Racecards
16:00 Galway (IRE)
Topaz Novice Hurdle
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Yielding to Soft (National Hunt: Yielding)
- Surface: Turf
- €22,000 added
- Winner: €14,300
- 2nd: €4,180
- 3rd: €1,980
- 4th: €660
- Form 823-112
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer R O'Sullivan
- Jockey Andrew J McNamara
chased leaders, 4th halfway, improved to lead after 2 out, ridden and narrowly headed entering straight, kept on, went right last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace
- Form 2317-11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer J G Cosgrave
- Jockey Mr N McParlan
led, ridden and headed after 2 out, soon no extra and kept on one pace
- Form 4F211-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer J E Kiely
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up, niggled along before halfway where 8th, ridden and no impression 3 out, no extra in 7th before 2 out
- Form 111-135
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer J J Hanlon
- Jockey B Hayes
keen hold early and chased leader, 3rd halfway, 2nd before 5th, niggled before 2 out, ridden and no extra after 2 out
- Form 325-631
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
chased leader, 2nd halfway, 3rd before 5th, ridden in 5th and no extra after 2 out, kept on one pace
- Form 335441
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer A McGuinness
- Jockey D E Splaine
settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden before 2 out, stayed on to challenge after 2 out, narrow lead entering straight, strongly pressed when mistake last, kept on well run-in
- Form 1131
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, headway into 3rd after 2 out, ridden to challenge when squeezed up and clipped wing last, kept on to 2nd run-in, no impression winner
- Form 201-375
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer M Cullinane
- Jockey E J O'connell
always behind
Verdict
A cracking contest to start the day. SAINT GERVAIS looks the one to be on to add to his bumper success at the fixture last year. He's made steady progress over hurdles and probably ran his best race to date in defeat at Killarney where he just failed to concede 26lb to Keep It Cool in a handicap. He's Our Man also finished runner-up in a handicap last time and it was certainly no disgrace to finish runner-up to Golanbrook. Echo Bob, who was 5l behind, was later 3l behind Mount Colah at Sligo so there is very little between the top pair here. Mallowney has a bit more to do than when beating Ted Dolly at Ballinrobe while this is tough for a four-year-old and Ballinrobe winner Face Value may need more testing conditions. Zuzka is the fly in the ointment as the dual bumper winner made a promising hurdles debut at Gowran before a facile victory in a Sligo maiden and there's much more to come from her.
Formwatch
He's Our Man (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, went 3rd approaching 2 out, 2nd before last but no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace, 2nd of 15, 3l behind Golanbrook (11-2) at Gowran Park 2m hcp hdl hvy in Jun.
Mount Colah (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Chased leader, led 2nd, travelled well turning in, jumped left last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Sligo 2m nh nov hdl gd beating Audrelles Lad (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Saint Gervais (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Soon chased leaders, closer order and slight mistake 4 out, 6th before straight, went in pursit of winner 2 out, no impression and kept on same pace from before last, 2nd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Keep It Cool (10-0) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp hdl 8Evens30.
Clondaw Warrior (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Led, headed approaching 3 out and soon driven along, dropped to 5th after 2 out, no extra, 5th of 7, 21l behind Primroseandblue (11-12) at Wexford 2m 4f nh nov hdl gd in Jun.
Mallowney (IRE) 7-4 (10-11) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to lead before 2 out, asserted before last, shaken up and kept on strongly run-in, easily, won at Ballinrobe 2m mdn hdl hvy beating Ted Dolly (11-12) by 5l, 13 ran.
Usa (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Held up, 6th halfway, ridden and no impression after 2 out, 5th of 6, 11l behind Miradane (11-12) at Ballinrobe 2m hcp hdl 80-109 hvy.
Face Value 7-1 (11-0) Soon chased leaders, 5th halfway, headway into before 3 out where left 2nd, challenged after 2 out, ridden to lead before last, kept on well to assert approaching last, won at Ballinrobe 2m 4yo mdn hdl sft beating Westhaven (11-7) by 7l, 9 ran.
Zuzka (IRE) 4-9fav (11-7) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, headway into close 2nd before 4 out, led after 3 out, shaken up briefly run-in, easily, won at Sligo 2m 2f mdn hdl gd beating Cool Annie (10-10) by 7l, 11 ran.
Fantastic Gold 11-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, ridden in 7th and no impression after 2 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 10, 20l behind Two In A Row (10-11) at Ballinrobe 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109 hvy.