Finding the motivation to write this preview wasn’t easy. Another blank day yesterday and this has probably now been the worst run since I started this job back in 2018. And this week we have Galway and Goodwood so things don’t get any easier. I’ll do my very best to try to find some winners but as you might imagine, confidence is at an all-time low but we live in hope.
5.40 – Iggy Daly Handicap Hurdle (110 = 11st 12lb)
A nice and easy start for us with this 16.5f handicap hurdle. The one that appeals most at a big price is the 7yo mare, Inchiquin Star. Trained by Terence O’Brien, it looks to me as though she may have been campaigned with this meeting in mind.
A dual-purpose sort, she is a three-time winner over hurdles
and while she finished last season in poor form, she made a pretty encouraging debut
for this stable at Listowel last month. She did jump a bit to the left at times
but it looked like she would improve plenty for the run, just getting tired
after jumping the last.
Terence O’Brien gave her another sharpener on the Flat at
Tramore a few weeks ago so she certainly shouldn’t be lacking fitness now and
she runs off 104, a pound lower than she was when last winning over hurdles at
Wexford in October 2024.
She has run well on
the Flat here before, which is why I think connections may have targeted this
race and Micheal Kenneally, who takes off a valuable 5lb, has finished in the frame
on four of his eight previous rides for this yard. Usually, this stable isn’t
afraid to put the money down when they fancy one so hopefully there’s a few bob
for this mare tomorrow. At odds of 40/1, Inchiquin Star is the e/w selection.
2026 Galway Festival Monday Tip: Inchiquin Star e/w @
40/1 (5 places)
7.15 – Clayton Hotel Handicap (80 = 10st)
Back in March I tipped up Unfamiliar at Naas and while she didn’t
win, she went into my notebook as one to follow. Her next two runs were poor,
both on soft ground, but she showed signs of life over 6f on good ground at
Fairyhouse when fifth and she finally got off the mark next time at Limerick, winning
by a nostril over 7f on yielding.
The daughter of Phoenix Of Spain is effectively 7lb higher
here (and 3lb wrong) but the fact that Kevin Smith, who had a winner on Day 1
of this meeting last year, isn’t using a claimer on her suggests he thinks
there could still be a bit more to come from her.
The day she caught my eye at Naas she was held up and finished
with a right rattle but she’s been ridden prominently the last twice and given
her favourable draw here in stall 4, I’d imagine those tactics will be employed
again. If she races as keenly as she did at Limerick last time, she probably
won’t get home here but if Chris Hayes can get her to race evenly, hopefully
Unfamiliar can hit the frame again at odds of 22/1 she is the e/w
selection.
2026 Galway Festival Monday Tip: Unfamiliar e/w @ 22/1 (4
places)
7.50 – Gra Chocolates Handicap (90 = 10st)
Joseph O’Brien runs three here and on rider arrangements, it
looks like Themis and Fits Perfect are his main hopes. However, I am going to
take a punt on the ‘third string’, So Must I.
By Sottsass, this filly’s sole win came on the AW at Dundalk
in February. After a short break she reappeared over 1m2f at Leopardstown in April
and she ran a very decent race to finish a 5l sixth, outpaced before keeping on
nicely enough in the closing stages.
On her next start at Sligo over 10.5f, a track with similar
characteristics to Galway, she was denied a clear run before again staying on pretty
well for a 4l fourth. It is easy to forgive her poor run in listed company on
her penultimate start and she bounced back with a fine effort at Killarney on
her first try over this sort of trip in a handicap.
Dropped out early, she absolutely flew home in the closing
stages and I am hoping that she will relish the stiff uphill finish at
Ballybrit. At odds of 25/1, back So Must I e/w.
2026 Galway Festival Monday Tip: So Must I e/w @ 25/1 (4
places)
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