14:00 Galway

Saturday 3 August 2019

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

O'Leary Insurances Maiden Hurdle

4YO plus | 2m 150y | 18 Runners | Turf | Weighed In

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 3m 56.8s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Born By The Sea³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Gilligan

8/1

Ran well on the Flat over 1m4f here on Wednesday and was travelling well on his sole hurdle start to date last month when falling at the last, holding every chance. Worth a check in the market.

Form:

Jon Ess⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R A Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 112

25/1

Six-race maiden over hurdles but has hit the frame on a couple of occasions. Fourth of 19 beaten 1L on his latest start in a Down Royal maiden in June. Not one to underestimate given the amount of experience.

Form:

Mick Mixy^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: P W Flynn

100/1

Gelding by Fair Mix. Dam related to several winners. Nothing of note in a couple of dour bumper and maiden hurdle efforts recently. Vast amount of improvement needed.

Form:

Mooltazem⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: K M Donoghue| T: G Elliott

33/1

86-rated handicapper on the Flat for trainer Michael Dods. In the right hands and market likely to reveal expectations on hurdling debut here.

Form:

Mr Everest^t⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: A J Martin| OR: 123| BF

6/4

Three-race maiden hurdler but has hit the frame on each start to date. Owner and trainer combination having a fine time of it this week at Ballybrit and is entitled to give a good account of himself.

Form:

Rockford Cave¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell

100/1

Court Cave gelding who was never a factor when making his hurdling debut in a Cork 2m maiden before producing another dismal effort at Ballinrobe last month. Others preferred.

Form:

Scardura¹⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: S J Gray⁽³⁾| T: A Slattery

66/1

Stowaway gelding yet to complete in two point-to-point starts between December and March. Watching brief on debut, unlikely to be making significant impact in this contest.

Form:

Serefeli¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 96| C

50/1

Running well in defeat in a number of starts on the Flat over the summer but the Footstepsinthesand geldings form over hurdles is still leaving plenty to be desired. Not in the form required to play a part.

Form:

Brawler^p,t⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 108

18/1

Has caught the eye in two of his three starts over hurdles. Worth a check in the market representing a yard who landed the spoils in this race in 2016 with Jack The Wire and hit the frame with Shinghari 12 months later.

Form:

Flooring Porter¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell

66/1

Unlikely to cause any degree of trouble after suffering a heavy defeat when seventh on debut at Cork before finishing 35L adrift of the winner at Ballinrobe last month. Others more appealing.

Form:

Nasee^p²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: J J Hanlon

50/1

Modest 66-rated handicapper on the Flat for trainer Ed Vaughan, with the Intello gelding earlier failing to make the grade for Sir Michael Stoute. Well held here on the level two days ago.

Form:

Rightplacerightime⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: S F O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: K F O'Donnell

100/1

Nothing of note in three dismal bumper efforts for connections so far. Hard to fancy on overall evidence and others hold sturdier claims.

Form:

Spittal Field^h1¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: S W Flanagan| T: V T O'Brien

100/1

Well held when making no impression in three starts on the Flat and has not shown any hints of ability in a couple of innocuous maiden hurdle efforts to date. Sports a first-time hood and hard to place any faith in.

Form:

Stealth^t⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: S O'Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: A McCann

100/1

Without success in 21 starts on the Flat and made little impression on hurdling debut finishing 41L adrift of Lethal Steps here on Monday. Plenty to prove at present.

Form:

Utalkintomeboy⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: C D Maxwell| T: T G McCourt

100/1

Was beaten a long way on his two hurdles starts so far when going off at 100/1 on both of those occasions. His best finish was ninth of 22 at Punchestown. Form on the Flat has been poor recently too. Not one that stands out.

Form:

Botani⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

5/1

Won a Kilbeggan bumper on soft ground in April when beating eight rivals 23L. Form on better ground has not been as good but still a leading player on hurdling debut given major connections.

Form:

Bridget Cottage^t¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: K J Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 88

66/1

Daughter of Vinnie Roe appears to be improving with every run over hurdles. Encouraging fourth of 15 at Ballinrobe last month and is one that could sneak in to a place in this contest.

Form:

Estelle Ma Belle^h1⁷⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins

6/4

Dual winner on the Flat in France for trainer Tony Castanheira. Not seen for two years so fitness can only be taken on trust but sure to be of interest on debut for leading trainer and jockey combination.

Form:

Non-Runners

Exit Poll²²⁰

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: Mrs J Harrington J: R M Power

Top Moon¹⁴⁰

Weight: 11-7| Age: 4

T: J P O'Brien J: J J Slevin

Forecasts

Mr Everest (6/4), Estelle Ma Belle (6/4), Botani (5/1), Exit Poll (5/1), Born By The Sea (8/1), Top Moon (8/1), Brawler (18/1), Jon Ess (25/1), Mooltazem (33/1), Nasee (50/1), Serefeli (50/1), Scardura (66/1), Flooring Porter (66/1), Bridget Cottage (66/1), Stealth (100/1), Rockford Cave (100/1), Utalkintomeboy (100/1), Spittal Field (100/1), Mick Mixy (100/1), Rightplacerightime (100/1)

MR EVEREST is taken to land the opener for owner and trainer combination of John Breslin and Tony Martin who have enjoyed a fantastic week so far. The six-year-old the mount of Davy Russell finished down the field on the Flat earlier in the week but can get off the mark at the fourth time of asking over hurdles at the expense of Top Moon for the Joseph O'Brien yard and Brawler, who looks primed for a big run. The Willie Mullins-trained Estelle Ma Belle and bumper winner Exit Poll are worthy of further consideration.