17:10 Galway

Monday 31 July 2023

All17:1017:4018:1018:4019:1519:5020:20

Galwaybayhotel.com & TheGalmont.com Novice Hurdle

Off time: 17:11 | Winning time: 3m 57.4s

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Selected odds by:

Dark Note²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: C M Quirke⁽⁵⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 118| D

12/1

Matched previous best when opening hurdles account in a Sligo maiden (16.9f) earlier this month and followed up on Flat at Tramore (12f) 2 days later. This a tougher ask back over hurdles but he's clearly thriving at present.

Form: 5-3321

Gordons Aura²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 116| BF

20/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Winner in hurdle at Fairyhouse in February. Fourth of 7 in minor event hurdle at Bellewstown (16.8f, good, 15/8) 23 days ago, needing stiffer test. Others make greater appeal.

Form: 173U-44

Jay Jay Zee¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| BF| D

50/1

Made a winning start to her career in 17.5f Ballinrobe maiden in April. Disappointed at Roscommon next time and put up little resistance when tackled when second in 4-runner Perth novice (16.2f) 15 days ago. This tougher again.

Form: 1-32

Samui⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

3/1

Bumper winner who confirmed hurdling debut promise when winning 14-runner Tramore novice (16.5f) in June. One to consider for leading yard with prospect of more to come.

Form: 19-21

Your Honor²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J Nash| OR: 120

14/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Ninth of 11 in handicap on Flat at Tramore (16f, good to soft) 20 days ago, weakening from 2f out. Switches from Flat to hurdles with cheekpieces back on.

Form: 75147-3

Blue Reed^t1¹¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: S W Flanagan| T: W J Burke

200/1

Twice-raced maiden under NH rules. Sixth of 15 in juvenile hurdle at Cork (16f, good to soft, 25/1) on hurdles bow 113 days ago, better placed than most. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 76-

Cosmic Blizzard^t1²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: P T Enright| T: S Curling

200/1

Once-raced maiden. 14/1, eighth of 14 in bumper at Tipperary (16f, good to soft) on NH debut 25 days ago. Makes hurdles debut. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: P44-8

Hypotenus^h,t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B W Harvey⁽³⁾| T: J C McConnell| BF

2/1

Useful on the Flat in France and plenty of promise to glean from 2 of his 3 starts over hurdles, reeled in late on having gone clear on the home turn in a Cork novice (16.9f) 17 days ago. Hood refitted now and he's a likely player.

Form: 2P-2

Keeptellinemnuttin¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: A P Heskin| T: M Mulvany

250/1

Twice-raced maiden. Tenth of 12 in novice hurdle (100/1) at Kilbeggan (18f, soft) 10 days ago. Hard to fancy.

Form: 60

Marksetgo¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: P Byrnes⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Gilligan

200/1

Showed a bit more than on debut when seventh of 11 in bumper at Killarney (17f) 11 days ago, hampered early in straight and unable to land a blow. This looks a tough hurdles introduction, however.

Form: 07

Mercury Mission¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: S Fitzgerald| T: M J O'Connor

66/1

Fairly useful maiden on the Flat (stays 12.5f). Twice-raced maiden over hurdles. Third of 18 in novice hurdle at Cork (16.9f, good to soft, 9/1) 17 days ago, going with plenty of zest for a long way. Likely has more to offer in this sphere, particularly in handicaps.

Form: 23

Mystical Power⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins

6/4

Galileo gelding out of this yard's illustrious mare Annie Power. Won 11-runner bumper at Ballinrobe (16.5f, good, 2/5) on NH debut 63 days ago, leading 2f out and keeping on. That wasn't a flashy display but he has to be worthy of respect nevertheless now hurdling for powerful connections.

Form: 1

Non-Runners

Good Lad⁵⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: J J Hanlon J: J S McGarvey

Forecasts

Mystical Power (6/4), Hypotenus (2/1), Samui (3/1), Dark Note (12/1), Your Honor (14/1), Gordons Aura (20/1), Jay Jay Zee (50/1), Mercury Mission (66/1), Good Lad (66/1), Blue Reed (200/1), Cosmic Blizzard (200/1), Marksetgo (200/1), Keeptellinemnuttin (250/1)

A useful performer on the level in France, HYPOTENUS has shown more than enough in 2 of his 3 starts over hurdles to think a race of this nature is a mere formality and he gets the nod to put it all together and come out on top. Mystical Power, a son of Annie Power, needs considering now hurdling following success in bumpers, whilst Samui is another on the shortlist following his hurdles success at Tramore in June.