Galway Races 2018: Day 1 Preview and Tips

To be honest, I am not usually a fan of mixed cards but Galway is the one exception. As with all the tracks out West it is very well supported by the locals, and it attracts owners and trainers from the four corners of the island of Ireland and beyond. For many it is not about the racing, it is about having the craic with your nearest and dearest and for others it is about imbibing as much alcohol as is humanly possible in a seven day period!

Galway is the biggest festival of racing bar none during the Summer months in Ireland and some high class performers from both codes will be lining up. The handicaps are usually ultra-competitive but there is usually value to be found. I plan on going racing this week for a couple of days at least, so I may not have time to write a blog for every day. Keep an eye on my Twitter and Facebook throughout the week as I will let you know if I fancy anything at a price. Below are my thoughts on Day 1 of the 2018 Galway Races.

Race 1

An uninspiring race kicks off the card on Day 1 of the Galway races and for me, this Novice Hurdle is best left alone. No bet.

Race 2

The second race of the day is a lot more palatable from an each way punting perspective with twenty horses going to post for this 16.5f  80-109 handicap hurdle. A recent tweet from Galway Racecourse revealed the ground had dried out to good on the NH course and with only 3-5mm forecast before racing on Monday it is unlikely to change much. Two horses at big prices who look sure to appreciate the ground are festival regular Afatcat and former Ballinrobe good ground winner Billy’s Angel.

Afatcat could go well for Stephen Mahon.

Afatcat is no stranger to success at this track, winning off 98 in 2015 (16f gd) and finishing a very unlucky 2nd in 2016 off 115. Last year soft ground scuppered his chances, but back on a sounder surface I think he could outrun his odds of 28/1 off 109. He shaped well on his comeback, Stephen Mahon targets races at his local track and after a lean 2017 Festival he will be eager to hit the ground running this year.

Billy’s Angel is another one to keep a close eye on as he ran a very nice race at Bellewstown last time. He travelled well and traded short in running, but a couple of slow jumps at crucial times cost him. He impressed me when winning his bumper at Ballinrobe on good ground and with regular partner Andrew Lynch back in the plate, a small each way interest at 28/1 is advised.

STEVOS’ SELECTIONS: AFATCAT E/W @ 28/1; BILLY’S ANGEL E/W @ 28/1

Race 3

It is not often you find flat maidens in Ireland where you can presume that the majority of the field will be going all out to win. However, this 7f contest looks a cracking race to me and I think that at least 6 of the 11 runners will be doing their utmost to be first past the post. Mount Tabora and Third World clashed at the Curragh last time and finished 2nd and 4th respectively with over 4L between them.
 

Power Of Now looked a nice type in the ring at Leopardstown.

Power Of Now was fancied to run a big race on his debut at Leopardstown and I was there that day. He is a striking individual and though he could only manage 4th there could be a lot of improvement to come. His trainer targets races at this  festival too so a big run could be forthcoming. Wargrave was another that was well touted on debut but he could only manage 3rd on heavy ground. The sounder surface at Galway could show him in a much better light.

Zander has shaped well on both starts so far at the Curragh and Down Royal, and the stiff uphill finish at Galway could bring out the best in him. However, at a monstrous price I think Always Running could surprise with a big performance. He caught the eye running a nice race on debut at Leopardstown where he ran better than his finishing position suggests.

He was beaten a similar distance at the Curragh last time, but I think a slight ease in the ground could suit the son of Dandy Man. Sheila Lavery does well with her runners here and I think she could have a decent opening day.  At 33/1 he is the each way suggestion, but Power Of Now is my idea of the most likely winner.

STEVOS’ SELECTIONS: ALWAYS RUNNING E/W 33/1; POWER OF NOW WIN 9/2.

Race 4

Frustratingly, for each way players only 15 will go to post for this 7f handicap but plenty of bookies will be offering extra places each way so make sure to shop around. As I stated earlier, Sheila Lavery loves to have horses run well at the Galway Festival and I think she has a right chance in this race with the very well drawn Natty Dresser.
 

Natty Dresser could go well for shrewd Sheila Lavery.

This fella will be having just his 5th handicap run and though he has yet to win from 8 starts he has shown enough to suggest he is capable of winning a race. He has been beaten around 3L on his last three starts on good/good to firm and I think slightly easier ground could aid his cause. The draw Gods have smiled upon him, he was well backed last time out and at odds of 20/1 a big run would come as no surprise.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: NATTY DRESSER E/W @ 20/1 NB

Race 5

The feature race on the opening day of the Galway Festival is this 100k 17f flat race for amateur riders. Limini is all the rage at odds of 7/4 but it has been a long time since she has run on the level and her best flat form has come over shorter. She beat none other than Manatee on her last flat start over 15f in receipt of 4lbs in France and if that form is taken literally she looks chucked in off just 89. A lot has to be taken on trust though, given it is her first run of any sort for over 500 days and at a much bigger price Golden Spear is interesting.
 

Tony Martin's horses are hitting form at the right time for Galway.

This son of Kyllachy is trained by Tony Martin, a trainer who has been undergoing a revival after a quiet spell. He races off a mark of 88 with Maxine O’Sullivan claiming 7lb so he is effectively 6lb lower than when beating Nakeeta (then rated 99, now rated 107) at Leopardstown over 15f. O’Sullivan has a decent frame hitting strike rate for Martin too, with a win and 5 top 4 finishes from 11 rides on the flat. Golden Spear’s form figures at Galway read 212, he is well handicapped, he caught the eye last time and he won’t mind a slight ease in the ground. At odds of 18/1 he is a confident each way selection.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: GOLDEN SPEAR E/W @ 18/1 NAP

Race 6

16 horses will take their chance in this 12.5f 3yo handicap and a case can be made for most. The key to this race could lie with the weather as there is a mix of horses that would like a drop of rain, while others would like to see the ground dry out. For this reason, and given the uncertainty over the weather, I think backing a horse that is versatile ground wise makes sense, and the one I like at a monster price is Flindt for Dot Love and Conor Hoban.

This son of Most Improved’s only win came over 10.5f at Sligo 9 (yld) off a mark of 57 back in May and connections suggested that a switch to hurdling was imminent afterwards. However, he has been kept to the level and his run over this trip next time at Leopardstown on quicker ground was far from a poor one. He kept on well between horses for 5th at Gowran over 10f  on his last start on yielding ground, and a line can be put through his last run at Dundalk. Dot Love had a nice winner with Solar Heat last week, and at odds of 25/1 Flindt could give her more to smile about.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: FLINDT E/W @ 25/1

Race 7

No bet for me in the bumper.