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)