18:35 Galway

Friday 2 August 2024

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

Guinness Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 18:35 | Winning time: 2m 44.1s

(12)

Falcon Eight⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: James Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 107| D

40/1

Six wins from 22 Flat runs. 7/2, 7¾ lengths seventh of 8 to Countess of Tyrone in listed race at Down Royal (16f, good) 63 days ago, unsuited by way race developed. Down in trip. Warrants respect.

Form: 621-677

(9)

Chally Chute³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford & T Collins| OR: 98| CD

10/1

C&D winner. 11/1, 10¼ lengths sixth of 7 to La Isla Mujeres in listed race at Roscommon (12.1f, good to firm) 31 days ago. Trainer going well. Others more persuasive.

Form: 13044-6

(2)

Eagle's Way²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Chris Hayes| T: W Durkan| OR: 97| D

8/1

1 win from 1 run this year. Didn't need to be at best when winning 9-runner minor event at Bellewstown (12.3f, good, 5/2) 29 days ago. This is much tougher but he must enter calculations with Chris Hayes booked.

Form: 1/2740-1

(19)

Gentleman Joe^t⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 96

20/1

33/1, good fifth of 16 in handicap at Royal Ascot (14.2f, good to firm) 45 days ago. Stable in good form. Could be a player.

Form: 8163/25

(11)

Bialystok³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Colin Keane| T: W P Mullins| OR: 91| BF

20/1

Useful winner at 16f over hurdles. Failed to meet expectations on first Flat start for Willie Mullins at the Curragh 34 days ago but dangerous to rule out here nonetheless.

Form: 22212/8

(1)

Sirius^h⁴^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: S Foley| T: W P Mullins| OR: 82| C| D

4/1

Clearly benefited from her return/yard debut when decisively taking valuable handicap at this course (16.8f, good to soft) 4 days ago. Looks well in under a 7 lb penalty and must be taken seriously.

Form: 1815/01

(15)

Chantilly²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 98

6/1

Winner at Leopardstown in April. Creditable sixth of 10 in handicap (7/2) at Newmarket (10f, good) 21 days ago. Yard in good form. Should go well again.

Form: 23-1386

(5)

Reina Del Mar^t⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 88| D

9/1

Posted creditable efforts both starts this term, latest when fifth of 11 in handicap at the Curragh (14f, good to firm) 58 days ago, not clear run. One for shortlist.

Form: 3162-45

(8)

Golden Twilight^p,t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: L F Roche| T: A McGuinness| OR: 87| D

66/1

First run since leaving M. Halford & T. Collins when sixth of 8 in handicap (25/1) at Ballinrobe (12.8f, good to soft) 11 days ago. More on plate here and makes limited appeal.

Form: 34778-6

(13)

Brazil^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: J A Heffernan| T: P Roche| OR: 86| CD

11/1

Below par on chasing bow at Wexford last month but narrowly won this event (off 4 lb lower) last season and a bold show is on the cards.

Form: 06/0810-

(14)

Mr Lincoln^h¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: J A Powell⁽³⁾| T: J G Murphy| OR: 84

25/1

5/1 and hood on for 1st time in this code, good second of 8 in handicap at Ballinrobe (12.8f, good to soft) 11 days ago. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 7635-02

(4)

Soaring Monarch¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: N G McCullagh| T: Alan McIntyre| OR: 84| C

28/1

Course winner. First run since leaving Peter Fahey when below form eighth of 17 in handicap (9/1) at this course (8.4f, good to soft) 1 day ago. Significantly back up in trip.

Form: 00900-8

(18)

Derry Lad⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: W Joyce⁽⁵⁾| T: Kevin Coleman| OR: 83| D

7/1

Dual winner (at up to 12f) last term who arrives on back of good third of 13 in handicap at Epsom (10.1f, soft) 63 days ago, missing break. Likely aimed at this since and holds solid claims.

Form: 136-933

(6)

Shahbaz⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: M W Hassett⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 83

50/1

Thirteenth of 17 in handicap hurdle (14/1) at Punchestown (16f, good to soft) 73 days ago. Fairly useful on the Flat, creditable on last Flat run. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 632444-

(3)

Sixandahalf²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Robert Whearty⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 83| BF| D

5/1

Fairly useful winner in bumpers and off the mark first time out on Flat at Cork (12f) in May. Run creditably in defeat since and may have more to offer on handicap debut.

Form: 123

(17)

Dutch Schultz³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Rory Cleary| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 82

40/1

Gained reward for consistency over fences at Tipperary last month and has acquitted himself well in staying handicaps at the last 2 Galway Festivals. May find this trip on the sharp side, though.

Form: 51300/8-

(10)

Going Remote^b1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Nathan Crosse| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 92

25/1

Winner at Down Royal in June. Fourth of 6 in minor event at Navan (10.2f, good to firm, 15/2) 20 days ago, unsuited by drop in trip. Blinkers on 1st time. Others look better treated.

Form: 892214

(16)

Walhaan^v,t⁹²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: Keithen Kennedy⁽⁷⁾| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 82

50/1

1 win from 3 runs this year. 50/1, bit below form ninth of 24 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.4f, good to soft) 92 days ago. Off 92 days. Something to find on form. RESERVE.

Form: 415-165

Non-Runners

(7)

Yokkell¹⁴

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: J C McConnell J: Siobhan Rutledge

Forecasts

Sirius (4/1), Sixandahalf (5/1), Chantilly (6/1), Derry Lad (7/1), Eagle's Way (8/1), Reina Del Mar (9/1), Chally Chute (10/1), Brazil (11/1), Bialystok (20/1), Gentleman Joe (20/1), Mr Lincoln (25/1), Going Remote (25/1), Yokkell (25/1), Soaring Monarch (28/1), Falcon Eight (40/1), Dutch Schultz (40/1), Walhaan (50/1), Shahbaz (50/1), Golden Twilight (66/1)

SIRIUS was a highly impressive winner here earlier this week, passing the whole field in the last half mile before pulling clear. A 7 lb penalty may not be enough to prevent further success. Derry Lad and Reina Del Mar head the list of dangers.