Hi all,
Disappointing Saturday with only Swindler really running to form. We end a bust week where we started at Galway.
Galway
2:45 – Dragon Of Malta remains a maiden after 11 starts but put in several good performances in soft ground nursery handicaps last autumn, including when beaten just a head here last October. The 3-year-old was probably in need of the run when 9th of 16 at Limerick 16-days ago. Today’s softer ground will be more in his favour and he’s 2lb lower than when he ran here last season. Handy low draw and looks worth a chancing here.
1pt win – Dragon Of Malta – 9/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
3:50 – Darkened is nine race maiden on the flatbut two of his best three RPR’s have come at Galway, including when beaten ¾ length over an extended mile here on Tuesday. Can now race off 1lb lower and reproduction of that performance even dropped to 7f would probably be good enough.
1pt win – Darkened – 7/2 @ Bet365
4:20 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF “Ahonoora” Handicap (Premier Handicap) – 7f
A maximum field of 16 are set to go to post for the feature race of the final day of the Galway Festival. My two against the field are Flaming Moon and On A Session.
Flaming Moon ran a cracker when 5th of 16 in the valuable ‘Scurry’ Handicap at the Curragh 15-days ago. The 3-year-old was doing his best work at the finish of that 6 ½ f race which offers plenty of hope that he can stay 7f here. No issues with soft ground and as he’s only had the six career starts so there’s a good chance, he remains open to a bit more improvement.
On A Session was runner-up in this race last year. He was only beaten ¾ length and is just 1lb higher today. Looked to be coming back to form when 6th of 16 in a valuable Cork handicap on his second start since October. Didn’t get the best of passage out wide but still ran well to finish 6th of 18 here 5-days ago. Drop back to 7f is in the 4-year-old’s favour and he has a handy draw in stall 5.
1pt win – Flaming Moon – 11/1 @ Bet365
0.5pts each way – On A Session – 16/1 @ William Hill (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
Cheers
John