Hi all,
The end of long week is in sight. It hasn’t gone as well as I hoped in midweek but there is one final day to end on a high.
Sunday see’s the final day of the Galway Festival and there’s also a decent card at Chester. I’m anticipating a quiet upcoming week on the selections front. As ever watch your inboxes for any selections before Friday. On to today’s action and my selections from Galway.
Galway
1:40 – Chavajod put in an improved effort when a 2-length 3rd of 13 at Leopardstown 10-days ago. The first-time visor is applied today and he has handy draw in stall 2. Said by his trainer to need good or quicker ground to be at his best, connections will be hoping the rain stays away. If it does, he’s got a good chance.
Karlsberg was another to put in an improved performance last time when a 3 ¼ length 3rd of 30 over an extended 6f at the Curragh 60-days ago. Looked in need of further that day but on pedigree isn’t certain to get a stiff mile.
Hanbags N Gladrags wasn’t the best away when a 2 ¾ length 6th of 13 on her handicap debut at Ballinrobe last time. She’s just had the four career starts so is open to more improvement and must be a contender.
Krypton Gold shaped with promise when 5th of 13 on her handicap debut at Tipperary 32-days ago. The gelding was doing his best work at the finish that day so the drop back in trip is a slight negative. On the positive side yard’s runners are going well and they had a winner here earlier in the week.
1pt win – Chavajod – 7/1 @ Bet365
1pt win – Krypton Gold – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
2:45 – Bardo Contiguo comes into the race in good form having finished a 3 ¼ length 3rd of 14 at Killarney 19-days ago. The cheekpieces he wore that day are retained but stall 19 won’t be easy to overcome.
The Mpex Kid was well beaten here early in the week but he did finish a neck second in this race 12 months ago, off 6lb higher. Comes with rosks attached but he’s well handicapped if the first time cheekpieces can produce a return to form and the 5-year-old has good draw in stall 2.
Excuzio Joe won over C&D last October, off 2lb lower. Never involved from a wide draw here earlier in the week. However, that was her first start for 9 months and she’s better drawn here in stall 3. Might prefer softer ground but Colin Keane takes over in the saddle.
1pt win – Excuzio Joe – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – The Mpex Kid – 18/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:15 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF “Ahonoora” Handicap – 7f
The feature race of the final day of the Galway Festival with €59,000 on offer to the winner. Last year’s winner Current Option bids for back-to-back wins. He’s got a touch of class having gone onto win a Listed race at Cork and a Group 3 at Tipperary after his win here. He finished 7th here early in the week, the same race he ran in 12 months ago before winning this. The top-weight 5-year-old is 6lb higher this time around but a 7lb claimer has been booked to negate his rise in the ratings. Big chance from stall 1.
The overnight favourite is last time out Roscommon winner Soaring Monarch. The handicapper has taken a dim view of his last win, having raised him up 11lb. Finished twice here, including C&D, at last year’s festival so handles the track well. Goes well on soft ground so won’t be inconvenienced if the rain arrives, has also won on good. High on the shortlist despite a career high mark.
Stone Soldier and On A Session travel over from England. Stone Soldier took advantage of a lower turf mark to win at Haydock last time. He’s up 6lb here but remains 9lb below his all-weather mark. On A Session finished runner-up in this race in 2019 and was third 12 months ago, now 3lb lower. Has been a bit in an out for trainer David Barron this season although he’s shaped with promise on a couple of occasions. Poor performance on quick ground in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket last time but maybe better going around a bend.
Quizical goes well here finished a 1 ¾ length 5th in this race last year off 3lb higher and finished runner-up, from a high draw, here earlier in the week. Tends to do his best work at the finish and maybe better over a furlong further. Connections will hope the rain arrives to ease the ground and if it does, he’s handicapped to go close again.
Verdict: A high quality renewal of the feature race. Last year’s winner Current Option has a good chance of back-to-back wins. Quizical maybe needs a mile and/or softer ground but he’s nicely treated and in good form. Both English raiders Stone Soldier and On A Session need respecting. As does recent winner Soaring Monarch.
1pt win – On A Session – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Current Option – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
4:50 – Insane Bolt finished runner-up here in 2019 when trained by Gordon Elliott. Shaped much better on just his second start for new yard when 4th of 20 over hurdles here 3-days ago. Having just second run on the flat beyond 1m 2f and if he stays won’t be far away,
Final Endeavour ran well when a 3 ¾ length 2ndof 12 at Fairyhouse 3 weeks ago. Won here last October, off 2lb lower. Likely to have been aimed at this race but has a tricky wide draw, for a prominent racer, to overcome
Buckman Tavern returned to winning ways at Leopardstown 17-days ago.He’s up 3lb here but remains on competitive mark based on his 2019 form when trained in England. Could be more to come from the 5-year-old.
1pt win – Final Endeavour – 14/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
1pt win – Buckman Tavern – 9/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
5:20 – Varna Gold was strong at the finish when third here over hurdles two days ago. Prior to that the 4-year-old had finished a 2-length 2nd of 12 on the flat at Bellewstown. Good chance of going one better here but stall 19 makes it difficult.
Bell Ex One was in good form in the spring winning at Gowran Park and finishing runner-up at Roscommon and Sligo. Returned from a short break and wasn’t disgraced when 6th of 13 here 6-days ago. First attempt beyond 1m 4f but looks a worth a try over the new trip.
1pt win – Varna Gold – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Bell Ex One – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John