4.50 Galway – Uncle Pat (Each Way)
There are a few of these that lack hurdling experience, so I am going to go with the one that has, Uncle Pat. Though he disappointed as an odds-on favourite when he finished fourth at Punchestown last month, he wasn’t beaten that far. That race was over 2m7f, and he pulled too hard, so coming back down in trip to 2m5f makes sense. Before that, he won a bumper at Downpatrick, so he’s shown he’s got ability. He might not be the first string on jockey bookings, but I think he has a good chance of being in the frame, and he might surprise a few here.
5.25 Galway – So They Tell Me (Each Way)
This is a fiercely competitive handicap, but So They Tell Me makes a lot of appeal. He won a good handicap hurdle at Punchestown last month, asserting well in the closing stages. That was the first time he had tackled that kind of trip before, as previously he had been campaigned over 2m. If you look at his pedigree, he’s bred to appreciate further, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise. He is off a 7lb higher mark, but I don’t think that will be enough to stop him.
6.00 Galway – Enfranchise (Win)
I put up Enfranchise on the Flat at Galway on Monday, and she ran a good race to finish fifth. She’s now coming back over hurdles, and they look to have found an ideal race for her here taking on her own sex. Last year she bolted up over hurdles at Galway in a maiden hurdle and won with plenty in hand, and that was her second run of the Festival, so a quick turnaround should be fine. I think her mark of 123 is very exploitable, and she’s up there with one of my bets of the day.
6.40 Galway – Cast A Spell (Each Way)
It’s interesting to see Patrick Mullins get the call up on Cast A Spell. She was an eye-catcher last week when rallying well to take third at Ballinrobe, and she wasn’t beaten that far. If you look back at her career, she’s got an interesting profile. She used to be trained by Gary Moore, and she won a bumper, so she’s got gears as well as the ability to stay well. This race looks like it’s been a plan, and maybe she’s the one we have to keep on her side.
7.10 Galway – In Excelsis Deo (Each Way)
This looks like a very good renewal of the Galway Plate, but I think the prize could be coming back to the UK with In Excelsis Deo. Since he’s moved up in distance, he’s looked like a different proposition. Last season he was tried over 2m until the Cheltenham Festival, when he finished a staying on fifth over 2m4f. After that, he went back to Cheltenham and bolted up at their April meeting, beating Hang In There, who has subsequently boosted the form. The six-year-old gelding is going to be wearing first-time cheekpieces to help him brush up his jumping, which is no bad thing. Off a mark of 142, I still think he’s well handicapped, and he’s top of my shortlist.
7.45 Galway – Thor’s Hammer (Win)
Thor’s Hammer just bumped into a potential group horse in a handicap at the Curragh last time out when he finished third. That was a better race than what he’s going to be racing in here, and I think he’s better than his mark of 85. His trainer, Johnny Murtagh, is also now starting to hit form, as he had a nice winner at Glorious Goodwood yesterday. With a good draw in Stall 2, he’s the one to beat.
8.15 Galway – How About No (Each Way)
You’re going to have to stay well to win this race, so I’m going to go for How About No for Joseph O’Brien. The son of Galiway is still lightly raced for his age, but he’s proven he can stay 2m. The last time we saw him, he ran a really good race to finish third over the trip at the Curragh, and he was only headed close home. However, that was his first race in a turf handicap, and his mark of 82 looks very workable. I think he can continue to improve, and I can see him being involved in the finish again.