16:13 Galway

Saturday 26 October 2024

All13:5314:2815:0315:3816:1316:4517:18

W.B. Gavin & Co. Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:14 | Winning time: 5m 33.01s

Shoot First⁷³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Philip Byrnes| T: C Byrnes| OR: 135

33/1

9/4, career best when winning 15-runner handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft), kept up to work. Off over 2 years so has his fitness to prove.

Form: R41281/

Zeeband^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J G Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 133

18/1

2 wins from 4 runs this season. Last of 30 in handicap at the Curragh (16.8f, good to soft, 125/1) 27 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Has work to do.

Form: 10-4119

Hgranca De Thaix¹⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: B Connell| OR: 121| C

2/1

Smart winner at 20f in chases. Career best when landing 17-runner handicap chase at Punchestown (20.2f, soft, 16/1) 176 days ago, well on top finish. Big player switched to hurdles off a handy-looking mark.

Form: 3/35311-

Iceberg Theory^p¹⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Nolan| OR: 121

13/2

Creditable sixth of 17 in minor event hurdle (22/1) at Punchestown (19.3f, good to soft) 178 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Much respected on his handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 0/32316-

Four Clean Aces²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 119

3/1

Latest win in hurdle at Kilbeggan in August. Very good fourth of 15 in handicap hurdle (22/1) at Listowel (16f, soft) 29 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Trainer going well so she ought to be in the shake-up.

Form: 40-2144

Desert Cave^t⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Kevin Sexton| T: D Queally| OR: 115

10/1

Winner in hurdle at Kilbeggan in June. 15/2, good third of 6 in handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan (19f, soft) 52 days ago. Needs considering.

Form: 00-51P3

Coole Cherry³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 114| BF

6/1

5/1, good second of 13 in handicap hurdle at Listowel (24f, soft) 31 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Yard in good form. Can go well again.

Form: 53-5312

Krabat³⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Cian Quirke⁽⁵⁾| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 114

14/1

One win from 25 NH runs. Good second of 6 in handicap chase at Gowran (16f, heavy, 3/1). Off 11 months. Switches from chase to hurdles. Significantly back up in trip. Merits consideration if fully tuned up.

Form: FF9/282-

Enjoy D'allen¹³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Conor Stone-Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 111| D

18/1

Twenty runs since last win in 2021. 33/1, very good sixth of 16 in handicap chase at Roscommon (25.2f, good) 138 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Not ruled out.

Form: 7P654-6

Early Arrival⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: K Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Barcoe| OR: 107| D

22/1

Latest win in hurdle at Sligo in August. Creditable third of 7 in handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan (24.4f, soft, 9/2) 52 days ago. Ought to be thereabouts.

Form: 152173

Non-Runners

Watch The Weather²⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: R P Cody J: Donagh Meyler

Forecasts

Hgranca De Thaix (2/1), Four Clean Aces (3/1), Coole Cherry (6/1), Iceberg Theory (13/2), Desert Cave (10/1), Krabat (14/1), Zeeband (18/1), Enjoy D'allen (18/1), Early Arrival (22/1), Watch The Weather (25/1), Shoot First (33/1)

Plenty are in with a shout but HGRANCA DE THAIX looks to have got in lightly back hurdling here after an impressive chasing victory at Punchestown so earns the vote. The Willie Mullins-trained duo Four Clearn Aces (second choice) and Coole Cherry can both have a say and head the list of dangers, with Iceberg Theory, Desert Cave and Early Arrival also in the picture.