Racecards
16:25 Galway (IRE)
W.B. Gavin & Co. Handicap Hurdle
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 90y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- €27,000 added
- Winner: €16,200
- 2nd: €5,400
- 3rd: €2,700
- 4th: €1,350
- Form 222112
- Age 4
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer R P Cody
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
rear, 8th after halfway, good headway to close before 2 out, weakened after 2 out
- Form 2F62PP-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer William P Murphy
- Jockey S D Torrens
prominent, soon led, 2 lengths clear halfway, reduced advantage before 2 out, bumped and joined before last, led run-in, headed final 150 yards, soon no extra in 3rd
- Form 235-12
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey M P Walsh
rear of mid-division, 5th after halfway, headway to close before 2 out, on terms before last, headed run-in, ridden and kept on same pace
- Form 0058-58
- Age 9
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer D McDonogh
- Jockey J M Moore
towards rear, 9th after halfway, improved to 6th 2 out, progress to 4th at last, no impression on leaders, kept on same pace
- Form 7967-09
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 118
prominent on outer, 6th after halfway, under pressure and dropped to 7th before 2 out, weakened after 2 out
- Form 5527/6P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey D E Mullins
led early, soon headed and tracked leader, 2nd halfway, weakened quickly towards rear over 3f out, no extra
- Form P6/6115-
- Age 10
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer E O'Grady
- Jockey P T Enright
held up in rear, mistake at 1st and soon slightly detached, detached at 3rd, trailing over 6f out, no impression, never a factor
- Form 044282
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 114
rear of mid-division, 7th after halfway, progress to 4th before 2 out, under pressure and weakened before last
- Form 2211-12
- Age 11
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 111
mid-division, progress to 3rd halfway, under pressure and dropped towards rear before 2 out, headway before last, kept on run-in without threatening
- Form F83332
- Age 5
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer T G McCourt
- Jockey D J O'Keeffe
chased leader, 4th after halfway, 5th before 2 out, headway on inner after 2 out, short of room and switched left in 3rd before last, ridden to lead final 150 yards, kept on well
Verdict
This looks a very tight handicap with nothing easily dismissed. The four-year-old Razoul continues to thrive and would be the form pick on his latest narrow defeat in a Grade 3 at Tipperary, though he's been racing on quicker going. Fellow youngster Top Moon was conceding him 2lb when beaten almost three lengths at Listowel and must have a chance on these terms though he was well beaten on his only start in testing conditions. The veteran CLOUDY MORNING was in tremendous form at the end of last season and would have had a hat-trick but for being disqualified at Wexford. That was over fences but he won his next start on the same track over hurdles and showed he's as good as ever with a promising return behind Ordinary World at Ballinrobe. De Mazzaro is ultra consistent but has never won in 27 starts while Jon Ess is also a maiden over timber after 10 starts.
Formwatch
Razoul (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) Mid-division, 4th halfway, slight mistake 4 out, headway in 2nd entering straight, ridden and no impression on winner before last, left closer run-in and kept on under pressure, no impression close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Turnpike Trip (11-5) at Tipperary 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Oct.
Velocity Boy (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake 2nd, mistake 5 out and dropped to 4th, under pressure from next, moderate 4th 2 out, tired and pulled up approaching last, at Tramore 2m 5f hvy in Apr.
Top Moon (FR) 7-1 (10-8) Soon chased leaders, 6th approaching 4th, chased winner and not fluent last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Razoul (10-3) at Listowel 2m hcp Yielding in Sep.
Morga (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Waited with, 15th from 4th, not go with leaders from 3 out, kept on without threatening from before straight, not fluent last, 8th of 16, 18 1/2l behind Conron (11-1) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Scheu Time (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Led early, tracked leaders and 4th halfway, pushed along and dropped towards rear approaching straight, soon no extra and eased after 2 out, last of 9, 27 1/4l behind Play The Game (11-7) at Listowel 2m hcp gd in Jun.
Orgilgo Bay (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Mid-division early, moderate 8th from 6th, no impression from before 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up next, at Tramore 2m hcp gd in Aug.
Westerner Point (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Soon raced in 3rd, lost position and pushed along 12th, no impression 4 out, kept on same pace without threatening from next, 5th of 6, 13l behind Timeforwest (10-7) at Cork 3m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Jon Ess (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Led, ridden and strongly pressed 2 out, mistake and headed at last, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 25, 4l behind Advanced Virgo (11-8) at Navan 2m mdn gd in Sep.
Cloudy Morning (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Led, ridden and headed before 3 out, dropped to 3rd before 2 out, regained 2nd before last, kept on in 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 2 3/4l behind Ordinary World (11-10) at Ballinrobe 2m 3f gd in Sep.
De Mazzaro (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Raced in 5th early, headway from before 3 out, chased winner from next, kept on same pace from before last, 2nd of 16, 5l behind Shumaker (10-10) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Oct.