Grade Two Galmoy Hurdle Guide 2023

Early Doors has yet to prove whether or not he can stay the 3-mile trip and has had no further success since winning the Galway Plate in 2020.

He was a creditable fifth in last year's Irish Grand National but has otherwise struggled, including over hurdles at Tipperary last summer. His last two starts have come over fences where he has disappointed so he reverts back to the smaller obstacles here.

The 10-year-old is not getting any younger and looks set to find himself in much deeper waters on this occasion, especially due to the form that he has been showing recently.

One at a double-digit price that can be easily opposed.

Summerville Boy is the oldest horse in the race and this former top novice won the Tolworth Hurdle, the Supreme Novices' in 2018 and was also successful at this level in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham three seasons ago.

He was formally trained by Tom George and has had just the one start for new trainer Henry De Bromhead so far. The 11-year-old finished fourth in a conditions event at Punchestown after Christmas behind a couple of decent horses, such as Any Second Now and Saint Sam.

Remains a slight unknown to see if he retains enough ability to be competitive here, but will certainly have to bounce back from his most recent efforts.

Gigginstown are represented here by Beacon Edge, but he is a horse who somewhat lost his way in good company last campaign after gaining Grade 1 honours in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse.

He was a fairly smart hurdler in the past, winning four of his eleven career starts over the smaller obstacles which included him being the winner of the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle two seasons ago.

This 9-year-old son of Doyen did in fact return to hurdling after Christmas, but it did not go to plan albeit he was pitched into the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Blinkers now go on instead of cheekpieces so it will be interesting to see if that brings more out of him. Could be a player at a price that represents more value.

This 9-year-old son of Yeats won the Grade A Theyestes Handicap Chase on this day last year but failed to back that performance up when going off as the 5/2 favourite next time out.

He ran a respectable race in April when finishing sixth in the Grand National, but he did not seem to stay after showing up well for a long way. Connections seem to be targeting that race again so Longhouse Poet could be a horse to note down as the season progresses.

After a 225-day break, he pulled up in a Pertemps qualifier over 3 miles before bouncing back to form when winning over 2m4f in heavy ground at Limerick.

Trip and conditions should warrant him holding strong claims here, but it will be tough to beat the favourite Teahupoo so he may have to settle for minor honours.

My Design is the only mare in this year's renewal of the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle and has shown to be a useful individual but at a much more less demanding level.

She has only been victorious once in nine career starts over hurdles so far and looks set for yet another tough task here. Declan Queally's mare ran creditably when 13 lengths third to the Gordon Elliot trained Queens Brooks in a Grade 3 contest at Leopardstown and has to step up in Grade again.

This will be her first attempt at 3 miles and she will likely go off as the big-priced outsider in this small but competitive field. Can be easily ignored.

If Teahupoo wants to enhance his chances of going close in this year's Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, he should win this fairly comfortably. He is the classiest horse in the race and will look to make it eight wins in eleven career starts over hurdles.

He impressed last season in testing conditions, especially when winning the 2-mile Red Mills Trial Hurdle at this venue which made it 3-3 at the time. Ran no race at all when disappointing on much better ground in the Champion Hurdle and ended up finishing bottom of the pack for a second time when last of six behind Honeysuckle at Punchestown.

The talented 6-year-old made an astonishing return to form when beating Klassical Dream and Honeysuckle in the Hatton's Grace and will step up slightly in trip here.

Rates too good for his rivals on this occasion and should win this well.