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.