17:05 Galway

Thursday 3 August 2023

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:4018:10

Guinness Galway Hurdle Handicap (Grade 3)

Off time: 17:06 | Winning time: 3m 38.8s

Jesse Evans²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 146| D

16/1

Didn't need to be at best when winning 8-runner minor event at Leopardstown (15f, good, 13/8) 21 days ago, always holding on. That will have put her spot on for another crack at this (hit the frame last 2 years).

Form: 060/214-

Filey Bay^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Simon Torrens| T: E Mullins| OR: 142

12/1

Another very good advert for his shrewd yard, bagging handicaps at Doncaster/Wincanton prior to advancing his form to occupy a place in big-field spring handicaps. Flat spin should have blown away the cobwebs. Tongue tie back on. Major claims.

Form: 33/1123-

Lucky Max^b1¹⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: S Doyle| OR: 142| D

40/1

Backward step when 27 lengths fifteenth of 18 to Bialystok in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.4f, good to soft) 100 days ago. Blinkers reached for.

Form: 148240-

Party Central^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| BF| D

14/1

Disappointing on return to hurdling in May but back on track when winning 8-runner minor event on the level at Bellewstown (12.2f, good to soft, 4/6) 28 days ago by 3½ lengths from Jesse Evans, despite being slowly away. In top hands and revised mark does look fair.

Form: 41171/4

Zarak The Brave⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| D

9/2

French Flat recruit who improved another chunk when runner-up in Grade 1 Juvenile company at Punchestown in April. 12 lengths third of 10 to Gala Marceau in Prix Alain du Breil at Auteuil (19.4f, soft) 74 days ago was just a fair effort but the assessor may have underestimated him.

Form: 122-3

Brazil^p1,t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: P Roche| OR: 141| D

14/1

2022 Fred Winter winner so can clearly cope with the demands of a race like this. Tongue strap on for first time when eighth of 10 in handicap at Killarney (8.1f, good to soft) 17 days ago, slowly away and that will have served a purpose. Cheekpieces reached for back hurdling.

Form: 13/2120-

My Mate Mozzie²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Cian Quirke⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 141| D

15/2

Could manage only mid-field in this last year but better than ever when third in a deep handicap at Listowel in September. Warmed up for this with a smooth win in maiden company on the level.

Form: 1248/03-

Cash Back^h²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: K Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| D

28/1

Smart chaser but just a respectable 4½ lengths third of 13 to Fils D'oudairies in Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary (16f, good) 28 days ago. Back in a handicap.

Form: 2320-23

Bialystok^h¹⁰⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139| D

16/1

Talented Flat performer in France and ended the spring firmly on the up over hurdles, big career best when winning 18-runner handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.4f, good to soft) 100 days ago, travelling strongly. Limit not yet reached.

Form: 3411-

Mighty Tom⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: D F O'Regan| T: C Collins| OR: 139| CD

12/1

C&D winner. 9/2, career best when winning 14-runner handicap hurdle at Killarney (17f, good to soft) 81 days ago, suited by way race developed. Clearly in excellent order but this demands another jolt of progress.

Form: 1P0/03-1

Da Capo Glory²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Mike O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: Padraig Butler| OR: 138| CD

18/1

Latest win in hurdle at Punchestown in June. 25/1, good 5½ lengths fifth of 13 to Fils D'oudairies in Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary (16f, good) 28 days ago. Well-run race over 2m will suit back in a handicap.

Form: 3/402-15

Icare Allen^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138| D

14/1

Respectable 10¼ lengths eighth of 13 to Fils D'oudairies in Grimes Hurdle (11/1) at Tipperary (16f, good) 28 days ago. That was a sound return to action and the assessor has given him a chance.

Form: 43/300-8

Prairie Dancer^b⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 138| D

33/1

Three wins from 10 runs in a productive 2022/23 campaign. Third of 8 in novice chase at Ballinrobe (17f, good, 10/1) on debut over fences 66 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Blinkers back on.

Form: 13500-3

Captain Conby³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: E Sheehy| OR: 137

16/1

Shaped quite well when sixth in the Coral Cup over 21f in March. 5 lengths seventh of 14 to Glan in maiden (22/1) at Roscommon (11.7f, good to soft) on Flat debut 30 days ago, not knocked about. Well-run 2m may suit him back over timber.

Form: F/23260-

Gatsby Grey^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 137| D

40/1

Failed to win last term and looked short of gears when 7 lengths fifth of 8 to Jesse Evans in minor event at Leopardstown (15f, good) 21 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles and this test may also be too sharp.

Form: P75350-

Merlin Giant^p⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Mullins| OR: 137| C| D

12/1

Maiden hurdle winner at this meeting last year who didn't need to improve to win 9-runner maiden at Down Royal (12.8f, good) 40 days ago, bit in hand. That should have put him spot on for this hurdles return.

Form: 7/1410-0

Amir Kabir⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 136| D

40/1

Had plenty of exposure on the level and won a maiden/novice over hurdles last year. Out of his depth when 25 lengths last of 5 to Impaire Et Passe in Champion Novices' Hurdle (50/1) at Punchestown (19.4f, good to soft) 97 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 12135-

Tudor City^t³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: L A McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 136| CD

14/1

First repeat winner of this race in 2022. Didn't need to improve to win 18-runner minor event (17/2) at the Curragh (12f, good) 34 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles and this likeable veteran will likely give it another good shot.

Form: 140500-

Glan³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| D

4/1

9/2, career best when winning 14-runner maiden at Roscommon (11.7f, good to soft) on flat debut 30 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. RESERVE.

Form: 04P0-51

Non-Runners

Fils D'oudairies²⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: Keith Donoghue

Magic Tricks²⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: G Elliott J: Non Runner

Path D'oroux¹⁰⁰

Weight: 10-13| Age: 6

T: G P Cromwell J: Non Runner

A Wave Of The Sea¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: J P O'Brien J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Glan (4/1), Zarak The Brave (9/2), My Mate Mozzie (15/2), Filey Bay (12/1), Mighty Tom (12/1), Merlin Giant (12/1), Icare Allen (14/1), Tudor City (14/1), Party Central (14/1), Brazil (14/1), Jesse Evans (16/1), Bialystok (16/1), Captain Conby (16/1), Path D'oroux (16/1), Fils D'oudairies (16/1), Da Capo Glory (18/1), Magic Tricks (20/1), Cash Back (28/1), Prairie Dancer (33/1), Amir Kabir (40/1), Lucky Max (40/1), Gatsby Grey (40/1), A Wave Of The Sea (66/1)

ZARAK THE BRAVE has had no exposure to the hustle and bustle of a big-field handicap like this but he was talented enough to finish runner-up in Grade 1 juvenile company in the spring and his mark could be lenient. We know a bit more about Filey Bay bit his limit may not have been reached, with Brazil another to take very seriously.