18:35 Galway

Friday 29 July 2022

All17:0017:3018:0018:3519:1019:4020:1020:40

Guinness Handicap

Off time: 18:36 | Winning time: 2m 42.75s

(16)

Laelaps¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 94

14/1

11/4, creditable second of 7 in handicap at Ballinrobe (9.4f, good) 11 days ago, collared final 50 yds. Clearly back to his best at present and possibilities provided longer trip doesn't stretch him.

Form: 4-89032

(20)

Merroir³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 94| CD

12/1

C&D winner. 1 win from 1 run this year. Career best when winning 4-runner handicap (5/2) at Ballinrobe (12.8f, good to soft) 39 days ago, responding well. Stable having good spell and possibilities despite a career-high mark to defy.

Form: 11339-1

(5)

Sionnach Eile^h¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 94

9/1

1 win from 3 runs this year. Hooded for 1st time, career best when winning 8-runner handicap (7/2) at Ballinrobe (12.6f, good) 11 days ago, readily. 12 lb higher now.

Form: 944-271

(2)

Baby Zeus^t⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: S M Crosse| T: W P Mullins| OR: 92

10/1

10/11 and tongue strap on for 1st time in this code, fourth of 15 in novice hurdle at Kilbeggan (19f, good to soft) on NH debut 77 days ago, finding less than looked likely. Not out of things provided he settles better than has often been the case.

Form: 104050-

(9)

Dame Rapide³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Luke McAteer⁽³⁾| T: Barry J Fitzgerald| OR: 92| D

18/1

2 wins from 3 runs this year. Latest win at the Curragh in May. 6/1, creditable fourth of 14 in handicap at the Curragh (12f, soft) 33 days ago, possibly doing too much too soon. Not discounted.

Form: 5/96-114

(14)

Shark Bay⁶^{(ex 7)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 95

10/1

Career best when winning 4-runner minor event (11/10) at Gowran (9.5f, good) 6 days ago, battling well. Carries penalty. Stable having good spell. Should continue to give a good account.

Form: 124411

(1)

Still Standing^b1,t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Adam Caffrey⁽⁷⁾| T: W Durkan| OR: 91

50/1

Six wins from 21 Flat runs. 18/1 showed nothing when fourteenth of 16 in handicap hurdle (18/1) at Bellewstown (16.8f, good) 27 days ago. Blinkers added to tongue tie now.

Form: 683400-

(21)

Cask Mate^t⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: J M Sheridan⁽³⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 87| D

13/2

Useful jumps winner. 20/1, shaped better than distance beaten suggests when fifth of 20 in handicap at this course (16.8f, good to soft, 20/1) 4 days ago, seeming stretched by the trip. This more suitable and worth a second look.

Form: 1-675

(19)

Atavique⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: W J Lee| T: T Gibney| OR: 86

12/1

2 wins from 6 runs this year. Latest win at Down Royal in June. 7¾ lengths fifth of 6 to Achelois in listed race at York (10.2f, good to firm, 20/1) 7 days ago. This more suitable.

Form: 721175

(18)

Dancila³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 86

20/1

Winner at Down Royal in June. Eleventh of 12 in handicap (9/2) at the Curragh (16f, good) 35 days ago, weakening 2f out and eased. Still, too soon to be writing him off.

Form: 7/43210

(13)

One Cool Poet^b,t¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-6| J: Jake Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 86| CD

8/1

C&D winner. 40/1, very good fifth of 17 in handicap at this course (8.4f, good to soft) 1 day ago, never nearer. Significantly back up in trip. Enters calculations.

Form: 45/800-5

(3)

Yafordadoe^p⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Robert Whearty⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 86| C

18/1

Course winner. 12/1, respectable seventh of 13 in handicap at the Curragh (14f, good) 58 days ago, weakening final 1f. Return to 12f rates a likely plus here.

Form: 214-057

(6)

Dha Leath^t³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: G M Ryan| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 85

12/1

3 wins from 4 runs this year. Career best when winning 12-runner handicap at Roscommon (10.2f, soft, 5/2) 31 days ago, keeping on well. Unlikely he's reached his limit yet. Up in trip.

Form: 14-1511

(7)

Zileo⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 85

125/1

25/1 and hooded for 1st time, last of 9 in handicap at Cork (12f, good) 51 days ago, always behind. Others arrive with more pressing claims.

Form: 1404-09

(10)

San Martino^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 84

18/1

6 lengths fourth of 5 to Shark Bay in minor event (15/2) at Killarney (11.2f, good to soft) 18 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Yard having good spell. Not taken lightly.

Form: 6-00424

(11)

National Ballet^b1¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Nathan Crosse⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 82| D

18/1

First run since leaving Aidan O'Brien when ninth of 12 in handicap at Killarney (16.8f, good, 5/1) 17 days ago, possibly in need of the run on the back of 9 months off. Blinkers reached for back down in trip.

Form: 5/5140-9

(8)

Ruler Legend⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J A Stack| OR: 93

7/2

Winner at Naas (10f) in May. 25/1, 10½ lengths ninth of 12 to Eldar Eldarov in Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot (14.2f, good to firm) 44 days ago. Makes handicap debut. Should have more to offer with sights lowered.

Form: 2-219

(15)

Golden Twilight^t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: M P Sheehy⁽³⁾| T: M Halford| OR: 82| D

25/1

20/1, respectable third of 14 in handicap at the Curragh (12f, soft) 33 days ago, running on. Remains low-mileage on turf and not underestimated if getting a run here. Reserve 1.

Form: 011-503

Non-Runners

(4)

Tiger Voice³¹

Weight: 9-11| Age: 7

T: H De Bromhead J: Rachael Blackmore

(12)

Fascinating Shadow⁵⁷

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: J J Hanlon J: Reserve 2

(17)

Insane Bolt⁴

Weight: 9-0| Age: 6

T: Peter Fahey J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Ruler Legend (7/2), Cask Mate (13/2), One Cool Poet (8/1), Sionnach Eile (9/1), Baby Zeus (10/1), Shark Bay (10/1), Atavique (12/1), Merroir (12/1), Dha Leath (12/1), Laelaps (14/1), Insane Bolt (14/1), Fascinating Shadow (14/1), Tiger Voice (16/1), Dame Rapide (18/1), National Ballet (18/1), Yafordadoe (18/1), San Martino (18/1), Dancila (20/1), Golden Twilight (25/1), Still Standing (50/1), Zileo (125/1)

Another ultra-competitive big field handicap with the vote in favour of 3-y-o RULER LEGEND. Less exposed than most, he never figured in the Queen's Vase at the Royal Meeting but had previously impressed when winning readily at Naas and 1½m promises to suit now handicapping. Fellow 3-y-o Shark Bay, in search of the hat-trick, Merroir and Cask Mate head up the dangers, along with thriving filly Dha Leath.