14:45 Galway

Thursday 3 August 2023

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

Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 31.4s

Hercule Du Seuil^h,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins

8/11

Promising type. Three wins from 4 runs last season. Career best when winning 4-runner minor event chase at Killarney (17f, good, 4/7) 13 days ago by 13 lengths from Solness, cruising clear. Thriving and he looks a very smart prospect.

Form: 1P1-211

Solness^t1¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 135

33/1

Useful chaser. Two wins from 4 runs last season. 13 lengths second of 4 to Hercule Du Seuil in minor event chase at Killarney (17f, good, 11/2) 13 days ago, no match for winner. Tongue strap back on but no obvious reason why he'll reverse the form.

Form: 75211-2

Ballyadam^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

6/1

Smart hurdler. Didn't need to improve on previous chase form to win 4-runner novice chase (evens) at Wexford (19.8f, good to soft) 27 days ago, driven out. Remains to be seen whether he can scale the same heights over fences.

Form: 0355-21

Lieutenant Highway⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

33/1

Useful chaser. Four wins from 6 runs last season. 11/8, career best when winning 3-runner novice chase at Roscommon (16.2f, good) 52 days ago, easily. In fine heart at present and slight step up in trip will help.

Form: 13P-541

Tax For Max^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

13/2

Useful winner at 16f over hurdles. 13/8 and tongue strap on for, respectable second of 8 in minor event at Leopardstown (15f, good) 21 days ago, conceding first run. Made a winning chase debut prior to that and he's open to improvement over fences.

Form: 60520-1

Choice Of Words^p1,t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: J J Slevin| T: M Brassil| OR: 121| C| D

18/1

Fairly useful winner at 16f over hurdles. Didn't need to be at best when winning 7-runner novice chase (4/11) at Kilbeggan (19f, soft) 13 days ago, all out. This demands a lot more.

Form: 20/F6-21

Elle Perfecta^t¹⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Brian Hayes| T: Colm Murphy

33/1

Fairly useful chaser. Career best when winning 7-runner novice chase (3/1) at Kilbeggan (19.4f, good to soft) on debut over fences 104 days ago, plenty in hand. This is a totally different assignment.

Form: 618051-

Heia⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins

4/1

Promising type. Useful winner at 20f over hurdles. Career best when winning 5-runner novice chase at Tramore (15.4f, good, 2/7) on debut over fences 61 days ago, easily. Enters calculations with promise of more to come.

Form: 21577-1

Non-Runners

I A Connect³⁰

Weight: 11-1| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Forecasts

Hercule Du Seuil (8/11), Heia (4/1), Ballyadam (6/1), Tax For Max (13/2), I A Connect (12/1), Choice Of Words (18/1), Solness (33/1), Elle Perfecta (33/1), Lieutenant Highway (33/1)

Willie Mullins has a very strong hand, particularly with HERCULE DU SEUIL and Heia. The latter receives a sex allowance and is clearly a promising mare but there's an air of star quality about the former, who will be tough to contain if he gets into his rhythm.