17:30 Galway

Friday 30 July 2021

All16:0016:3017:0017:3018:0518:4019:1019:45

Guinness Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 5m 28.2s

Cracking Smart^b,t²¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: H McOwan⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 150

125/1

80/1, fourteenth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (3m, soft) when last seen in December. Break needs to have perked him up ahead of this.

Form: 14/F500-

Decor Irlandais²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr N McParlan⁽³⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 149| D

9/1

Sixth of 10 in minor event at Leopardstown (15f, good, 7/2) on flat debut 22 days ago. Entitled to be sharper with that run and this smarrt hurdler is not dismissed lightly here.

Form: 29/4154-

Stratum⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| C

11/2

Versatile, classy dual purpose performer who added Queen Alexandra Stakes (21.6f) to his tally at Royal Ascot last month. Not discounted back over hurdles for his powerful yard.

Form: 924P/70-

My Sister Sarah^p,t⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141| BF

5/1

Five wins from 18 NH runs. 9/2, creditable sixth of 19 in handicap at this course (16.8f, good to soft) 4 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Significantly back up in trip.

Form: 21455-3

French Made⁷⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135

16/1

23/10, respectable 10½ lengths fourth of 8 to L'autonomie in Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Handicap) at Auteuil (19.4f) when last seen in summer 2019. Unlikely to be lacking for fitness on return.

Form: 181334/

Place Des Vosges⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M Fahey| OR: 135

12/1

Latest win in hurdle at Listowel in June. Creditable 7¼ lengths fourth of 12 to Visionarian in handicap hurdle at Down Royal (20.4f, good, 5/1) 42 days ago, keeping on gradually. Possibilities.

Form: 1F3-314

Jazzaway⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: C P McNamara⁽³⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134

9/1

10/1, career best when winning 24-runner handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.4f, good to soft) 94 days ago, just holding on. Significantly up in trip. Can make presence felt.

Form: 8341/21-

Tronador^p¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 134

25/1

One win from 2 runs last season. Latest win in hurdle at Aintree in April. Creditable fifth of 14 in handicap at Killarney (16.8f, good, 3/1) 17 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles.

Form: 139/710-

Lynwood Gold^p⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 132

17/2

Creditable fifth of 19 in handicap (25/1) at this course (16.8f, good to soft) 4 days ago, faring best of those held up. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Cheekpieces on 1st time over jumps.

Form: 21/263P-

Mitchouka²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: D F O'Regan| T: G O'Loughlin| OR: 132

50/1

33/1, pulled up in handicap chase at this course (22.5f, good) 2 days ago, badly hampered fifth and pulled up before ninth. Not one to write off.

Form: 36513-P

Western Victory⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽⁷⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 132| C

10/1

Course winner. Didn't need to improve to win 7-runner minor event hurdle at Down Royal (16.4f, good, 2/7) 42 days ago. Significantly back up in trip.

Form: 347-231

Construct^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Simon Torrens⁽³⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 130

40/1

15/2, good fifth of 9 in handicap at Limerick (17f, good) 42 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 15/0274-

Visionarian^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 130

5/1

Lightly-raced winner. Career best when winning 12-runner handicap hurdle at Down Royal (20.4f) 42 days ago, suited by way race developed. Longer trip may bring about a little more improvement.

Form: 1/1225-1

Botani⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Mike O'Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: Colm Murphy| OR: 128

28/1

3/1, third of 11 in novice chase at Tramore (15.7f, good to soft) on debut over fences 55 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Significantly back up in trip.

Form: 56513-3

Line Out¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: J E Kiely| OR: 128| D

40/1

Sixth of 11 in maiden at Killarney (14.1f, good, 14/1) on flat debut 17 days ago, probably needing the run. Entitled to be closer to form back over hurdles with that run under his belt.

Form: 234114-

Lethal Steps^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: C J Orr| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 127| C

80/1

Course winner. 12/1, fifth of 6 in minor event hurdle at Cork (20f, good to soft) 21 days ago. Needs to show more again before becoming of interest.

Form: 8350/75

Litterale Ci^p⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Miss A B O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 127

11/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, third of 19 in handicap (40/1) at this course (16.8f, good to soft) 4 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Up in trip. Given a chance by the handicapper.

Form: 351/4P-7

Pagero^t1¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: L P Dempsey| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126

40/1

Creditable seventh of 15 in handicap hurdle (12/1) at Market Rasen (16.6f, good to firm) 13 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 127-327

Act Of God³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Phillip Enright| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 125| BF

33/1

One win from 1 run last season. 14/1, creditable fifth of 13 in handicap at the Curragh (16f, good) 34 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 35/1-445

Non-Runners

Black Mischief¹⁸

Weight: 10-10| Age: 9

T: H Fry J: J J Burke

Walking On Glass³

Weight: 9-13| Age: 6

T: P Roche J: Reserve 1

It Could Be You¹

Weight: 9-12| Age: 7

T: T Mullins J: Reserve 2

Shanwalla²

Weight: 9-12| Age: 7

T: P J Gilligan J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Visionarian (5/1), My Sister Sarah (5/1), Stratum (11/2), Lynwood Gold (17/2), Jazzaway (9/1), Decor Irlandais (9/1), Western Victory (10/1), Litterale Ci (11/1), Shanwalla (11/1), It Could Be You (11/1), Place Des Vosges (12/1), Black Mischief (12/1), Walking On Glass (14/1), French Made (16/1), Tronador (25/1), Botani (28/1), Act Of God (33/1), Line Out (40/1), Pagero (40/1), Construct (40/1), Mitchouka (50/1), Lethal Steps (80/1), Cracking Smart (125/1)

A fiendishly competitive handicap in which it may pay to side with lightly-raced hurdler PLACE DES VOSGES. A winner at Listowel in June, she wasn't ideally served by the run of the race when fourth at Down Royal next time. She may have more to offer in handicaps and earns the vote back up in trip. Jazzaway and Stratum can also feature, along with Black Mischief and Visionarian.