16:35 Galway

Thursday 3 August 2017

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1518:00

Guinness Galway Hurdle Handicap (Grade A)

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 3m 43.6s

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Selected odds by:

Clondaw Warrior^b1¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Ms K Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| CD

25/1

Smart dual purpose performer who won this race last year from a 12lb lower mark. Sixth in the Stayers' Hurdle since then but slightly below par at Tipperary and on the Flat at Killarney most recently. Stiff task to defend crown in first-time blinkers.

Form:

Ivan Grozny^h²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| BF| C| D

20/1

High-class over hurdles and on the Flat, he was a runaway winner on the level at this meeting last year but was only third when sent off a warm favourite for a valuable Grade 3 hurdle at Tipperary last month. Doesn't look stable's best hope.

Form:

Swamp Fox^b³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: B Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Murphy| OR: 148| C| D

8/1

Showed a liking for this track when winning a lesser handicap at this meeting 12 months ago and, having been in great form since, went on to finish second in Tuesday's renewal (2m1f, yielding). Clearly in good heart but this is a bigger ask.

Form:

Court Minstrel⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 145| D

33/1

Ten time winner in a 37 race career to date. Ran well when finishing second behind Rossetti off this mark in a 2m (good) handicap at Stratford last time out but holds no secrets and is always vulnerable to less exposed types.

Form:

Thomas Edison^h,t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: D N Russell| T: A J Martin| OR: 144| CD

16/1

Impressive winner of this race in 2014 from a 9lb lower mark and holding every chance when falling late in the following year's renewal. Eyecatching return from a long absence behind Plinth at Tipperary recently and has to be of interest.

Form:

Plinth^b,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 142| D

20/1

Struggled in this race 12 months ago but has won three of his last five starts, beating home a few of these when scoring over 2m at Tipperary (good) last time out. Likely to give a good account despite a 7lb rise.

Form:

Airlie Beach¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141| C| D

9/1

Kicked off her career with seven straight wins, including a Grade 1 success at Fairyhouse but beaten at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals. Third in a recent blow-out on the Flat and worth considering on first handicap start.

Form:

Fergall^p⁵⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Kevin Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 141| D

25/1

Eighth behind Thomas Edison in the 2014 renewal of this and comparatively light-raced since, falling at Haydock last time out over hurdles in May. Fair run on the Flat since but doesn't look particularly well-treated.

Form:

Max Dynamite⁴¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141| D

7/2

Group-class stayer on the Flat who finished second behind Quick Jack in this race two years ago (5lb lower mark). Fit from the Flat and still comparatively unexposed over hurdles, so obvious claims being the choice of Ruby Walsh.

Form:

The Game Changer^t¹⁰⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: James Bowen⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| D

40/1

More renowned for being a high-class chaser but has badly lost his way in that sphere over the last year or so, as evidenced by form figures. Big ask returning to hurdles, having struggled in this race two years ago.

Form:

Tigris River^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 140| CD

5/1

C&D winner who finished an excellent fifth in this last year, despite not enjoying the smoothest of passages. Rated 5lb higher now but enters the race in tip-top shape following two impressive recent Flat wins. Should be a major player.

Form:

Joey Sasa¹⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: S W Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 138| CD

25/1

Dual bumper winner but only hurdle success from seven starts came in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. Handicapper has held sway since then, however, and others appeal more.

Form:

Ornua⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: B T O'Connell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138| D

20/1

Point-to-point winner who opened his hurdling account at Down Royal at the third attempt before winning emphatically by 17L at Clonmel (2m, good). Looks a nice prospect but much bigger questions asked on his handicap debut in such a hot race.

Form:

Western Boy¹⁰⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: J S McGarvey| T: P A Fahy| OR: 137| D

11/1

Once pushed the brilliant Vautour close as a novice and, though he has proved inconsistent since, he remains a high-class performer on his day. Looked better than ever when winning a 2m handicap at the Punchestown Festival last time and, though raised 8lb, he looks a live contender.

Form:

Project Bluebook²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: B S Hughes| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 141| D

16/1

Twice a winner on the Flat and sold hurdling form, having finished fourth in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham before winning a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse (2m, good). Shaped nicely on the Flat since and handicap mark looks feasible.

Form:

Ancient Sands¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J E Kiely| OR: 135| D

25/1

Consistent performer with four hurdling wins who finished sixth in this race last year from the same mark. Unconvincing over fences since then but shaped encouragingly on the Flat recently. Returns to hurdles with no margin for error.

Form:

Timiyan^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| C| D

8/1

Flat and hurdle winner for Dermot Weld but seems to have improved for current yard, scraping home at Roscommon before following up at Bellewstown (2m, good). Clearly progressive and in good hands but 10lb rise for latest win possibly excessive.

Form:

Shrewd⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: I Jardine| OR: 132| D

20/1

Finished runner-up to Heartbreak City in the Ebor at York last season but below that form in two Flat runs this year. Returns to hurdles for the first time in well over a year, so plenty to prove.

Form:

All The Answers^t²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: N P Madden| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 132| BF| CD

25/1

Likes Galway, having won twice over hurdles here last year but he could only finish fifth of 11 in a chase here on Tuesday. Tall order in this company. RESERVE.

Form:

Morga²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: B R Dalton| T: D McDonogh| OR: 131| D

33/1

Experienced campaigner with two Flat wins and three hurdle victories from an overall total of 50 starts. Well held off present mark last time out over hurdles in May. RESERVE.

Form:

Non-Runners

Automated³

Weight: 10-7| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: B J Cooper

Princely Conn¹⁰

Weight: 10-7| Age: 8

T: T Mullins J: D J Mullins

St Stephens Green⁸¹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 6

T: E Mullins J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Max Dynamite (7/2), Tigris River (5/1), Swamp Fox (8/1), Timiyan (8/1), Airlie Beach (9/1), Western Boy (11/1), Automated (12/1), Project Bluebook (16/1), Thomas Edison (16/1), Princely Conn (16/1), St Stephens Green (16/1), Plinth (20/1), Shrewd (20/1), Ivan Grozny (20/1), Ornua (20/1), Joey Sasa (25/1), Fergall (25/1), Clondaw Warrior (25/1), Ancient Sands (25/1), All The Answers (25/1), Morga (33/1), Court Minstrel (33/1), The Game Changer (40/1)

A devilishly competitive renewal in which TIGRIS RIVER is taken to improve on last year's unlucky fifth place finish in the hands of Barry Geraghty, having advertised his present well-being with two facile recent Flat wins. Max Dynamite looks the pick of the Mullins contingent, though Airlie Beach shouldn't be underestimated on his handicap debut, whilst the progressive trio Timiyan, Ornua and Western Boy are also respected. One who could go well at a price is former winner Thomas Edison after an eyecatching return from a lengthy absence at Tipperary recently.