18:35 Galway

Friday 4 August 2023

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

Guinness Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 18:37 | Winning time: 2m 39.29s

(20)

Jackfinbar³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Declan McDonogh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 103

17/2

First run since leaving Harry Dunlop when respectable 2 lengths third of 9 to Espionage in listed race at Roscommon (11.7f, good to soft) 31 days ago, running on. Every chance there's more to come for this yard.

Form: 62115/3

(14)

Sionnach Eile¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 99| CD

9/1

C&D winner. Bit below form 13¼ lengths fifth of 9 to Emily Dickinson in Curragh Cup at the Curragh (14f, soft, 22/1) 13 days ago. Stable having good spell and assessor has given him a chance.

Form: 711-975

(6)

Chally Chute¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford & T Collins| OR: 98| CD

13/2

C&D winner. 1 win from 2 runs this year. 5/1, career best when winning 14-runner handicap at Killarney (16.8f, good to soft) 17 days ago. Stable in good form but drop back in trip isn't certain to suit.

Form: 5111-31

(12)

Dame Rapide³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Luke McAteer| T: J M Barrett| OR: 97| D

25/1

Latest win at the Curragh in May and matched that form when good fourth of 11 in handicap at that venue (12f, good to firm) 33 days ago.

Form: 2700-14

(7)

Weston⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Chris Hayes| T: G Elliott| OR: 97

9/1

Pretty useful in France and already better form for current yard, fifth of 19 in handicap at Royal Ascot (20f, good) 45 days ago, faring best of those held up. Significantly back down in trip and he looks the pick of the weights with promise of more to come.

Form: 2114-85

(16)

Teed Up⁴^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: S D Bowen⁽⁷⁾| T: E Mullins| OR: 88| C

5/2

Career best when winning 20-runner handicap at this course (16.8f, heavy, 7/2) 4 days ago, always holding on. Carries penalty back down in trip but he's clearly in top form so demands respect turned out quickly.

Form: 00/92-21

(5)

Zoffman³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: N Meade| OR: 94| D

6/1

Excellent second of 11 in handicap at the Curragh (12f, good to firm, 14/1) 33 days ago, despite not being ideally placed. That was an excellent effort and he has plenty of form with cut in the ground.

Form: 21210-2

(19)

Imaginarium³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 93

20/1

Maiden winner on second start. 7¾ lengths eighth of 9 to Espionage in listed race at Roscommon (11.7f, good to soft, 22/1) 31 days ago, not ideally placed. Makes handicap debut from a stiff-enough mark but he's open to lots of progress.

Form: 21-8

(18)

Smooth Tom^v³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Andrew Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 93

20/1

Latest win at Leopardstown in May. 6/1, ninth of 11 in handicap at the Curragh (12f, good to firm) 33 days ago. Stamina for this far to prove.

Form: 4-78129

(21)

Spasiba^t1,v1⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Lee| T: P Twomey| OR: 91

25/1

Maiden winner last spring. 11/2, sixth of 7 in minor event at Killarney (14.2f, good to soft) 80 days ago. Visor/tongue strap on first time for handicap debut and he should progress.

Form: 313-6

(15)

La Hacienda^p³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Jack Kearney⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 90| C

18/1

Successful at this meeting last year and won 14-runner handicap at Newcastle (16.2f, 11/1) 34 days ago, all out. Back down in trip.

Form: 1008-31

(4)

Blazing Skies^p1⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Nathan Crosse| T: W McCreery| OR: 87| D

66/1

28/1, 12¼ lengths ninth of 11 to Layfayette in listed race at Limerick (12.5f, good) 42 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 18-7569

(1)

Laelaps³³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A McNamara| OR: 87

22/1

Unreliable type. Thirteen runs since last win in 2021. Tenth of 11 in handicap (14/1) at the Curragh (12f, good to firm) 33 days ago.

Form: 408-030

(10)

Vultan^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Mikey Sheehy| T: A J Martin| OR: 83| D

66/1

6/1, creditable 6¾ lengths fourth of 10 to Lord Erskine in handicap at Tramore (16f, good to soft) 24 days ago, never nearer. Back down in trip. Tongue strap back on. Others more persuasive.

Form: 24/9984

(2)

Pont Audemer²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Jamie Powell⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 82

16/1

Fairly useful winner at 16f over hurdles. 11/2, fourth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Sligo (16.9f, good) 26 days ago. Up in trip. Engaged 3.20 here Thursday.

Form: 31-3

(3)

Aurora Princess^p²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: C Horgan⁽⁷⁾| T: E Mullins| OR: 81

14/1

Cheekpieces on for first time over obstacles when second of 18 in handicap hurdle (11/4) at this course (16.5f, good to soft) on Wednesday. Turned out quickly back on the level.

Form: 13085-6

(17)

Brazil^t¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: N G McCullagh| T: P Roche| OR: 80

14/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time in this code/cheekpieces on for 1st time, pulled up in handicap hurdle at this course (16f, good to soft, 14/1) 1 day ago, going in snatches.

Form: 1806/08

Non-Runners

(13)

March Law¹⁵⁴

Weight: 8-10| Age: 5

T: M J Smith J: Leigh Roche

(8)

Lord Erskine¹⁷

Weight: 8-7| Age: 10

T: H Rogers J: Reserve 1

(11)

Razdan¹

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: C D Timmons J: Reserve 2

(9)

En Or²

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: A J Martin J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Teed Up (5/2), Zoffman (6/1), Chally Chute (13/2), Jackfinbar (17/2), Sionnach Eile (9/1), Weston (9/1), En Or (10/1), Razdan (11/1), Brazil (14/1), Aurora Princess (14/1), Pont Audemer (16/1), La Hacienda (18/1), Imaginarium (20/1), Smooth Tom (20/1), Laelaps (22/1), Spasiba (25/1), Dame Rapide (25/1), Lord Erskine (33/1), March Law (33/1), Vultan (66/1), Blazing Skies (66/1)

A cracking handicap with WESTON just about the pick of the bunch on the back of a very eye-catching run at Royal Ascot on just his second start for Gordon Elliott. Jackfinbar hasn't been with Willie Mullins long, either, and he's a big threat, along with Teed Up, a winner over hurdles at the meeting on Monday.