14:10 Galway

Thursday 31 July 2025

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

Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 29.50s

Pied Piper^p,t⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 150

5/1

Very smart hurdler at best. Hasn't had to match that level when winning all 3 of his chase starts in small-field events, jumping awkwardly when completing hat-trick in 3-runner novice at Roscommon (21.7f, good to soft, 6/5) in June. Faces a tougher test here.

Form: 3/F51-11

Fine Margin²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins

25/1

Fairly useful form over hurdles when completing a hat-trick in maiden/novice company early last season. After 8 months off, made winning chase debut in 6-runner maiden at Wexford (19.5f, good to soft, 4/1) 27 days ago, jumping soundly. Open to improvement.

Form: 111P5-1

Gold Dancer^t⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| D

7/1

Bred to be useful and successful over hurdles on second start in France. Raced only twice in 2024/25, pulled up on chasing debut on first occasion, but much improved when winning 14-runner maiden chase at Tipperary (16.6f, good to soft, 3/1) in May. One to note.

Form: 174/P0-1

Intellotto^t⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien

11/1

Useful juvenile hurdler who also won on the Flat last year. Making chasing debut, created good impression when winning 5-runner maiden at Limerick (19.8f, good, 8/11) 70 days ago, helping force pace and jumping well before forging clear. Not ruled out.

Form: 1714/3-1

Itsalladream⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J G Gilligan| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 130| C

16/1

Successful in maiden hurdle at this course (16.7f) last September. Has already shown improved form in 3 chase starts, winning 7-runner novice at Roscommon (16.2f, good to soft, 16/5) in June, though was well behind Runcok when that rival fell 3 out. More needed.

Form: 4P0-521

Runcok^h1³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

22/1

Made winning hurdling debut and was likely to repeat that feat over fences when falling 3 out at Roscommon in June, clear at the time. Gained compensation in 7-runner maiden at Tipperary (16.6f, good to soft, 5/4) 30 days ago and he can go well again in first-time hood.

Form: 5156-F1

Special Cadeau¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 140

14/1

Bettered hurdles form on chase debut when winning at Thurles in February. Stiff task in Grade 1 at Aintree next time, but after 3 months off he got back on track when second of 4 in novice at Killarney (17f, good to soft, 5/1) 13 days ago. Major player.

Form: 42015-2

Westport Cove^h,t⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

85/40

Has shown useful form over fences, making the frame on each of first 5 starts, before making all to open chase account in 10-runner maiden at Ballinrobe (17.2f, good, 6/5) in May by 5½ lengths from Itsalladream. Can make another bold bid.

Form: 44224-1

Belle The Lioness^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Phillip Enright| T: S Curling| OR: 116

66/1

Fairly useful hurdles winner and successful on third chase start in 13-runner maiden at Tipperary (19.7f, good to soft, 25/1) at beginning of the month, overcoming mistake at the last. Ran well back over hurdles at Killarney last time, but has work to do in this contest.

Form: 5/P-9212

Birdie Or Bust⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 132| BF

15/2

Useful dual winner over hurdles and, making fourth start in chases after 3 months off, got back on the up when winning maiden at Killarney (20.8f, good to soft) in May. Unseated rider at the second in novice at Roscommon last time, but she could yet do better.

Form: 3/459-1U

Gale Mahler^p,t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: B S Hughes| T: A Keatley| OR: 135| BF| C

5/1

Dual bumper scorer who made it win number 5 over hurdles at Ayr in the spring. Built on promise of chase debut when easily winning handicap at Uttoxeter (16f) in June and was going best when mistake 2 out back at Uttoxeter (20f, good, 13/8) last time. Shortlisted.

Form: P10-312

Forecasts

Westport Cove (85/40), Gale Mahler (5/1), Pied Piper (5/1), Gold Dancer (7/1), Birdie Or Bust (15/2), Intellotto (11/1), Special Cadeau (14/1), Itsalladream (16/1), Runcok (22/1), Fine Margin (25/1), Belle The Lioness (66/1)

SPECIAL CADEAU has quickly made up into a better chaser than hurdler, successful on first start over fences and resuming his progress when runner-up to the smart Nurburgring at Killarney 13 days ago. He could be ready to get back to winning ways, though Westport Cove isn't taken lightly for his leading yard, with Gale Mahler also an interesting contender.