Enda Bolger’s progressive Gilgamboa ticks a lot of big race boxes
Published:The Boylesports.com Hurdle features as part of a huge weekend of racing at Leopardstown with Gilgamboa priced at 10/1 to claim a share the lion’s share of the €100,000 prize pot.
Ireland’s Champion Hurdle may dominate the headlines but this valuable handicap offers far more options for punters with the Enda Bolger-trained charge one of the most attractive picks.
But his credentials are set to be severely tested by Bolger’s charge, a winner on two of his three career starts, including when scoring on his handicap debut score at Punchestown over half a mile further last time out.
Having triumphed on his maiden appearance over 2m in Galway this step back down in trip shouldn’t be too much of an issue and past evidence suggests the JP McManus-owned chance is set for another memorable appearance.
Each of the last ten winners of this renewal had enjoyed fewer than 10 previous starts over hurdles and Bolger’s unexposed entrant may be about to join their ranks.
Carrying less than the likes of top weight and last year’s Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap winner Flaxen Flare will be an advantage.
Horses with less than 10-11 on their back have been victorious in all of the last 10 runnings, another positive in Gilgamboa’s favour.
Willie Mullins’ well-supported 8/1 shot Blood Cotil is one of three runners over that mark.
Meanwhile, Charles Byrnes’ Sea Light also has to enter the equation given that he’ll go off in search of an impressive four-timer.
He languished way behind Gilgamboa in the aforementioned race at Galway but has bounced back to secure a hat-trick of victories since, the last two coming at the same venue of this clash.
All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date
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