Galway Races 2018: Day 2 Preview and Tips

Race 1

The opening card on Day 2 of the Galway Festival is a 2 mile Listed Novice Hurdle and with just six going to post it is only two places for each way betting. Ruby and Mullins team up with the favourite Exchange Rate and the unbeaten son of Monsun looks to hold strong claims. Mullins also runs French import Pakora but he might prefer more cut in the ground.

Canardier looks overpriced for Dermot McLoughlin.

The one I like is Canardier for Dermot McLoughlin and Andrew Lynch. This son of Crillon has looked a different horse since encountering decent ground and he put it up to a good one in Causey Arch last time. The stiff finish at Galway should play to his strengths and at odds of 5/1 a small win bet is advised. I think he should be half that price.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: CANARDIER @ 5/1

Race 2

Not a race I will be getting involved in. No bet.

Race 3

This 7f Fillies Maiden looks a competitive renewal and Hermosa, a daughter of Galileo and a sister to Hydrangea, is the market leader for Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien. She ran an eye catching race on her debut at the Curragh when staying on from the back for 4th and given how she stayed on, the uphill finish at Ballybrit should suit. She will be hard to beat if improving for that run from the plum draw in stall 1.

The only worry for Hermosa is the ease in the ground as her taking debut effort came on good to firm. For that reason I am going to advise a small each way interest in Gold Memory for the in form Lyons/Keane partnership. She ran a nice enough race on quick ground over 6f at Leopardstown and her pedigree suggests that further and juice in the ground should suit. She could take a big step forward from her good draw in stall 3 and at 11/1 she is the each way pick.  

STEVOS’ SELECTION: GOLD MEMORY E/W @ 11/1.

Race 4

I tipped up two Sheila Lavery horses on Day 1 and while Always Running was outclassed, I thought Natty Dresser wasn’t given the best of rides. I am glad to see that she has booked Gary Carroll for the ride on Burning Question and I think this daughter of Holy Roman Emperor could reward each way support back in trip after a fine effort at Ballinrobe a week ago.

She was beaten a short head by Stormy Tale who she was conceding over a stone in weight to and she was in front everywhere bar on the line. Her maiden run at Cork when 3rd over 7f on soft ground worked out well with the runner up scoring by over 8L in a maiden next time. She has a lot to find on the figures with the market leaders here, but this lightly raced filly looks to be improving and at 8/1 she is worth chancing each way.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: BURNING QUESTION E/W @ 8/1

Race 5

This 120k 8.5f handicap is the feature race on Day 2 of the Galway Races and a total of 18 horses will line up hoping for a slice of the big pot. I would love to see Geological run a big race as he is as genuine a horse as they come. I think Turbine has been aimed at this race all year after his fine effort at the Festival last season and he arrives here a well handicapped horse. However, the draw Gods have not been kind and he could find life hard from stall 17.
 

Marshall Jennings deserves some luck after last year.

The one I like in this race is Marshall Jennings, a horse who fell victim to some rough housing in last year’s renewal by the eventual winner Riven Light. Marshall Jennings travelled very sweetly throughout the race but whether he would have won is debateable. However, he would definitely have gone a lot closer without that interference and off the same mark with Tom Madden claiming a handy 5lb, he could gain revenge on Riven Light. At odds of 16/1 Marshall Jennings is my e/w NAP of the day.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: MARSHALL JENNINGS E/W @ 16/1 NAP

Race 6

The penultimate race on the second day of the Galway Races is an extremely tricky looking 8.5f handicap. A total of 18 horses will go to post and a valid case can be made for quite a few of them. The one I like at a nice price is Dinkum Diamond for the Slatterys. This son of Aussie Rules is a 10yo now but his cracking run at Leopardstown three runs back showed that he still retained some of his old ability.

He ran well in a much stronger race than this at last year’s festival off a mark 85 when 8th of 16, beaten 8L. He is running off a mark of 67 here and with young Slattery’s claim he is effectively 20lb lower than last year (Killian Leonard claimed 5lb in 2017). He has a nice draw in stall 3, he will love the ease in the ground and at odds of 25/1 he could go well.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: DINKUM DIAMOND  E/W @ 25/1

Race 7

The final race of the day is a 7f handicap and I have a small interest in Dance Alone and Mokhalad as an owner. Dance Alone has been an absolute star for us but a wide draw and ease in the ground could conspire against him. Mokhalad has failed to reproduce the form of his sparkling Navan win since, and it is a case of hoping that he appreciates the return to a more forgiving surface. Both will be doing their very best, and once both come home safe I will be happy.

Ishebayorgrey has strong form in the book.

From the plum draw in stall 1 I think Alan’s Pride is a huge danger, especially if more rain arrives. However, it is a long way home up the Galway hill and he could be vulnerable to a finisher. That finisher could well be Ishebayorgrey, a horse I have been keeping tabs on since his fine 2nd over this trip at Leopardstown back in May behind Zorion. That race has worked out very well, he races off the same mark of 77 here and he will have no issues on the ground. At odds of 12/1 Pat Martin's charge is the each way suggestion, even if I won’t be cheering him on!


STEVOS’ SELECTION: ISHEBAYORGREY E/W @ 12/1 NB