Ndaawi can make winning start over fences at Galway

Ndaawi is a five-time winner on the flat, he has won three times over obstacles, most recently beating Absurde in a conditions event in Cork last Easter.

Ndaawi and Nina Carberry won the Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity Race Supported By Ballylinch Stud at the Curragh. Pic: Healy Racing Photo

Mon, 07 Sep, 2026 - 02:13

John Ryan

Back at the scene of his biggest success, Ndaawi will be expected to make a winning start over fences in the Watch Every Irish Race Live On Racing TV Beginners Chase on the first day of Galway’s September meeting.

Gordon Elliott's charge was awarded last year’s Guinness Galway Hurdle in the stewards' Room, having gone down by a head to Helvic Dream. Rated 145 that day, he now boast a hurdle rating of 150 in that discipline, significantly higher than his rivals here.

A five-time winner on the flat, he has won three times over obstacles, most recently beating Absurde in a conditions event in Cork last Easter.

Since then, the six-year-old landed an amateur riders event at Listowel’s Whit meeting before finishing 12th behind Putapoundinthejar when bidding for a repeat win in the Galway Hurdle.

And he proved his current well-being when landing the recent Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity Race at the Curragh under Nina Carberry, when, admittedly doing little more than he was entitled to do.

A powerfully-built Cracksman gelding, Ndaawi should take to chasing without difficulty. And Elliott opted for a trip to Ballybrit for him, rather than wait for Listowel.

He looks a cut above these rivals and will probably have most to fear from the Mullins runner Ocastle Des Mottes, runner-up to stable-companion Vicar Street over course and distance, and Henry de Bromhead’s chasing debutant Captain Ryan Matt.

Accomplished chaser Blood Destiny has been found a good opportunity, reverting to hurdling, in this evening’s feature, the Deacy Gilligan Hurdle.

This Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old, who has done most of his winning at two miles, defied top-weight in the Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Chase, over an extended two and a quarter, at this year’s festival here, a win which saw his chase mark rise to 156.

Outstayed over the ‘Plate’ trip by Zanahiyr last year, he has triumphed once over two and a half miles (his beginners chase in Navan). And his stamina is the chief concern as he tackles this extended two miles and five.

Today’s opposition includes a number of stout stayers. But Blood Destiny is the class-act in the field and gets the vote.

Strong Contender, trained locally by Norman Lee, should make a bold bid to defy the handicapper in a division of the WTW Willis Handicap Hurdle.

The grey mare is up a total 15lb. for wins at Wexford and Sligo, on the latter occasion outpointing Look Between Us, but might be open to further improvement now, fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time.

SELECTIONS

4.07.En Or

4.38.Mart Lane

5.09.Blood Destiny (n.b.)

5.41.Joshua Camberlain

6.11.Strogn Contender

6.41.Ndaawi (nap)

7.11.Granville Street

7.41.Brickfield Belle

Next Best

4.07.Wonderful Everyday

4.38.Euro Maker