18:11 Galway

Monday 7 September 2026

All16:0716:3817:0917:4118:1118:4119:1119:41

WTW Willis Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (Div 2)

4YO plus | 2m 6f 97y | Yielding | 22 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 100| D

Low-mileage 6-y-o. Switched to a powerful owner prior to decisively making all in beginners chase at Tramore (2¾m) in May. Wasn't seen to best effect reverted to patient tactics at Galway last time. Hood is left off and could make more impact than previously off lower hurdles mark.

Form: 078-619

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L'as De Watt^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Fenton| OR: 99

18/1

Upped significantly in trip and in first-time tongue strap, showed first form this season when third of 8 in maiden (11/1) at Kilbeggan (25f, good to soft) 17 days ago. Now has to build on that.

Form: 72-5083

Midleton Rare^p,t⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Erin Dunseath⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 99

28/1

Notched his third win of last season for Ian Patrick Donoghue at Bellewstown in April. Sent off at 33/1 when meeting trouble on first start for new yard at Wexford (3m) last time. Could still be competitive off this sort of mark. Market probably best guide.

Form: 041P-90

Drumconnor Hill³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Jordan Gainford| T: C Collins| OR: 97

25/1

Runner-up on completed start in points and showed more than first time up over hurdles when fourth of 15 in 2m Ballinrobe maiden in May. Failed to repeat that both outings since and improvement required now switched to handicaps.

Form: P2-8470

Strong Contender^t1¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Conor Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: N Lee| OR: 94

5/1

Readily surpassed previous hurdling exploits when a dominant winner of Wexford handicap (3m) in August and followed up at Sligo (3¼m, good to soft) 12 days later by ¾-length from Luck Between Us despite meeting trouble. Looks sure to give a good account in hat-trick bid.

Form: 0-07811

Hey Babbs^p1,t¹⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Eoghan Finegan⁽⁵⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 93

16/1

Bounced back to her best when third of 15 in 3m handicap hurdle at Bellewstown (good to soft, 15/2) when last seen in April. Cheekpieces are added and market may guide on what's expected of her after over 4 months off.

Form: PP5P03-

Grace Faraday^h¹⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: James Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 90| C| D

16/1

Temperamental sort is back on same mark as when scoring over hurdles here last autumn. Far from a sure thing to capitalise, though, returning to hurdles over 3 months on from a forgettable chasing debut.

Form: 21456-U

The Vegas Raider^t,v¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Daniel King| T: K A Heffernan| OR: 88

22/1

Sole success came off 6 lb higher mark at Ballinrobe in 2024. Hasn't offered much in 3 starts since returning from a 15-month absence, though.

Form: 920/U0F

Poetic Focus^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Gilligan| T: A Slattery| OR: 87| BF

10/3

Shaped well in face of strong support when ½-length second of 16 to Nothing Hectic in handicap at Ballinrobe (23f, good) 28 days ago. Tongue strap goes back on and she's expected to be bang there for a yard who've been going well of late.

Form: F0-7502

Agent Tequila^t¹⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Alex Harvey| T: J C McConnell| OR: 84

22/1

Modest maiden handicap hurdler who made no impact when sent chasing in March. Hard to make a case for.

Form: 06/090P-

Itaintmebabe³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Josh Williamson⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 84

20/1

Made a winning handicap debut at Fakenham for Sarah Humphrey last season but below par since. Effectively refused to race at Wexford last month and is now one to treat with caution.

Form: 7175-0P

Coppola^p⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 83

11/1

Much improved when runner-up in handicap hurdles on first 3 starts for current yard, however, has failed to complete on last 3 outings, including on chasing debut. Cheekpieces back on but others preferred on current form.

Form: 222P-PU

Love Like This⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Brian Barry⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 83

20/1

Winner of handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan in June but hasn't been in the same form in recent starts.

Form: 430407

Tantrum Boy¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Phillip Enright| T: B McMahon| OR: 80

6/1

Showed improved form when ½-length second of 14 to Sekakarma in handicap hurdle at Wexford (2½m, good, 6/1) 10 days ago. Going well of late and can give another good account.

Form: 0-08442

Vangaway^p1⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: R Deegan| T: M A Gunn| OR: 79

25/1

Yet to make any impact in 4 maiden hurdles. Cheekpieces go on for handicap debut.

Form: 00-06

Gortmore Lady^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Kevin Healy⁽⁷⁾| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 78

9/1

Still looking for a breakthrough success. 9/1, good fifth of 16 in handicap at Sligo (21f, good) 19 days ago. Needs to build on that.

Form: P-B9375

Tawny Lea¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Philip Byrnes| T: Thomas Coyle| OR: 78

12/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 50/1, showed first form when fifth of 16 in handicap at Ballinrobe (2¾m, good) 14 days ago, suited by step up in trip. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 08R05

Dark Berkshire^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Conor Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 75

20/1

Low-mileage 6-y-o who was creditable third at Kilbeggan in July and not entirely disgraced when sixth at Wexford following month. Needs further improvement to feature.

Form: 97-P036

Max Time^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Liam Quinlan| T: I Madden| OR: 72| CD

20/1

Sole success came over C&D in 2024. Best effort for a while when sixth of 16 in handicap hurdle (25/1) at Sligo (21f, good) 19 days ago. Now has to back that up.

Form: PP04P6

Il Silenzio^p,t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Reserve 1| T: M Brassil| OR: 87

7/2

Lightly raced for age but has won 2 of his last 3 outings over fences, overcoming trouble in-running when scoring in 16-runner handicap chase (7/2) at Roscommon (25f, good to soft) at the beginning of last month. Bit of work to do back hurdling. RESERVE.

Form: F/3P1-41

Phoenix Cowboy⁴³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Reserve 2| T: M Winters| OR: 90

12/1

Long-standing maiden over hurdles but good third at Wexford in May 2025. Well held when last seen and work to do after 14-month absence. RESERVE.

Form: 435/360-

Simpletwistoffaith¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Reserve 3| T: John F O'Neill| OR: 84

20/1

Maiden hurdler who had lost way when last seen in this sphere. Went with little encouragement on Flat at Killarney (17f, good) 17 days ago. Very hard to make a case for. RESERVE.

Form: 5PP/P69-

Non-Runners

Three By Two²¹⁵

Weight: 10-12| Age: 10

T: D P Murphy J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Strong Contender (5/1), Tantrum Boy (6/1), Poetic Focus (6/1), Journey So Far (7/1), Hey Babbs (7/1), Il Silenzio (8/1), Tawny Lea (10/1), Gortmore Lady (10/1), Coppola (14/1), Phoenix Cowboy (14/1), Grace Faraday (16/1), Dark Berkshire (16/1), Drumconnor Hill (16/1), L'as De Watt (16/1), Max Time (20/1), Itaintmebabe (20/1), Agent Tequila (25/1), Vangaway (25/1), Three By Two (25/1), The Vegas Raider (25/1), Midleton Rare (25/1), Love Like This (33/1), Simpletwistoffaith (66/1)

STRONG CONTENDER has finally put it all together and a 6 lb rise may not be enough to stop her completing the hat-trick. Poetic Focus looks to have found her feet for this yard and should be in the mix, with Tantrum Boy another to consider.