Hi all,
Tuesday sees the start of five days of high-class flat action at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Let’s hope it’s glorious weather or at least decent weather for ‘Glorious’ Goodwood. The big races of meeting are the three Group 1’s: Sussex Stakes, Nassau Stakes, and the Goodwood Cup. The meeting also contains plenty of handicaps. The best of which are Golden Mile Handicap and the Stewards Cup.
We don’t have one racing festival to enjoy this week we have two. It’s day one of a marathon six days at the Galway Festival and with unrestricted crowds returning for the first time since 2019 its sure to be one big party.
It’s a mixed seven race card of jumps but most flat races at Galway this evening. The highlights for me are the four competitive handicaps on the card. My Galway selections can be found at the end of the main piece.
Galway Festival – Day 1
5:40 – Easyfix Handicap Hurdle – 2m ½ f
Plenty of the twenty runners have claims in a very open looking handicap hurdle.
The Tony Martin trained Golf Marin heads the early market. You can see why he’s favourite though as he’s run well in big field handicap hurdles at Fairyhouse’s Irish Grand National Festival and Punchestown Festival. He arguably put in his best performance when a 1¾ length 3rd of 14 at Tipperary (2m 4 ½ f) in May. The drop back to strongly run 2m is a positive and his claims are obvious, but his early odds of 11/4 are not very appealing
There was plenty to like about Darkened’s win when last seen over hurdles at Kilbeggan in June. He’s since finished third in two big field handicaps on the level and comes into the race in great form. Up 8lb for his last hurdle success but looked to have plenty in hand at the finish at Kilbeggan. Must be high on the shortlist for a trainer who had the third in last year’s race. He also holds an entry in the 1m 4f flat handicap here on Thursday and an attempt at the double seems likely especially as he won on the flat at the 2020 festival.
Delightfantastic got off the mark at the 7th attempt over hurdles when winning a handicap hurdle at Tipperary 25-days ago. Up 12lb for a 12 length success but looks an improver and must be high on the shortlist. Listentillitellyea was runner-up in that race and does get 12lb from the winner which entitles him to get closer. Trainer Thomas Gibney is 4 -13 31% +8.5 with his runners at the Galway Festival which is another positive.
Punters Poet was pulled up but well fancied (9/2) for this race last year. He bounced back from that poor run when 3 ½ length 3rd of 20 over C&D the following month. Comes into the race in the back of a decent effort when 7 lengths fourth of 9 at Killarney 11 days ago. He probably didn’t stay 2m 4f that day and will be better back over shorter.
Insane Bolt was a 7 ¾ length 4th of 20 in this race 12 months ago and then went onto win here on the flat 3-days later. This is first start over hurdles since last year’s contest and his first run for 361-days. He looks on a workable mark over hurdles and if ready to roll first time up won’t be far away.
Teed Up probably won get in as third reserve but would have to be respected given trainer Emmet Mullins record at Galway 8 winners from 27 runners 30% +13.50 in the past 5 years. The 5-year-old hasn’t shown much on five hurdle starts but the first time cheekpieces mean he has to be respected if getting a run.
6:40 – Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap – 2m 1f
Willie Mullins saddled the winner of this race three times between 2017 & 2019. He also had the runner-up in last year’s race. It’s a race he likes to throw a few darts at and this time he saddles six of the twenty runners and has the first reserve. The three form the Mullins yard that takes the eye are race favourite and smart hurdler Echoes In Rain. Patrick Mullins rides the mare and although its amateur riders race it’s a race he hasn’t won yet. Her claims are there for all to see.
Farout isn’t the most consistent of horses, but he went close in a handicap at the Punchestown Festival and was a 2 ¼ length 5th of 9 at Leopardstown on his first start on the flat since joining the Mullins yard. A real stamina test like this could really suit the 5-year-old who is high on the shortlist.
Foveros was ¾ length runner-up in last year’s race off 3lb lower. He must be respected with Derek O’Connor booked and has each way claims again. In the same colours is 2017 winner Whiskey Sour who despite being a 9-year-old seems likely to run his race.
Besides the Willie Mullins contingent you must like the claims of Lynwood Gold who was an unlucky 5 length 5th of 19 in last year’s race when trained by Jessica Harrington. He was slowly away that day but was finishing his race off strongly. He returned from an 8-month absence with a 1 ¼ length 6th of 12 at Killarney 13-days ago and should be spot on fitness wise.
Dutch Schultz is having his first start on the flat since comfortably winning on his handicap debut at Gowran Park (1m 4f) last October. He was hiked up 12lb for that win but looked well ahead of his mark that day. First run since February but he’s gone well fresh in the past. If he stays this marathon trip, he’s a big player.
Three Crowns won and finished runner-up on both starts at last year’s festival. The win came in a 1m 4f handicap, but he stays 2m. Poor reappearance, after a five-month absence at the Curragh last month but much better expected here
Harry Fry brings over Winterwatch and he’s been aimed at this race. The 4-year-old made it 3-7 on the flat when winning at Kempton (2m) last month. He’s 6lb higher than at Kempton but could be still ahead of the handicapper and looks set for a big run for a trainer who saddled the third home last year.
Taipan ran with credit on his first start for 11 months when 2nd of 7 Bellewstown 25-days ago. The cheekpieces are back on and the jockey rode him last time. He’s not discounted at big odds although stamina for this marathon trip must be taken on trust.
7:15 – Claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap – 7f
Wide draws have put me off the inform Band Width and Dairerin in this 7f handicap
Girl Crush broke smartly to make all to win a Roscommon maiden month. Stall 6 is fine, and she showed last time that she’s very effective on soft ground. Looks on a workable mark for her handicap debut. Queen’s Pardon a maiden after seven starts has a couple of bits of form that make her of plenty of interest here. The filly finished a ½ length 3rd of 12 at Leopardstown (7f) three starts back and finished a 2 ¾ length 6th of 16 at Tipperary (7 ½f) last time. She’s got a nice draw in stall 4 and shouldn’t be far away. However, she’s been vey week in the early betting for the race but the 16/1 available makes each way appeal.
7:50 – Eventus Handicap – 1m 4 ½ f
Since 2017 Willie Mullins has dominated the festival in the way that Dermot Weld used to. Mullins has had 54 winners 251 runners 22% +27.71 113 placed 45%. That’s 35 winners in front of his nearest rival Joseph O’Brien. The Champion jumps trainer has also had the most winners in flat races at the festival with 17 winners from 62 runners 27% +39.04 33 placed 53%.
He saddles Your Eyes Only. The filly lacks the experience of most of her rivals but does come into the race after winning a Sligo maiden (1m 2f) last time. Her mark looks tough, but she shaped last time like 1m 4f would bring out further improvement in her. Sadly, the bookies are taking no chances and the early 6/1 has now long gone.
Betting Advice:
Galway
5:40 – 1pt win – Punters Poet – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Darkened – 8/1 @ Bet365
6:40 – 1pt win – Winterwatch – 10/1 @ Bet365, 1pt win – Three Crowns – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Lynwood Gold – 12/1 @ Bet365
7:15 – 1pt each way – Queen’s Pardon – 16/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
Cheers
John