Hi all,
The Galway Festival gets underway this evening and it’s the first of seven, yes seven, days of racing there and tomorrow it’s the start of five days of action at the Qatar “Glorious” Goodwood Festival.
It’s going to be a very busy week on the betting front for the service. Indeed, it’s probably the busiest week of the summer for me.
My priority will be Goodwood but there will be previews of the big races from Galway as well as selections from the Irish track.
Whilst my aim will be to secure a profit from Glorious Goodwood. I have found in the past that’s it’s my Galway bets that have ensured I have ended the week with a profit.
Galway Festival – Day 1
Galway has my sole attention today. There are four handicaps on a seven race card and it’s those races that I’m going to preview below. Starting with the most valuable race of the day.
I’m working on the assumption that the rain has eased the Galway ground further. If it hasn’t I could be in a bit of pickle with today’s picks.
6:40 – Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap – 2m 1f
There’s €64,900 on offer to the winner of this evening’s feature race which is confined to amateur jockeys.
Given the prize money on offer it normally attracts a big field and this year’s race doesn’t disappoint with twenty set to line up.
Willie Mullins has saddled the winner of the race four times since 2017. He’s declared four for this year’s renewal.
For those interested Patrick Mullins has been booked for one of the leading fancies Lot Of Joy (11/2). The mare was fourth in last year’s race, off 4lb lower and improved again to finish a length 3rd of 30 in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh on her last start on the flat. Stall 16 needn’t be an inconvenience as last year the first four home came out of 21, 22. 11 & 23.
Despite her obvious claims Lot of Joy isn’t the ante post favourite. The bookies have made the Emmet Mullins trained Teed Up (7/2) market leader. The 6-year-old runner-up in last year’s November Handicap at Doncaster returned from an 8 month absence to finish a 1 ¾ length 2nd of 10 at Tramore 20 days ago.
Twice a winner here on the flat for his previous yard, he also finished runner-up in a handicap hurdle 12 months ago.
Last year’s second and third Maze Runner and Dutch Schultz are in the line-up. Dutch Schultz was unlucky in the run 12 months ago and should arguably have finished second. His sole success came on heavy ground, so any further easing of the ground won’t inconvenience the 6-year-old. A recent spin over hurdles after a 3 month layoff should have put him spot on fitness wise.
Useful juvenile hurdler Cougar is back on the flat for the first time since winning a Curragh maiden (1m 2f) last June for Aidan O’Brien. He’s got stamina to prove but looks on a workable enough mark if he stays.
5:40 – Easyfix Handicap Hurdle – 2m ½ f
Darkened did the service a big favour last year when winning this race at 12/1. That win gave trainer Dennis Hogan a second success in the race. Darkened can race off the same mark as 12 months ago and must have a good chance of retaining his crown although this ground is likely to be softer. For that reason, I’m looking elsewhere.
Trainer Philip Dempsey saddled the 2021 and he’s got a live contender with Neveradullmoment. Any further ease in the ground will suit the 6-year-old who is proven over further. Danny Gilligan takes off a handy 7lb and he should be in the mix if handling the track.
Ahead Of The Posse won a Tramore handicap hurdle (heavy) in January. The 6-year-old hasn’t really built on that success on three subsequent starts but wasn’t disgraced on his return from a 4 month absence when a 18 ½ lengths 4th of 10 at Kilbeggan 17 days ago. The drop back in distance looks a plus and the fitting of the first time cheekpieces make of major interest.
Cullaghs Star’s sole success came in a heavy ground Wexford maiden hurdle in October 2021. The 7-year-old returned from a year of the track in June and was back to form when a 2 ½ length 2nd of 14 at Killarney 11 days ago. Very much in the mix if building on his last time effort.
7:15 – Claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap – 7f
Ciaran Murphy saddled the winner of this 7f handicap in 2021 and he saddles three of the fifteen runners: Coolcalmncollected, La Tulipe Noire & Little Keilee. The trainer seems to be having a swing at winning the race once more so all his runners need respecting.
Trainer Michael Mulvany won this race in 2018 & 2020, and he’s got a live contender in Rathbranchurch. The gelding is a nine race maiden but hasn’t been shaping badly over an inadequate 5f on his three starts. A return to further and rain softened ground make him of serious interest.
7:50 – Eventus Handicap – 1m 4 ½ f
Astar, trained by Dermot Weld, is interesting on handicap debut. The filly is maiden after six starts but has placed four times including when a 3 ¾ lengths 3rd of 12 in a Leopardstown maiden last month. Yard won this in 2014 & 2015.
Fratas improved to win a Ballinrobe handicap in June and proved her stamina for today’s trip when a 1 ¾ length 5th of 13 at Down Royal (1m 5f)3 days ago. In the mix but it’s a quick turnaround and soft ground is an unknown.
Teorie won a Leopardstown maiden (1m 2f). He should stay 1m 4f and could improve for the step back up in distance on handicap debut.
Top-weight Immutable gained a second career win when landing a Naas handicap (1m) on seasonal reappearance in April. The gelding returned from an 11 week layoff to finish an encouraging 2nd of 7 at Navan 16 days ago. He seemed to prove his stamina for 1m 2f last time and looks interesting stepped up further in trip. Both career wins have come on soft/heavy ground so underfoot conditions should suit.
Betting Advice:
Galway
5:40 – Neveradullmoment – 1pt win – 8/1 @ William Hill and Ahead Of The Posse – 1pt win – 10/1 @ Bet365
6:40 – Dutch Schultz – 1pt each way – 25/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 5 places BOG) and Cougar – 1pt win – 18/1 @ Coral (BOG)
7:15 – Rathbranchurch – 1pt win – 18/1 @ William Hill
7:50 – Immutable – 1pt win – 7/1 @ William Hill
Cheers
John