Galway Handicap Hurdle

16:50 Galway Handicap Hurdle 2012 (2m)

Galway Handicap Hurdle

Rebel Fitz was a narrow winner of the Galway Handicap Hurdle as he managed to fend off a late rally from Cause Of Causes in an incident-packed renewal of the Thursday highlight.

There was a drama in the early part of the race as the well-backed Drive Time fell and brought down Donald McCain's Lexi's Boy, but at the front Rebel Fitz was always up towards the head of affairs.

Pushing his mount clear after the last flight of hurdles he looked to have the race sewn up, but Davy Condon was closing quick on Cause Of Causes, but he could not quite reel the leader in who held on by a head.

16:50 Galway Handicap Hurdle Result (2m)
1.Rebel Fitz - D Russell - M Winters - 11/2
2.Cause Of Causes - D Condon - G Elliott - 25/1
3.Captain Cee Bee - AP McCoy - E Harty - 12/1
4.Plan A - M Walsh - G Elliott - 16/1
20 ran

Racecard

No.RunnerDetailsRatingOdds
1The Real ArticleThe Real Article (IRE)
M Linehan
E O'Grady		7 yrs / 164 lbs
3454-3		150

CommentThe Real Article

Few are in better form right now, may still be up against it

2Moon DiceMoon Dice (IRE)
B Hayes
P W Flynn		7 yrs / 160 lbs
/1450-		146

CommentMoon Dice

Won't be beaten by the going, merits plenty of consideration

3Captain Cee BeeCaptain Cee Bee (IRE)
A P McCoy
E Harty		11 yrs / 159 lbs
/185-2		145

CommentCaptain Cee Bee

Fair chance on form, has claims

4Rebel FitzRebel Fitz (FR)
D N Russell
M Winters		7 yrs / 159 lbs
1124-1		145

CommentRebel Fitz

Proven ability at this course, could well give another bold showing

5Sailors WarnSailors Warn (IRE)
B J Geraghty
E O'Grady		5 yrs / 158 lbs
22763-		144

CommentSailors Warn

Fair level of form, not without hope

6Whatever JacksaysWhatever Jacksays (IRE)
R C Colgan
O McKiernan		7 yrs / 157 lbs
8011-1		143

CommentWhatever Jacksays

Clearly has a chance, note that is unproven over the distance though

7WhatuthinkWhatuthink (IRE)
T J Doyle
O McKiernan		10 yrs / 156 lbs
46P4-1		142

CommentWhatuthink

Will tempt a few that place an emphasis on current form and desire fair odds

8BenashBenash (IRE)
Andrew J McNamara
J G Carr		8 yrs / 155 lbs
002-20		141

CommentBenash

Looks held, but could be given a chance if yard was in better form

9Fosters CrossFosters Cross (IRE)
Mr C Motherway
T Mullins		10 yrs / 154 lbs
32P6-F		140

CommentFosters Cross

Knows how to win here, but doubt chance will present itself

10OililyOilily (IRE)
A D Leigh
S Byrne		9 yrs / 154 lbs
3313-4		140

CommentOilily

Unproven here, that heads up the list of negatives

11KarabakKarabak (FR)
A P Crowe
E Harty		9 yrs / 152 lbs
64480-		138

CommentKarabak

Few positives leap off the page at us, racecourse absence certainly isn't one

12Tornedo ShayTornedo Shay (IRE)
P T Enright
T O'Mara		7 yrs / 152 lbs
23641/		138

CommentTornedo Shay

Needs to turn things around, looks out of form

13Drive TimeDrive Time (USA)
R Walsh
W Mullins		7 yrs / 151 lbs
P1F/1-		137

CommentDrive Time

Has proven form on this type of ground, surely make presence felt

14Plan APlan A (IRE)
M P Walsh
G Elliott		5 yrs / 151 lbs
1P264-		137

CommentPlan A

A while since seen, may need the run

15RattanRattan (USA)
Mr D G Lavery
W Mullins		7 yrs / 149 lbs
1237-2		135

CommentRattan

Needs to prove self around this course, best watched today

16Run With The WindRun With The Wind (IRE)
A P Heskin
M Hourigan		6 yrs / 147 lbs
/22-11		133

CommentRun With The Wind

Certainly worthy of consideration, put off a bit as unproven around the course

17Lexi's BoyLexi's Boy (IRE)
J M Maguire
D McCain		4 yrs / 146 lbs
32111-		137

CommentLexi's Boy

Puts a tick in the 'distance' column, can be considered one of the principals

18Princeton PlainsPrinceton Plains (IRE)
N P Madden
E Harty		6 yrs / 146 lbs
13151-		132

CommentPrinceton Plains

Liked what we saw recently, could well prevail with a repeat showing

19Blazing TempoBlazing Tempo (IRE)
P Townend
W Mullins		8 yrs / 145 lbs
3111P-		131

CommentBlazing Tempo

Yard in fairly good form, commands some respect on that fact alone

20Unknown RebelUnknown Rebel (IRE)
B Hughes
K A Ryan		4 yrs / 143 lbs
416-		134

CommentUnknown Rebel

Chance doesn't ispire, must improve to figure

21Cause Of CausesCause Of Causes (USA)

G Elliott		4 yrs / 140 lbs
22-171		131
22DiscotecaDiscoteca

G Elliott		4 yrs / 140 lbs
1-1114		131
23The Way We WereThe Way We Were (IRE)

E O'Grady		6 yrs / 145 lbs
/2122-		131

Galway Hurdle 2011 Result

Moon Dice stormed to glory in the Galway Handicap Hurdle beating long time leader Fosters Cross.  First and second from the start, Fosters Cross tried to replicate his lead-all-the-way tactics from Monday and it appeared he had the rest of the pack on the stretch with three furlongs to go.

However, Tom Doyle was always in Fosters Cross slipstream aboard Moon Dice and the Paul Flynn-trained six-year-old propelled himself to the front round the home turn and duly pulled away from his rivals to win by four-and-a-half lengths.

Short-priced favourite The Real Article managed to stay on to fourth place, but never got near the winner, who was an impressive 20/1 winner.

16:50 Galway Handicap Hurdle (2m)
1.Moon Dice - T Doyle - P Flynn - 20/1
2.Fosters Cross - D Russell - T Mullins - 12/1
3.Dirar - B Geraghty - G Elliott - 7/1
4.The Real Article - P Mangan - E O'Grady - 3/1 Fav
5.Princeton Plains - A Crowe - E Harty - 16/1
20 ran

Galway Handicap Hurdle 2010 Result

Donald McCain's Overturn produced a superb front-running performance to land the 2010 Galway Handicap Hurdle, as his rivals could never get near the dual-purpose performer who was an impressive five-and-a-half length winner of the contest.

Sent to the front early by Graham Lee, he never looked in danger as he jumped impeccably and whilst his rivals in behind struggled to pick him up, Lee duly sent him clear of Bahrain Storm and Dirar to land the honours and bag the victory for the British.

16:50 Guinness Galway Hurdle Handicap (grade A) (2m)
1.Overturn - G Lee - D McCain Jnr - 6/1
2.Bahrain Storm - J Barry - P Flynn - 8/1
3.Dirar - B Geraghty - G Elliott - 4/1f
4.Slieveardagh - P Mangan - E O'Grady - 9/1
19 ran

2009 Result

20/1 outsider Bahrain Storm stole a march on the field to win the Galway Hurdle by a huge six lengths from hot favourite, Deutschland. Always there or thereabout Bahrain Storm went clear after the second last and never looked back as the rest of the field struggled to find space. In the event a bad fall at the last put paid to any place chances to several, but did not affect the winner's gallop to the line.

It appeared to some that Ruby Walsh riding Deutschland left it too late to mount a serious challenge but when he did breal free came with a tremendous run to claim second place well clear of the tird horse, Lucky Wish. Fourth was the Tony Martin trained, Northern Alliance.

Recent Galway Hurdle Winners