18:15 Galway

Friday 31 July 2020

All16:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Guinness Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Off time: 18:15 | Winning time: 5m 44.08s

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Selected odds by:

Stratum¹⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144| C

16/1

Smart on his day but pulled-up in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Finished behind Sayo (3rd) when fourth at Punchestown (2m3f; good) on New Year's Eve. Still has stamina to prove and stiff task off top-weight.

Form: 41924P-

Sayo³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143| C

9/1

Back to form when runner-up on the flat at the Curragh (1m4f; good) last month on first run back from a break staying on all the time. Will need to better his most recent pair of efforts over hurdles in this grade though.

Form: 18P300-

The Jam Man¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: R McNally| OR: 143| D

12/1

Suffered heavy defeats in each of his three starts on the level in maiden company this year. Still 15lb above his last winning hurdles mark. Although the return to jumping should suit, he is vulnerable to less exposed improving types.

Form: 111429-

Foveros³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: M P Fogarty| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137| C

22/1

Unable to progress since winning a pair of novice hurdles over 2m4f at this track last year, finishing down the field on both starts in handicaps the last twice. Seemingly the outsider of the stables seven-pronged assault on this contest.

Form: 211760-

My Sister Sarah⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

8/1

Did well to finish fifth on the flat over 1m4f at this course at the start of the week when forced to chart a wide course. Unfortunate over hurdles the last twice (falling and then being brought down), but may have her confidence bac now.

Form: 6/124FB-

Ministerforsport¹³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: Noel O'Neill| OR: 136

25/1

Not seen over hurdles since April 2018, but made a winning handicap debut in this grade on that occasion at Cork (2m3f; soft to heavy). Only 4lb higher so has solid claims on just his fourth hurdle start.

Form: 0P7524-

Great White Shark⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| C

5/1

Ran better than the finishing position would suggest on return from a short break when seventh over 2m on the level at this track on Monday. Should be spot on fitness-wise now and Martin Pipe third has sound claims.

Form: 133083-

Fred The Foot^p,t¹⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 132

40/1

Returned to slightly calmer waters now after finishing down the field in the Pertemps at the Cheltenham Festival (3m; soft). Now 2lb below the mark he scored off at Musselburgh (3m; good to soft) on New Year's Day which gives him place claims.

Form: 135140-

Blast Of Koeman^b,t¹⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: P T Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 130

33/1

Would appreciate any rain that falls his way as shown when he posted his best effort for some time to finish second to Mary Frances in a competitive event at Punchestown (3m; heavy). Yet to win off a mark as high as this over hurdles.

Form: F40792-

Flooring Porter^t¹¹^{(ex 8)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 122

8/1

8lb higher after he regained the winning thread to score at Gowran Park (3m; good) last week. That took his record in handicaps to 2-4, and he retains plenty of potential as a five-year-old. Seems versatile ground-wise.

Form: 14162-1

Sweet Home Chicago³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: S F O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: C Bowe| OR: 129| C

25/1

Course winner who always tends to run well at this track. Career-high mark to defy after being handed a 10lb rise by the handicapper for posting career-best effort to score at Roscommon (3m1f; good) in emphatic fashion. Not ruled out.

Form: P/2026-1

Chavi Artist²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: T Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 127

50/1

Been running over fences more recently but was in dreadful form in that sphere when last seen. Failed to show much enthusiasm when midfield at Navan (2m; yielding) on return from a short-break on the flat at the start of the month.

Form: B517PP-

Sky Marshal²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: K J Brouder| T: C Byrnes| OR: 127

25/1

Does have form over this trip but his form has slightly tailed off recently. Will likely strip fitter for recent run on the flat at Sligo (1m5f; good) when he finished sixth but others possess stronger overall form.

Form: 312298-

Diamond Hill²⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 125| C

6/1

Three-time course winner who broke her duck over obstacles at this track over 2m5f at this meeting last year. Only ran on the flat since then but has a very good record when fresh so probably worth noting in the market.

Form: 4453P/1-

Plinth²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: M P Walsh| T: E Bolger| OR: 125

14/1

Infrequent winner but did run well in defeat when fourth at Kilbeggan (3m1f; good to yielding) in the Midlands National. Not won over hurdles for just over three years. Although he is vulnerable for win purposes he has place claims.

Form: P822-64

Ah Littleluck^t¹⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney| OR: 124

50/1

Makes return from 145-day break. Pulled-up on two of his last three starts over fences. Not ran over the smaller obstacles for over two years so has quite a lot to prove and others make far greater appeal.

Form: P43P5P-

Recent Revelations^t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

14/1

Form of recent second to The Very Man has since been franked with that runner going in again on Wednesday. Holds some smart form to his name (fourth in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival). Consistent sort must prove stamina.

Form: 5124-22

Pilbara²^{(ex 14)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: S D Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: E Mullins| OR: 108| BF

3/1

Never looked back since entering handicap company this year. Admirable effort in defeat when chasing hat-trick only finding one too good when second here on Wednesday. Extra furlong in his favour so must feature high on any shortlist if turning up.

Form: 06U-112

Non-Runners

Canardier¹⁴²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 8

T: W P Mullins J: P Townend

Abraham²

Weight: 10-3| Age: 8

T: M Brassil J: C J Orr

Dawn Raider²

Weight: 9-13| Age: 8

T: B Cawley J: Reserve 1

Tiger Twenty Two¹⁸

Weight: 9-12| Age: 9

T: G Elliott J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Pilbara (3/1), Great White Shark (5/1), Diamond Hill (6/1), Canardier (13/2), My Sister Sarah (8/1), Flooring Porter (8/1), Sayo (9/1), The Jam Man (12/1), Plinth (14/1), Abraham (14/1), Recent Revelations (14/1), Stratum (16/1), Foveros (22/1), Sky Marshal (25/1), Sweet Home Chicago (25/1), Ministerforsport (25/1), Tiger Twenty Two (33/1), Blast Of Koeman (33/1), Fred The Foot (40/1), Chavi Artist (50/1), Ah Littleluck (50/1), Dawn Raider (66/1)

Small stakes advised in this open contest and a chance is taken on DIAMOND HILL on her handicap debut. The selection gets into this off a light weight, is a previous course winner, goes well fresh and is still lightly raced over obstacles so ticks a lot of boxes. Her trainer runs seven in this and My Sister Sarah also caught the eye for the same yard when fifth on the level at the start of the week after being forced to go wide in the straight. Pilbara cannot be discounted given the form he has been in since returning to the track this year while Sweet Home Chicago is also a player after posting a career-best effort to win on his seasonal reappearance.