Pintura has fuel to take Topaz

No surprises on day one then, Dermot Weld notches as many winners in two hours as he has had in the last four weeks and it is evident that we could be in for a dozen plus haul again this year.

The feature race on day two is the Topaz Mile at 5:35. A field of 16 line up for the €69k first prize and Dermot Weld’s Rock Critic heads the pack. He has three wins and a place from four runs at Galway and given that he looks twice the horse here as anywhere else he is highly respected.

The Weld team won this last year with Stunning View and Rock Critic follows an identical path of an unplaced effort at Ascot in the Hunt Cup. He concedes weight to all rivals and his task is not an easy one so minor money is a realistic expectation.

There are seven three year olds in the line up and while we have yet to see the best of all of them. Custom Cut is the shortest of them in the market. Having left the Dermot Weld stable in the off season he has won his last four races with a degree of ease but has risen 30lbs in the handicap as a result.

He is 12lbs higher in the weights than his most recent win so it is no easy task to concede weight to older horses and therefore is passed over.

Shane Foley gave a good ride to Sure Reef on Monday evening and the Michael Halford stable could not be in better form with five wins and six places from his last 17 runners. They have Regulation in this contest.

He was a close third in a conditions race last time behind two horse he would have been getting lumps of weight from ordinarily. He was given what looks a fairly hefty seven pound rise in the weights for that but is a good price all the same at 14/1. He could have been drawn better but if he can get a good position early he looks sure to take a hand in the finish.

Pintura (grey silks) has since moved stable

Castle Bar Sling has won a bigger race than this in the shape of the Irish Cambridgeshire last August but he does not seem to like Galway with a fourth place the best he has mustered in six runs here.

Royal Blue Star was ran down late to finish runner up in this is 2011 and runs off the same handicap mark now and the seven pound riders allowance brings him into it.

Moran Gra certainly has the quality to be a leading contender but after such a poor run in this 12 months ago is best watched.

Finally to the two UK raiders PINTURA and Spa’s Dancer, the former is a consistent and high quality handicapper in the UK and has finished in the places in races at major festivals at Goodwood and York and a win at Chester’s May meeting.

He is having is first run for trainer Kevin Ryan and that is the only concern but a horse of such consistency one imagines that there was plenty of good opportunities for him across the Irish Sea so it is certainly interesting that he comes here.

This represents a drop in grade from what he is used to in my opinion and the booking of Joseph O’Brien and a plum draw in stall one are all points in his favour.

The other English raider is Spa’s Dancer, he has run well in Ireland before at The Curragh behing the reopposing Bold Thady Quill on Irish Derby weekend and was since third in a very hot contest at Sandown a race in which the 2^nd, 6^th, 7^th, and 8^thplaced horses have won or ran very well since. Chris Hayes who has ridden the winner of this twice before takes the reins.

As always with Galway’s big race of the day it is extremely competitive but the prices are lucrative if you can get the right one.

Verdict: Pintura – Regulation – Rock Critic

Dandy Nichollsmaster of such contests as 5:35 Goodwood

A quick look at the other races and the two mile handicap at 5:00 a field of 20 makes things no easier but Aughnacurraveel is in top form and any rain would aid the cause of this eight year old. He has a nice low weight and has attracted overnight support in the betting.

And finally if you fancy a bet on the UK fare today it is the start of Glorious Goodwood. The final race on the card looks a lottery but it is a race in which trainer Dandy Nicholls has saddled the winner on multiple occasions. He is doubly represented but Fitz Flyer looks the pick on jockey bookings.

He is having his fifth run since changing stables and last time at Ascot was by far his best. This is a drop in grade and provided the ground is good or better he should be throwing his hat in to the ring near the line.

Galway Monday Preview

IT’S here! What a week of racing we have ahead of us Galway and Goodwood and for the enthusiasts plenty of other interesting cards around the UK. Visit this blog daily for a preview of some of the racing. I will attempt to help narrow the fields and throw in the odd bit of advice on what looks a good value bet.

you are here for opinion so without further adieu let’s dive into the big race for day 1 at Ballybrit.

The best Seven Days of the Galway year ahead.

5:35 Carlton Hotel Galway City Handicap

Traditionally one of the hardest puzzles of the week, a field off 20 will line up under the amateur riders for the €42,000 first prize.

Firstly to the favourites - Clarach, it is very difficult to see her being far away as they pass the winning post and at the time of writing 8/1 looks extremely generous. She has won 3 on the spin, 2 of those over hurdles.

The drying ground is certainly in her favour, with a useful young rider Declan Lavery claiming 7lbs off the weight and being drawn well in stall 6 and Course form is in the book which is always a plus at Galway. She comes here amid doubts that she will make the line up for the hurdle. Her credentials are rock solid.

Earls Quarter will also prove popular given his connections but a long story short; despite catching the high quality Rebel Fitz out over hurdles here last autumn, I don’t think he is good enough and is plenty short enough in the betting.

A note of interest is that Robert McNamara who rides most of Dermot Weld’s in similar races is not on Midnight Music and instead goes on Scots Gaelic who managed a fourth place at Royal Ascot two starts ago. The latter was a bit disappointing last time despite the trip not being ideal but this will be much more to his liking and the stable is in form.

Another of Pat Flynn’s representatives is Prince Chaparral, he needs to improve slightly to win but could be a good each way play and despite a big price and having leading Point-to-Point rider Barry O'Neill on his back, he is passed over.

Citizenship won one of Ireland’s biggest handicap hurdles in January and was also an easy winner at Killarney last time out in first time blinkers. That race was ran in a very slow time and he is up in class and 10lbs higher now. While that is a big rise he still holds a strong chance but there is better value to be had.

Oilily: highest rated hurdler in the 5:35 field

Last year’s winner Fosters Cross comes here on the back of a fall last time over hurdles. He lines up off an 8lb higher mark when riders claim is considered and is now 10 years old so others are preferred.

Caim Hill arrives here in fantastic form after a win over fences in Kilbeggan’s feature event 10 days ago. A 10 time visitor to the winners’ enclosure and two from two on the flat he is difficult to oppose but the verdict goes to OILILY.

A remarkably consistent mare her only poor efforts came one after the other in an interrupted seven month spell last year. She has competed at a high level over hurdles in the past and is the highest rated of these in that code.

She has had a lot of placed efforts but with first time cheekpieces at Leopardstown on her last run stuck to the task well to win last time and a repeat of that effort should see her go well. At 14/1 she looks the best value in the races but Clarach makes plenty of appeal also.

Verdict:  Oilily – Clarach – Caim Hill

Elsewhere on the card the 5:00 Claregalway Hotel EBF Maiden looks yet again and as will be the case with maidens through the week to be between Aidan O Brien (L) and Dermot Weld (R).

Line Drummer represents Ballydoyle and ran a good race on debut only six days ago at Tipperary on soft ground behind a potentially useful stable mate. Provided he has recovered he holds leading claims.

Nearly all of Aidan O Brien’s representatives in this contest came after quite a recent run so it can be assumed the ground last week will not have blunted him. He is a son of Galileo and they usually improve with racecourse experience adding another positive to his chances.

Weld who is has won this in the region of 20 times in his training career has Thunder Mountain. He only beat one rival home in a strong maiden at The Curragh in May and despite his trainer’s record I would much rather be on Line Drummer.

I will not take the pleasure of sorting out the rest of the contests from you.

Away from Galway, course specialists Almaty Express and Rough Rock should give you a run for your money at Wolverhampton 7:00 and Yarmouth 3:50 respectively.

(Good luck and those of you who know me don’t be shy on donations should I ‘pox’ a winner or two)