Race 1
Debuchet is a short price favourite for this but he is not one for maximum faith. I expected big things from him last season but he never really fired and he has yet to deliver on the promise of his excellent Cheltenham Champion Bumper run behind Fayonagh. This looks a gilt edged opportunity for him to bounce back, and if he produces his best he should win.
 |
| The Shark has an interesting contender in Another Cyclone. |
At a much bigger price I am going to take a chance on Another Cyclone for the Shark Hanlon and Rachael Blackmore. This lightly raced 7yo full brother to Hidden Cyclone produced the best run of his career in a bumper here back in 2015 and he made a satisfactory hurdling debut at Ballinrobe, despite pulling a shoe. The cheekpieces are on, the step up to 2m 5f should suit and at 33/1 a small each way interest is advised.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: ANOTHER CYCLONE @ 33/1
Race 2
The one I like at a decent price in this 21f handicap hurdle is the Henry de Bromhead trained Plouios. I was very impressed with the manner of this son of Milan’s maiden hurdle win at Kilbeggan on his penultimate start (19f sft) and he can be forgiven a poor effort on quicker ground at Roscommon last time out in a Novice. The rain has been spilling all afternoon in Galway and with conditions likely to ease I think Plouios can outrun his odds with Mark Walsh doing the steering.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: PLOUIOS E/W @ 18/1
Race 3
At a nice price I am going to take a chance on Drakaina for Paul Power in this 2 mile handicap hurdle. This daughter of Oscar has been running consistently well over timber and she should be able to reverse the form of her 1L defeat to Like An Open Book at Clonmel back in October of last year thanks to a big swing in the weights. She was a winner off 97 for this jockey her last run on soft, she had a run on the level earlier this month to put her right for this and at odds of 20/1 I think she could go very well off a mark of 105.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: DRAKAINA E/W @ 20/1.
Race 4
No bet.
Race 5
One of the biggest races of the week at the Galway Festival is the Plate, a 2m 6f chase that requires a mix of stamina, speed and jumping ability. Plenty of shrewd judges like the chances of Calino D’Airy for de Bromhead and Bryan Cooper and if you look at his two course wins back in October over 18f on soft and heavy ground it is easy to see why he is fancied. The rain has arrived at the right time for him and a big run would come as no surprise.
 |
| If Snow Falcon puts in a clear round he can go close. |
Snow Falcon is a horse that has failed to complete on his last two starts but he boasts some strong form over fences and he was only 5L behind Monalee in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown in February (21f sft). His excellent record at Navan suggests he should come up the Galway hill well, he has gone well fresh in the past and he won’t mind the rain that has fallen. If Sean Flanagan can get him into a rhythm early I think he could go close and at odds of 18/1 he is the each way selection.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: SNOW FALCON E/W @ 18/1
Race 6
A field of 13 3yos will line up for this 8.5f handicap and a case can be made for quite a few of them. The one I like at a big price is Big Bad Sal for Harry Rogers and Chris Hayes. This 3yo filly has a good record at Ballybrit, finishing 3rd to Warm The Voice in a maiden at the festival last year and following that up with a good 2nd behind Coeur D’Amour.
Both of those good runs came on soft ground and her trainer will be very pleased to see that the rain has come. She hasn’t got the best of draws in stall 13 but plenty of horses have already overcome high draws this week. I think a repeat of her run behind Warm The Voice will be enough to see Big Bad Sal hit the frame and at odds of 18/1 she is the each way pick.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: BIG BAD SAL E/W @ 18/1 NAP
Race 7
The closing race on Day 3 of the Galway Festival is a 16.5f flat handicap and the one I like at a monstrous price is Nelson Road for John Joe Murphy with Daniel Redmond claiming 7lb. This son of Mount Nelson’s recent form figures do not make for good reading, but he has been running on quick ground that doesn’t suit. The ground will be a lot more to his liking at Galway and his last run on soft was a good one.
That came at Killarney back in May when he was beaten a length over 17f off a mark of 68. His career form figures at 2 miles or further on soft ground read 12, Daniel Redmond’s claim means he effectively 4lb lower than for his last win and at odds of 33/1 I think that Nelson Road could surprise with a big run.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: NELSON ROAD E/W @ 33/1 NB
No comments:
Post a Comment