19:10 Galway

Wednesday 31 July 2024

All16:5017:2518:0018:4019:1019:4520:15

Tote Galway Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3)

Off time: 19:09 | Winning time: 5m 36.0s

Ash Tree Meadow^t⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Alex Harvey⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 160| BF| CD

22/1

Took this 12 months ago and teed himself up for a repeat when second over hurdles at Punchestown (19.2f, good) 52 days ago. Not taken lightly in his follow-up bid.

Form: 1417-12

Easy Game^p⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 158| C

33/1

Two wins from 5 runs last season and he landed 7-runner minor event chase at Listowel (19f, good to soft) 58 days ago, driven clear. Considered.

Form: 101P-41

Saint Roi^t⁹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156

33/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2022. Good short-head second of 17 to Pinkerton in handicap chase (9/1) at Punchestown (16.3f, good to soft) 90 days ago, just failing. Significantly up in trip. In the mix.

Form: 345622-

Janidil^t¹⁰⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: J S McGarvey| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155

40/1

Six wins from 23 NH runs. 125/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Aintree (34.3f, soft) 109 days ago. Significantly down in trip. Not ruled out.

Form: 7F/230P-

Authorized Art^p⁹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153

16/1

Good 3½ lengths third of 17 to Lets Go Champ in handicap chase (25/1) at Punchestown (20.4f, good to soft) 91 days ago. Cheekpieces back on and ought to be thereabouts.

Form: 56/24P3-

Idas Boy^p,t1¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Conor Stone-Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 153| D

40/1

Career best when winning 14-runner handicap chase (40/1) at Kilbeggan (25.4f, good to soft) 19 days ago by 3 lengths from Amirite, forging clear. Tongue strap on 1st time. Shortlisted.

Form: 1FF-031

Dunvegan⁴⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: P A Fahy| OR: 150

100/1

Fifteenth of 18 in handicap (12/1) at Fairyhouse (14f, good) 47 days ago. Switches from Flat to chase with more required.

Form: 12524/P-

Mister Policeman⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149| BF

10/1

Looked firmly on the up when landing Grade 3 at Thurles in March but made mistakes when pulled up in handicap chase at Punchestown (20.2f, soft, 4/1) 89 days ago. In excellent hands and well worth another chance.

Form: 1/1311P-

Solness^t⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 149

12/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, creditable 5¼ lengths fourth of 17 to Pinkerton in handicap chase (16/1) at Punchestown (16.3f, good to soft) 90 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Yard in good form so possibilities.

Form: 251304-

French Dynamite^t,b1¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M F Morris| OR: 147| D

33/1

Creditable seventh of 12 in handicap chase at Wexford (19.5f, good to soft, 14/1) 18 days ago. Blinkers on 1st time. No forlorn hope.

Form: 4/34-247

Chemical Energy¹⁰⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 146

33/1

Six wins from 16 NH runs. Pulled up in handicap chase at Aintree (34.3f, soft, 50/1) 109 days ago, behind when bad mistake 4 out. Significantly down in trip. Sort to bounce back.

Form: 142P/6P-

Zanahiyr^p,t¹²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 145

13/2

Very smart winner at 18f over hurdles. 17/2, 26 lengths fifth of 7 to Spillane's Tower in WillowWarm Gold Cup Novices' Chase at Fairyhouse (20f, heavy) 122 days ago. Much respected on his handicap chase debut.

Form: 242145-

Amirite^p1,t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 144| BF

12/1

Good 3 lengths second of 14 to Idas Boy in handicap chase (3/1) at Kilbeggan (25.4f, good to soft) 19 days ago. Yard having good spell. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Can make his presence felt.

Form: 3P/45-52

In Excelsis Deo^p1¹⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 142

8/1

Career best when winning 12-runner handicap chase (3/1) at Cheltenham (20.6f, good) 105 days ago, staying on well. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Enters calculations.

Form: 2/32U51-

Perceval Legallois⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 142| BF| C

7/2

Course winner who posted an excellent second of 17 in handicap chase at Punchestown (20.2f, soft, 4/1) 89 days ago, clear of rest. Weighted to go close off a 5 lb higher mark.

Form: 1/1F5F2-

Tullybeg^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 141| D

40/1

Two wins from 5 runs last season. 16/1, good 3½ lengths third of 14 to Idas Boy in handicap chase at Kilbeggan (25.4f, good to soft) 19 days ago. In the picture.

Form: 91P4-53

Duffle Coat^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny Gilligan⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| D

25/1

Latest win in chase at Ballinrobe in May. 16/1, respectable 9 lengths fifth of 14 to Idas Boy in handicap chase at Kilbeggan (25.4f, good to soft) 19 days ago. Not entirely dismissed.

Form: 24-2135

Lets Go Champ⁹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 140

10/1

Promising sort. Career best when winning 17-runner handicap chase (11/4) at Punchestown (20.4f, good to soft) 91 days ago, driven clear. Yard in good form. Should go well again.

Form: 12/3231-

Life In The Park^p1,t¹¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Mike O'Connor| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 140

20/1

Possibly amiss when pulled up in handicap chase (11/2) at Aintree (21.1f, soft) 110 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time but others are more persuasive.

Form: 30504P-

Pinkerton^t⁹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Donagh Meyler| T: N Meade| OR: 138

20/1

Useful winner at 15f over hurdles. 15/2, won 17-runner handicap chase at Punchestown (16.3f, good to soft) 90 days ago by short head from Saint Roi, holding on gamely. Significantly up in trip. Can go well again.

Form: 0/33511-

Toss Again^t⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Ricky Doyle| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138| CD

10/1

C&D winner. Two wins from 4 runs last season. Creditable 11¼ lengths fourth of 16 to Duffle Coat in handicap chase at Ballinrobe (23.4f, good, 9/1) 65 days ago. Stable in good form so needs considering.

Form: 11248-4

Hurricane Georgie¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: K C Sexton| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

50/1

Latest win in chase at Limerick in May. Respectable 16 lengths sixth of 14 to Idas Boy in handicap chase at Kilbeggan (25.4f, good to soft, 16/1) 19 days ago. Not discounted.

Form: 2PP-1F6

Non-Runners

Ontheropes¹⁹

Weight: 10-3| Age: 10

T: W P Mullins J: Non Runner

Frontal Assault¹⁹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 9

T: G Elliott J: Non Runner

Flanking Maneuver¹⁹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 9

T: N Meade J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Perceval Legallois (7/2), Zanahiyr (13/2), In Excelsis Deo (8/1), Lets Go Champ (10/1), Toss Again (10/1), Mister Policeman (10/1), Amirite (12/1), Solness (12/1), Authorized Art (16/1), Pinkerton (20/1), Life In The Park (20/1), Flanking Maneuver (20/1), Ash Tree Meadow (22/1), Duffle Coat (25/1), Chemical Energy (33/1), French Dynamite (33/1), Saint Roi (33/1), Easy Game (33/1), Ontheropes (33/1), Idas Boy (40/1), Tullybeg (40/1), Janidil (40/1), Hurricane Georgie (50/1), Frontal Assault (50/1), Dunvegan (100/1)

Gavin Cromwell's PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS took a 5 lb rise for his excellent Punchestown second but still looks ahead of his mark and edges the vote in this ultra competitive Galway Plate. The progressive Let's Go Champ rates the pick of Henry de Bromhead's quartet and heads the list of dangers, although a solid case can also be made for Willie Mullins' duo Mister Policeman and Authorized Art as well as last year's victor Ash Tree Meadow. Punchestown scorer Pinkerton completes the shortlist.