/1), Samcro (22/1), Easy Game (28/1), Snow Falcon (33/1), Mitchouka (33/1), Livelovelaugh (40/1), Visioman (50/1), The West's Awake (50/1), Ben Dundee (66/1)

A chance is taken on MODUS, who should be sharper for a run over hurdles earlier this month and has come in for some potentially lenient treatment from the handicapper given he was as good as ever in Britain last winter. The Shunter, Top Moon and Off You Go are other live contenders in the J P McManus silks. Last year's second Royal Rendezvous may prove best of the Willie Mullins contingent.