UK Horse Racing Tips: Galway

WEMBLEY could be ready to score. He has two solid placed efforts in the bank, starting with a third in the Curragh after suffering a less than clear route. That race has thrown up a couple of subsequent winners including fifth-placed Mac Swiney, who looked smart when turning the form around to beat Wembley by a length and a half in the Curragh. Wembley has a decent draw to go forward from and holds big-race entries. He is a full brother to Group 1 winner Johannes Vermeer. Lust has a clear chance after a close third in Navan. The runner-up franked the form by comfortably winning a maiden at Leopardstown on Thursday. Lust has gone off joint favourite on both starts (including when behind Wembley in seventh at the Curragh). He has a Group 1 entry in the National Stakes. Trusted Ally could build upon a promising third on debut at Limerick.
Prediction : 1st Wembley 2nd Lust 3rd Trusted Ally

ELITE LEGION could be worth chancing each way on seasonal reappearance. The handicapper has given her a chance by dropping her 4lb, and she just gets into this race off top weight on a mark of 80. The War Command filly didn't perform as the market expected when last seen in the valuable auction race final at Naas in October, however, that was on very testing ground. She could be better judged on her victory by three and a half lengths, over this trip on rain-softened ground, in an auction fillies' maiden at Listowel. Andrew Oliver won this race in 2013 and 2014 and his Inside Intel is interesting. She has run in maidens won by good sorts, particularly when not disgraced behind subsequent French Oaks winner Fancy Blue at Naas in September. Inside Intel could have a say here off a mark of 72. Glow Worm has been placed in seven of her 11 races, including two runner-up berths over this trip. She can put in another good shift for Jack Davison and Ronan Whelan. Thaleeq is unexposed after three runs, but being drawn 18 brings problems.
Prediction : 1st Elite Legion 2nd Inside Intel 3rd Glow Worm

LADY SCATHACH is in terrific humour and has prospects of grabbing the hat-trick under the 6lb mandatory penalty for winning at Leopardstown on Thursday. She travelled notably well in Foxrock before putting them away, and such an in-form mare is dangerous to oppose. This is a drop in class for Lightning Amber, so she is given plenty of respect. The form of the fillies' maiden she won at Leopardstown in October has worked out well. She has questions to answer after finishing down the field at the same track earlier in the month, but there is a nagging feeling that she could do plenty of damage in this company. Gavin Ryan claims 5lb and she has a first-time visor, so a big run looks more than likely. Pulsating was runner-up in her last couple of starts, and has a lovely light weight, but the forecast yielding ground is not in her favour.
Prediction : 1st Lady Scathach 2nd Lightning Amber 3rd Pulsating

He's never won back-to-back races before but maybe ATLAS can follow up a recent Leopardstown success. That was a fourth career win for the 7-y-o and he's run well around Galway, without winning, a few times in the past. He had three of these rivals behind him last time, with Tanseeq showing improved form in third. Blinkers may not have worked that day on Khafaaq (seventh) and he's better judged on a fine second at the Curragh the time before. The unexposed one is The Mpex Kid, up 11lbs for a convincing win at Fairyhouse and open to plenty of improvement in just his second handicap. Topweight Fridtjof Nansen has a stamina query over this stiff 7f, while She's A Babe would have claims on her good third at Bellewstown.
Prediction : 1st Atlas 2nd Khafaaq 3rd The Mpex Kid

SHARE THE HONOUR won here at the Festival two years ago, and comes here on the back of a good third to the very progressive Wilderness at Leopardstown. He's only 2lbs higher than his winning mark in 2018, and has Colin Keane's assistance as well. Enable's half-brother Centroid kept on well over 1m2f last time and has a good 5lbs claimer on board, as does Legal Spin who has been disappointing overall but is coming down the weights and is capable of better. Wajaaha got a fair hike for his win at Limerick and was well-held in third at the Curragh last time, while Penny Out will be staying on late and can get involved if the gaps come for her.
Prediction : 1st Share The Honour 2nd Centroid 3rd Wajaaha

DE NAME ESCAPES ME might reverse Curragh form with Dalton Highway and can go close for Derek O'Connor. The winning hurdler/chaser might still have a bit more to come on the level with this being just his fifth start in this discipline. Dalton Highway, runner-up to Great White Shark in this last year, is a tough and consistent sort but winning off a mark of 96 may just be beyond him. Champion Hurdle runner-up Sharjah hasn't yet matched his jumping exploits on the Flat, but Grade 1 juvenile hurdle winner A Wave of The Sea is of interest at the foot of the weights. Run For Mary is respected for a shrewd stable, while Princess Zoe bolted up at The Curragh and this ex-German performer will be a danger to all even off a 13lbs higher rating, with a top-class claiming amateur booked.
Prediction : 1st De Name Escapes Me 2nd Dalton Highway 3rd A Wave Of The Sea

DAZZLING DARREN moves away from Roscommon now and maybe he'll have a bit of better luck. The Dragon Pulse gelding meets Yulong Pearlisland again, after getting beaten a head by Jessica Harrington's charge on July 7th. That was on the back of nose and neck defeats previously at the same venue. Perhaps with the lack of a race winning change of gear the hill at Ballybrit can help. Chris Hayes is up for the initial occasion and first time blinkers might also help the chestnut. Cases can be built for many of them. It's no surprise to see 7Ib apprentice Killian Hennessy on Elizabethofaragon to help offset her ten stone burden. She has a decent chance of bringing up the hat-trick. Lilli Milena will justifiably have her backers too.
Prediction : 1st Dazzling Darren 2nd Elizabethofaragon 3rd Lilli Milena

Galway Hurdle entrant MT LEINSTER is obviously a big player here, and he's taken to beat the likes of Thosedaysaregone and Ciel D'afrique. Willie Mullins' horses have been generally conspicuous by their absence since action returned, but the Closutton team are out in force on the first day of the summer festival. Mt Leinster can be a bit hard on himself. Back now off a break he could return a more mature performer, getting a bit older at six though. Ciel D'afrique and Jamie Codd is a fascinating rival. I don't recall Codd riding for Dermot Weld before, and it won't be easy for Mt Leinster conceding 11Ib to the Sea The Stars grey. Dual course winner Western Victory can at least get involved for the placings along with Thosedaysaregone.
Prediction : 1st Mt Leinster 2nd Thosedaysaregone 3rd Ciel Dafrique