Hi all,
The final day of the Galway Festival and there was rain around on the west of coast of Ireland yesterday. Rain combined with plenty of watering in the run-up the festival has turned the ground soft on both tracks.
Besides Galway there’s also a competitive looking card at Chester on Sunday afternoon with the Listed Freddie Wilson Queensferry Stakes (2:55) the feature race of a seven race card. Judicial has won the last two running of the race but must overcome stall seven if he’s to land a race hat trick.
I have a few fancies at both Galway and Chester and today’s betting advice can be found at the end of the main piece.
It’s the end of the month for me and I’m going for a big hit to see if I can end it with a profit.
Galway
2:30 – Kenny Galway Handicap Hurdle – 3m ½ f
Perceval Legallois got off the mark at the 8th attempt over hurdles when winning a Wexford maiden earlier this month. There should be more to come from the 5-year-old now going handicapping and he handled some ease in the ground last time.
Loudest Whisper stays 3m on a sound surface and her 2 ¼ length 3rd of 14 at Bellewstown last time was up there with her best form. A winner here over an extended 2m in 2020 she ticks the track and distance boxes and does have winning form on soft albeit over much shorter.
Summer Tide has improved on his last two starts in handicap hurdles, finishing runner-up at Listowel two starts back and then finished a 4 ¾ length 3rd of 11 at Killarney last time. The visor that brought about that improvement are replaced by the first time cheekpieces.
Quaker Island was a good 8 ¼ 6th of 19 in last year’s race and can race off 9lb lower this time around. The 7-year-old was a respectable 5 ¾ length 4th of 11 at Sligo three weeks ago. That was his first start for 5 months so the run may have been needed. Soft ground is a bit of an unknown, but he should run well of his present mark if handling it.
3:40 – Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Chase – 2m 2f
Just ½ length separated Benefit Run and Zarkareva when the pair were second and third in last year’s race. The first named has a 10lb pull in the weights this time around but I still think there won’t be much between the pair. Benefit Run doesn’t find winning easy and might prefer slightly better ground but there’s no doubting he’s well treated if all the cards fall right.
Zarkareva’s stablemate Cornerkova comes into the race bidding for a hat trick after wins at Clonmel and Tipperary. She comes into the race a progressive handicap chaser, but soft ground is a bit of a concern and Rachel Blackmore has seemingly chosen Zarkareva.
Robinnia won twice in novice company last summer and had every chance when falling at the last in a Grade 3 novice chase over C&D at last year’s festival. The mare returns from a 189-day break but if she ready to roll first time looks capable of a good run.
4:10 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF “Ahonoora” Handicap (Premier Handicap) – 7f
The feature race of the final day of the Galway Festival with €64,900 on offer to the winner.
Current Option has won this race for the last two years and must have a good chance of the hat trick as he’s 8lb lower this time around. The 7-year-old bounced back to something like his best when 2 lengths 4th of 18 to Magic Chegaga here 5-days ago. Will need a bit of luck in running from stall 13 but capable of winning if he gets it. Stablemate Pierre Lapin was one place behind in that race and he didn’t get the clearest of passages. Better drawn in stall I and the first time cheekpieces are applied. On a workable mark but better ground might be more suitable if he’s to take advantage of it. Sirjack Thomas won the valuable mile handicap here 12 months ago, off 1lb higher and has a handy low draw in stall 5. He could never really get involved from the rear when a 3 ¾ length 4th of 15 in last year’s race. Can’t be dismissed easily off his present mark but a mile would be preferable.
On A Session was nearest at the finish when a ½ length 2nd of 15 to Current Option 12 months ago. He got a good ride from Ben Curtis to end a near 3- year long losing run at Musselburgh last month. The forecast strong pace is a positive for the 7-year-old but he’s 3lb higher than 12 months ago and may prefer better ground.
Lexington Dash won over 7f for the first time at Fairyhouse (good) 25-days ago. He looks a good purchase by John McConnell and although he’s 5lb higher today, the track should suit but I’m not sure soft ground will.
Majestic Colt caught the eye when a running on 2 length 4th of 17 in the valuable Scurry Handicap (6 ½ f) at the Curragh last time. The 7-year-old had some very useful form when trained in Germany winning in Group & Listed company including over 7f. Goes on soft ground and that Curragh performance was his best form for his new yard. If he handles the track, I think he will go very close from a handy draw in stall 6.
Chester
2:55 – Freddie Wilson Queensferry Stakes (Listed Race) – 6f
Judicial bounced back to form to win last year’s renewal and comes into this year’s needing to do similar if he’s to land a hat trick of race wins. Looked effective enough on good to soft ground 12 months ago although any softer would ask another question of the 10-year-old. His Chester form figures of 11211 mean he can never be discounted around here.
Manaccan posted a career best on RPR’s when a 1 ¾ length 2nd of 11 to Judicial’s stablemate Look Out Louis in handicap (5f) here last time. Prior to that the 3-year-old had finished an excellent ¾-length 5th of 27 in Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot. William Buick is a good jockey booking and Manaccan looks worth a try in Listed company. Yet to run on ground worse than good to soft.
Princess Shabnam is another 3-year-old with steadily progressive RPR’s. The filly has finished runner-up on both her visits over C&D, including when a neck 2nd of 7 to Crazy Luck at Chester last time 22-days ago. Did well from a wide draw that day and might well have got up to win if she had got a clear run 1f out. A big run seems likely although she’s yet to race on ground worse than good to soft.
The softer the ground the better for Ventura Diamond. The filly was an excellent 7 ¼ length 7th of 20 to Creative Force in the Group 1 Champion Sprint at Ascot last October. That’s some of the best form on offer. Not sure the Chester will suit her hold up style, but she’s got handy draw in stall 1. If the forecast strong pace materializes she’s in the mix.
3:30 – Fools Rush a dual course winner, including C&D, has to be respected after his short-head 2nd of 12 to Tacarib Bay at Haydock last time. Up 2lb but Harry Davies takes off 5lb which negates the weight rise. The top-weight must be respected but stall 9 isn’t ideal for a prominent racer.
Oneforthegutter finished a head 2nd of 9 in Deauville Group 3 12 months ago when trained in France. Highly tried in Group/listed races on first two starts for Ian Williams before finishing an encouraging enough 4 length 6th of 13 at Epsom on his handicap debut. No show in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot but he’s been dropped a further 3lb and this is the easiest race he’s run in this season. Interesting with William Buick booked and out of stall 2.
My Little Tip was a 2 ¾ length 3rd of 8 to Outgate over C&D in May. Saddle slipped on his first start for new trainer Gemma Tutty at Southwell 11-days ago. Best forgiven that run and will be placed to win races by his new trainer. Tom Marquand takes the ride and he’s 1-1 when combining with the trainer.
Master Zoffeny‘s form figures over C&D are 5112. He ran much better than his final position of 10th of 16 in the Bunbury Cup suggests. That was the 4-year-old’s belated seasonal reappearance, and he will be sharper for that run. No issues with soft ground and looks on a workable mark. He will have to be ridden for luck out of stall 11 but should run well.
Red Mirage won a C&D handicap in May. He wasn’t at his best, after stumbling at the start in the hat trick bid when only 3rd of 6 at Ffos las last time. Respected out of stall 3 over a C&D that suits.
4:30 – Both Emiyn and Heart Of Soul have winning form around here on rain softened ground which is a positive and both have good draws in 4 and 1 respectively.
Wynter Wildes a winner at Hamilton in May has remained in form on her last two starts finishing runner-up at Nottingham and over C&D last month. Up 2lb for her latest effort but remains on a competitive mark and should go well again
The Nu Form Way is having his first start at Chester, but he’s got a handy draw in stall 2 and both his career wins have come on soft ground. Interesting on his first start for new trainer Stella Barclay with Hollie Doyle an eyecatching jockey booking.
Betting Advice:
Galway
2:30 – 1pt win – Loudest Whisper – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt each way – Quaker Island – 22/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
3:40 – 1pt win – Benefit Run – 9/1 @ Bet365
4:10 – 1pt win – Majestic Colt – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Chester
2:55 – 1pt win – Judicial -7/1 @ Bet365 and 1pt win – Ventura Diamond – 11/2 @ Bet365
3:30 – 1pt win – Oneforthegutter – 9/1 @Bet365 and 1pt win – Master Zoffeny -15/2 @ Bet365
4:30 – 1pt win – The Nu Form Way – 14/1 @ Bet365
Not sure when the next selections will be after today but watch your inboxes for updates.
Cheers
John