Galway Festival tips
Check out our best bets for today's action at Galway
By Man On The Spot
Horse Racing
Tue July 26, 2022 · 2y ago
Man On The Spot has a guide and a selection for every race on the second day of the Galway Festival.
Several of these look as they could go on to better things including TAX FOR MAX now that he's got his head in front though he didn't have much to do at Punchestown once Flaming Moon fell when in the lead. He's taken to go in again though Amir Kabir, three-times a winner on the Flat, had plenty in hand at Roscommon and Telecon won by 15 lengths on his hurdling bow at Ballinrobe. Four-year-olds have a reasonable record in this and Prairie Dancer has made all in three of his last four starts while the mare Elle Perfecta was very impressive at Bellewstown though that was over 2m4f.
Jon Snow makes his chasing debut after winning on the Flat and scoring three times over hurdles. He's rated 146 over the smaller obstacles and had a freshener on the level last month where he finished runner-up. MIDNIGHT RUN (NAP) also has a recent run on the level behind him, coming home well clear in a Ballinrobe maiden last week. Joseph O'Brien's charge was in touch when falling three out in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in November and his overall form over fences gives him the edge. Hannon fell on his chasing bow in November and probably came up against a smart one at Wexford when narrowly beaten with the remainder well behind. Enniskerry was in good form over hurdles on quick ground last summer and makes his chasing debut but the remainder will need to raise their game to get competitive. Punters Poet was engaged in the 5.40 yesterday.
6.10 COLM QUINN BMW Irish EBF Fillies Maiden 2YO only, 11 Runners, 7f
DOWER HOUSE, a full-sister to Group 1 winners Churchill and Clemmie, made her debut in a Curragh maiden won by odds-on stable companion Never Ending Story, who followed up in a Group 3 last week. She showed plenty of early pace before fading and should have come on enough to take this. Her stable has won this three times in the last four years with Jim Bolger landing the other and he runs the Dawn Approach filly On The Money. Dermot Weld has also won the race on numerous occasions and Tahiyra is a half-sister to the stable's brilliant triple Group 1 winner and Arc runner-up Tarnawa. Remind is from the first crop of U S Navy Flag out of a middle-distance mare.
Saltonstall won this in 2019/20 but was only sixth behind stablemate Sirjack Thomas a year ago when probably not suited by soft ground. He's dropped to a very low mark and ran well at Leopardstown last time. He's one of eight representatives from the yard of Ado McGuinness with jockey bookings providing few clues. Last year's winner came into the race in top form having won at the Curragh previously but he hasn't shown the same level of form this time and was well beaten behind Fastnet Crown there last time. The winner is genuine and consistent at this level but now on his highest ever mark. PATRICK SARSFIELD has raced exclusively at Pattern race level since landing a Navan handicap two years ago and he's only 1lb higher while Colin Keane was on board when Magic Chegaga won at Limerick and his mount found 1m2f just beyond her at the Curragh next time. It's a long time since a three-year-old won this and Cowboy Justice is up 7lb for his victory at Killarney.
7.15 Caulfield Industrial Irish EBF Maiden 3YO plus, 13 Runners, 7f
KARAKOUL's neck second to the smart Piz Badile at Killarney a year ago would be easily good enough for this though he's yet to replicate that form in two starts in the spring. He's been gelded and gets another chance to prove that early run was no fluke. Butterfly Island has now had plenty of chances and has done better when tackling a mile, as she did at Listowel last time. Bobby Dassler improved with every run last season but hasn't been seen since October while Coreman found a mile on soft ground against him at the Curragh after a promising debut at Gowran.
7.50 caulfieldindustrial.com Handicap (50-80) 4YO plus, 19 Runners, 7f
Church Mountain has been here twice and won both though is 10lb higher than his victory at Limerick last month. Starting Monday has also won around here and has dropped to a winnable mark judging by his narrow defeat on that same track last time. Dunum has completed a hat-trick of handicap victories and a 6lb rise for his success at the Curragh doesn't look enough to prevent another big run. Shawaamekh has continued to run well since scoring over Cork's straight 7f and has won from a higher mark in the past but Drombeg Duke is now 10lb higher than his last winning mark. EARLS loves really testing ground and any further rain would greatly enhance his claims though he acts on any going with give and has been running well enough to get the nod in a tricky event.
8.20 Caulfield Industrial Handicap (50-70) 4YO plus, 21 Runners, 1m 123y
A low-grade handicap with few arriving in form. Cleveleys was attempting to give the winner 13lb when narrowly beaten at Naas last week when previous winner Geological was well beaten. Clear Quartz won easily over a mile at Killarney then made a bold bid to defy a 10lb rise over 7f at Roscommon where he was staying on behind tonight's rival No Patience. The lightly-raced BLACK HAWK EAGLE has been racing over further and staying on. With this likely to be run at a furious pace his stamina can come into play and he can gain his first victory. Mass Gathering's recent victory was over 5f and she hasn't proved she stays this far.
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