14:50
Medical Technology Ireland Expo Galway Handicap Hurdle
2m, Hurdle, 3yo+, €9,000, 8 runners
Winning time 4m 12.50s
- Going
- Soft
- Surface
- Turf
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Castleheath heads our ratings on 123, three pounds clear of Shellrunforbriggs and Rockbrook on 120, and that narrow edge is enough to make him the one to beat over two miles of soft ground at Galway. He is narrowly ahead of a competitive group rather than miles clear, so this is no gift, but the figures give him the best credentials in a nine-runner field. Shellrunforbriggs and Rockbrook are the obvious dangers, with Inthenickoftime a few pounds further back on 114 and capable of making the frame if the principals falter. Castleheath is our selection.
Result
Eoghan Finegan (5)
Ciaran Murphy
Close up early and first to show at the 1st - soon passed but stayed prominent - moved into 2nd before 5th - minor error 3 out - level 2 out - soon in front and going easily before the last - stayed on strongly run-in to win with plenty in hand
Brian Hayes
M Winters
in rear of the pack early - ran 4th then 5th - moved up to 3rd 2 out - challenged into 2nd before the last - stayed on on the run-in but never threatened winner late - finished 2nd
Michael Kenneally (3)
Daniel G Murphy
Settled well back in the pack - gradually crept into 6th then 5th - crept nearer 2 out and reached 3rd at the last - stayed on late but never a danger to the front pair
Philip Byrnes
C Byrnes
Held up at the back - moved into 5th before halfway - slipped to 6th after 2 out - made little headway at the last where a small error cost ground - ran on up the run-in to take 4th late
Peter Smithers (5)
E Bolger
Made the running early then eased back to sit second after the first fence - moved up to 3rd before the fifth - slipped to 4th 2 out and found nothing at the last - passed late for 4th and finished 5th
Mr R Sugrue (7)
P J Rothwell
prominent early - blundered at the 1st - soon in front - challenged 2 out and quickly overtaken - dropped away after the last - faded inside the final furlong to finish 6th
Daniel King
Thomas Mullins
Towards the back early - 8th at the eighth fence and made no inroads - blundered at the last and never threatened on the run-in
Simon Torrens
P J Rothwell
held up at back - moved into 7th after 5th - made no inroads before the last and faded to finish 8th
Non-runners: Crystabel
Racecard
Peter Smithers (5)
E Bolger 0/3
Won last time out and two starts back, so Inthenickoftime arrives in cracking nick after just 19 days, and he has run over today's trip and going before. The main risk is the 166 lb burden, which asks plenty off an official mark of 118.
- Sire
- Gleneagles (IRE)
- Dam
- Against The Breeze (IRE) by Duke Of Marmalade
- Owner
- John P Mcmanus
- Foaled
- 4 Feb 2020
- Stable
- Bruree, Co Limerick
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 3 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 42%
- Ratings
- Perf 114
Philip Byrnes
C Byrnes 4/10
Fifth last time out and a winner two starts back, Blue Train has run over today's trip and going and returns after 30 days off, but he carries 164 lb and is a mixed bag, with an eighth and a seventh also in his last five. Our rating of 114 ranks him fifth of nine.
- Sire
- Blue Point (IRE)
- Dam
- Samdaniya (GB) by Machiavellian
- Owner
- John G Lane
- Foaled
- 19 Mar 2022
- Stable
- Ballingarry, Co Limerick
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 10 runs (40%)
- Trainer running to form
- 59%
- Ratings
- Perf 114
Eoghan Finegan (5)
Ciaran Murphy 0/18
Castleheath arrives with back-to-back seconds, and he has run over today's trip and on the going before, so the profile fits. Carrying 164 lb after 48 days off and with a yard out of form are reservations, but our 123 rating makes him the one to beat.
- Sire
- Elzaam (AUS)
- Dam
- Ekagra (GB) by Barathea
- Owner
- Niall Slevin Cathal Slevin
- Foaled
- 20 Mar 2021
- Stable
- Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 18 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 33%
- Ratings
- Perf 123
Brian Hayes
M Winters 0/5
Shellrunforbriggs arrives a leading danger having won last time out and two starts back, with a second three starts back too, and she has run over today's trip before. Our rating of 120 ranks her second of nine, but the main risk is a 163-day absence.
- Sire
- Harzand (IRE)
- Dam
- Shes On The Rim (IRE) by Getaway
- Owner
- Going Stone Mad Syndicate
- Foaled
- 11 Apr 2021
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 5 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 21%
- Ratings
- Perf 120
Mr R Sugrue (7)
P J Rothwell 0/20
Rockbrook won two starts in a row three and four runs back and has run over today's trip and going, while our rating of 120 puts him third of nine. The main risk is a 203-day absence, with a seventh last time out and a stable going 0/23.
- Sire
- Laverock (IRE)
- Dam
- Maid For Action (IRE) by Alderbrook
- Owner
- Gvd Syndicate
- Foaled
- 25 Apr 2017
- Stable
- Tinahely, Co Wicklow
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 20 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 52%
- Ratings
- Perf 120
Simon Torrens
P J Rothwell 0/20
Hesgonethatway won three starts back and was a fifth two runs ago, but he was unplaced last time and returns after 202 days off. He has run over today's trip and our rating of 113 ranks him sixth of nine, while 156 lb and a yard 0/23 lately leave him plenty to prove.
- Sire
- Califet (FR)
- Dam
- Hel Tara (GB) by Kayf Tara
- Owner
- Night Owls Syndicate
- Foaled
- 21 Apr 2021
- Stable
- Tinahely, Co Wicklow
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 20 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 52%
- Ratings
- Perf 113
Danny Gilligan
John Patrick Ryan 0/17
Crystabel has finished fifth, fifth, a fourth, then a fifth in her last four starts, and she's back after just two days off, carrying 150 lb for a yard that is 0/20 lately. On the plus side, she has run over today's trip and won six starts back, but our rating of 101 ranks her eighth of nine.
- Sire
- Crystal Ocean (GB)
- Dam
- London Bells (GB) by Nathaniel
- Owner
- M R D Fleming G Bruce J P Ryan Miss G Ryan
- Foaled
- 8 Apr 2021
- Stable
- Templemore, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 17 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 25%
- Ratings
- Perf 101
Michael Kenneally (3)
Daniel G Murphy 0/0
Just For One is hard to fancy after a seventh last time out and two pulled-up efforts in his last five starts, though he did win two starts back and has run over today's trip and going. Carrying 149 lb off 101, he looks up against it, and our rating has him seventh of nine.
- Sire
- Affinisea (IRE)
- Dam
- Medicine Woman (IRE) by Stowaway
- Owner
- Mrs Geraldine Murphy
- Foaled
- 25 May 2021
- Stable
- Midleton. Co. Cork
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 0 runs (None%)
- Trainer running to form
- 35%
- Ratings
- Perf 102
Daniel King
Thomas Mullins 2/9
Without a win in his last five, Space Warrior has finished sixth twice and ninth twice since a third five starts back, and he is hard to fancy off 140 lb. On the plus side, he has run over today's trip and going, and he is fit after 12 days off.
- Sire
- Belardo (IRE)
- Dam
- Surface Of Earth (USA) by Empire Maker
- Owner
- Mrs Helen Mullins M J Lomax
- Foaled
- 4 Feb 2021
- Stable
- Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny
- Trainer last 14 days
- 2 wins from 9 runs (22%)
- Trainer running to form
- 49%
- Ratings
- Perf 98
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.