Racecards
14:25 Galway (IRE)
Ladbrokes Maiden Hurdle
- 18 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft, Yielding in places
- Surface: Turf
- €10,000 added
- Winner: €6,900
- 2nd: €1,600
- 3rd: €700
- 4th: €400
- Form 7
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer P J Gilligan
- Jockey B M Cash
mid-division, weakened before 3 out
- Form P/90
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer I Madden
- Jockey A P Heskin
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and dropped to 8th after 3 out, kept on one pace
- Form 1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey P Townend
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and mistake 2 out, soon no extra and kept on one pace
- Form 703-696
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer Peter Maher
- Jockey Miss C M Woods
chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden in 5th after 3 out, soon no extra, kept on one pace
- Form 12/2P-30
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer J Queally
- Jockey Andrew J McNamara
chased leaders, 5th halfway, headway into 2nd after 3 out, ridden and no impression 2 out, kept on same pace
- Form 32425-5
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Miss M McGuinness
- Jockey I J McCarthy
mid-division, 8th halfway, 6th 4 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace
- Form 1162-10
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer D K Weld
- Jockey R P McNamara
tracked leaders, led 3rd, clear 3 out, reduced advantage next, eased clear again entering straight, not extended
Top Spin (IRE)
139- Form 3606-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 1
- Trainer C A Murphy
- Jockey M P Walsh
mid-division, 10th halfway, headway into 4th before 2 out, ridden and no extra 2 out, kept on one pace
- Form 7-0F800
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer J J Hanlon
- Jockey S G McDermott
chased leaders, 6th halfway, weakened before 3 out
- Form 65
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer E McNamara
- Jockey E J McNamara
rear of mid-division, headway in 7th before 2 out, ridden in 5th 2 out, kept on into 3rd entering straight, no impression leaders, kept on same pace
- Form 60-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer J Halley
- Jockey B T O'Connell
mid-division, 9th halfway, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form P-36F
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer Miss F Slevin
- Jockey Mr N T Slevin
towards rear for most, never a factor
- Form 2-58434-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer E J O'Grady
- Jockey B J Geraghty
mid-division best, ridden and no impression after 3 out
- Form 787-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer M McCausland
- Jockey R C Colgan
chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden and no extra after 3 out
Verdict
Dermot Weld won this last year with hurdling newcomer Natural High and Rock Critic will no doubt be fancied for a repeat. He's a useful Flat handicapper with a cracking record at the Festival who started favourite here on Tuesday but couldn't quite get there. His breeding doesn't suggest jumping will be his game unlike that of CONNAUGHT MANOR and it's Willie Mullins' charge who gets the vote. He made his racecourse debut in a Roscommon bumper last month and won by 14l with the second a long way clear of the remainder. He's related to several winning jumpers and should be followed until beaten. Seattle Drive wasn't quite as good as Rock Critic on the level when trained by David Elsworth but he's the type Edward O'Grady does so well with and is definitely one to keep an eye on. Hawk Flight can prove best of those with hurdling experience having run very well on several occasions.
Formwatch
Cantgetanybetter 20-1 (11-7) Soon disputed, led after 4f, headed 5f out, ridden and no extra 4f out, moderate 8th 2f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 13, 38l behind Polish Partisan (11-7) at Sligo 2m 2f N H flat gd in Jul.
Cherryantor (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Always behind, 18th of 23, well behind Bourbon Ellie (10-12) at Cork 3m mdn hdl in Jul.
Connaught Manor (IRE) 11-10fav (12-0) Soon chased leaders, closed from over 4f out, took over travelling best from early straight, briefly looked a little vulnerable over 1f out, drew clear under pressure to assert final furlong, won at Roscommon 2m 4f N H flat sft in Jul beating Top Cat Henry (11-0) by 14l, 17 ran.
Flemingstown (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden from 3 out, moderate 8th next, no extra, 6th of 14, 45l behind Gold Ability (11-12) at Galway 2m mdn hdl gd.
Flying Light (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division, weakened from 4 out, 15th of 20, well behind Kalellshan (11-5) at Galway 2m hcp hdl 8Evens23 gd in Jul.
Hawk Flight (IRE) 5-2 (11-9) Soon mid-division, ridden in 7th 4 out, 5th before next, no impression and kept on same pace from before last where not fluent, 5th of 14, 8l behind Ballyhoura (11-4) at Wexford 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Jul.
Rock Critic (IRE) 5-2fav (9-12) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, ridden in 5th 2f out, no impression in 4th 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 3l behind Vastonea (9-0) at Galway 1m hcp sft in Jul (flat).
Rory's Brother (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) Towards rear and took keen hold, some progress from 4f out, soon ridden, no impression in mid-division when slipped up under 1f out, in a race won by Reafadda (11-7) at Clonmel 2m N H flat sft in Jun, 16 ran.
Sergeant Grey Great Palm gelding out of Astar Love.
Top Spin (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Chased leaders on outer, 5th halfway, no extra entering straight, weakened, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Go All The Way (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Mar.
Zerdiyan (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Towards rear, moderate 10th and no impression 4 out, 10th of 14, 34l behind Ballyhoura (11-4) at Wexford 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Jul.
Hospital (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden in 9th 3 out, 7th last and kept on one pace, 5th of 13, 13l behind Liberty's Gift (11-7) at Sligo 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd in Jul.
Our Breff (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Towards rear at ordinary pace, effort straight, kept on same pace under pressure without threatening, 7th of 10, 13l behind Smithfield (9-4) at Killarney 1m 3f mdn stks in Jul (flat).
Paint Your Wagon (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, weakened from over 4f out, soon eased, completely tailed off, last of 15, well behind Saddler's Rock (9-5) at Tipperary 1m 4f mdn stks in Jun '11 (flat).
Rodeo Rocket (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Led early, headed after 1st, regained lead after 4th, fell 3 out, in a race won by Face Value (11-0) at Ballinrobe 2m 4yo mdn hdl sft in Jul, 9 ran.
Seattle Drive (IRE) 9-2 (8-11) Held up in rear, headway on outer over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 4th of 11, 1/2l behind Scrapper Smith (8-9) at Ayr 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sep (flat).
Montego Breeze 33-1 (10-13) Mid-division early, towards rear halfway, ridden 5 out, no impression before 3 out, kept on one pace, 7th of 11, 21l behind Miss Nomer (10-11) at Down Royal 2m mdn hdl gd in Aug '11.
Tia Dalma (IRE) Definite Article mare out of Little Elk.
Callums Bay (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, 10th of 13, well behind Mallowney (10-11) at Ballinrobe 2m mdn hdl hvy in Jul.
Desert Moonlight 50-1 (11-7) Very slowly away and always behind, 12th of 16, 50l behind Fatcatinthehat (11-1) at Galway 1m 4f am mdn stks gd (flat).