16:45 Galway

Saturday 4 August 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4517:2017:55

Galway Shopping Centre Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 5m 28.6s

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Selected odds by:

Meri Devie⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: N M Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147

20/1

Top-weighted runner looks well down the pecking order of trainers sextet here on jockey bookings. Well-beaten in two staying handicaps at Royal Ascot although a winner last time over hurdles.

Form: 451061-

Jer's Girl^p²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 144

20/1

Dual Grade One winning mare was well beaten behind Sharjah in Thursday's feature here over 2m. This trip will suit better but she will have to step up quite markedly nonetheless.

Form: 42257-0

Minella Awards^t¹⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: H Fry| OR: 142

10/1

English raider scored twice last term over 2m4f and 3m so this trip may be ideal. Only beaten 5L in a valuable Punchestown festival handicap when last seen and off the same mark he has each-way claims here.

Form: 5211/P7-

Plinth^p,t²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 135

33/1

Tried to make the running in the Galway Hurdle here earlier in the week before rapidly weakening late on. Not obviously well handicapped and had a hard race there.

Form: 87-7560

Bargy Lady^h¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132

14/1

Built on several good efforts when winning over a similar trip last time out at Killarney despite a couple of jumping errors. 9lb higher today but clearly on the up at present so not the sort to dismiss.

Form: P0-0231

Benkei^p⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: P T Enright| T: H Rogers| OR: 132| C

22/1

23L seventh behind Uradel earlier this week over 2m1f but this trip will suit better as a winner at up to 2m4½f. More needed but handicap mark of some appeal.

Form: 14573-1

Low Sun^p³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132

7/1

Behind re-opposing stablemate Meri Devie when last seen over hurdles at Punchestown but won on the level just over a month ago at the Curragh. Appears low in the pecking order of trainer's six runners.

Form: 420145-

Uradel⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132| BF| C

7/2

Beat the high class mare Limini on the level here earlier in the week which shows his wellbeing. Going into the unknown here trip-wise but won over 2m3f, the furthest he has encountered. Obvious contender.

Form: 543/117-

Art Of Security⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: S W Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 131

20/1

Most impressive winner of a Ballinrobe hurdle when last seen (Bargy Lady second). 11lb climb makes life more difficult although that effort was probably a career best.

Form: 0/7050-1

Oscar Knight¹⁰¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: M P Walsh| T: T Mullins| OR: 131| C

12/1

Today's trip will be on the short side for this out and out stayer who races mostly over fences. Ran well when last seen over hurdles chasing home classy Total Recall but that over 3m, today's trip may not suit as well.

Form: 0102B3-

She's A Star^t³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 128| C

33/1

Not won over hurdles since landing a hat-trick in her novice days although some fair efforts last term. This trip is however an unknown and stable jockey prefers Art Of Security.

Form: P/43307-

Timi Roli⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 128

16/1

Struggled since Tipperary win last summer over hurdles but won on the level at Wexford last month and was more than impressive. All depends on whether he can show similar improvement back over hurdles.

Form: 47920-1

Court Artist⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: B Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127

40/1

Pulled-up behind stablemate Meri Devie when last seen at Punchestown which isn't the first time she has underperformed in a big field. Others make more appeal.

Form: 11303P-

Kilcarry Bridge^t¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: D Meyler| T: J P Ryan| OR: 126| D

50/1

Almost a year since this veteran last won although been kept busy since. Still significantly higher than that mark in the handicap and others look better treated.

Form: F4F6-07

Shanning²⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 126| C

5/2

Three from three and looked a potentially smart prospect last term but season curtailed early. Stable jockey's choice of six for this her handicap debut and could prove extremely well treated.

Form: 11-

Gran Geste¹⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: N P Madden| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 125

33/1

Not built on winning first two starts and beaten 43L by Low Sun when last seen. Questions to answer at present.

Form: 11550-

Supreme Vinnie^t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Miss D O'Shea| OR: 125

25/1

Won over fences just over a month ago but not seen over hurdles since finishing down the field 13 months ago. Others have stronger claims but anything ridden by this jockey at present merits respect.

Form: 36-1581

Cook Islands^b,t⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 124

33/1

11½L behind Benkei when last seen at Killarney. One of the less exposed runners but appears to be up against it here.

Form: 133B0-8

Killiney Court^t⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: D Robinson⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 122| C

25/1

Ended a barren spell when winning by 10L at Downpatrick last time out. 10lb rise for that success and this is a considerably tougher race so unlikely to follow up.

Form: 660-P41

Lareena⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: W P Mullins| OR: 119

16/1

Relatively lightly raced mare was narrowly beaten at Kilbeggan last time out. Worth a try at this considerably longer trip and sneaks in here off bottom weight.

Form: 1P5-352

Non-Runners

The Mulcare Rover⁴²

Weight: 9-10| Age: 8

T: J J Walsh J: Reserve 1

Whatsforuwontgobyu¹⁷

Weight: 9-10| Age: 8

T: A J Martin J: Reserve 2

Blast Of Koeman¹⁰¹

Weight: 9-10| Age: 7

T: R Tyner J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Shanning (5/2), Uradel (7/2), Low Sun (7/1), Minella Awards (10/1), Oscar Knight (12/1), Bargy Lady (14/1), Lareena (16/1), Timi Roli (16/1), Art Of Security (20/1), Meri Devie (20/1), Jer's Girl (20/1), Blast Of Koeman (20/1), Benkei (22/1), Killiney Court (25/1), Supreme Vinnie (25/1), Plinth (33/1), She's A Star (33/1), Gran Geste (33/1), Cook Islands (33/1), Court Artist (40/1), Kilcarry Bridge (50/1), The Mulcare Rover (50/1), Whatsforuwontgobyu (50/1)

Willie Mullins dominates this race and can take it with the unbeaten SHANNING who was mentioned as a likely Graded performer last term so she surely must have a big chance off 10st 3lb and is the choice of Ruby Walsh. Mullins has others with chances, chief among them being Uradel who beat the top class hurdler Limini on the flat the other day in a manner suggesting this handicap mark is well within his compass. Art Of Security easily beat Bargy Lady when last seen and that mare has won since to frank the form.