UK Horse Racing Tips: Galway

Soft ground could prove the undoing of a few of these and a chance is taken that UMNEYAAT might be better suited than most, having run a promising race on debut at Gowran for a yard who clearly target this maiden. Umneyaat, out of an unraced sister to a Group 2 winner, was well held by the winner at Gowran but shaped with promise and, crucially, seemed to handle testing ground conditions. The Leopardstown maiden in which Meala (third) finished ahead of Angel Palm (fourth) and Ballydoyle's very well bred Sweet Molly Malone (last) is probably a stronger maiden, with the form subsequently being boosted by the runner-up winning a Group 3 on next start. Angel Palm was well touted at Leopardstown and while she was beaten 1.75L by the once-raced Meala, shaped with considerable promise and certainly wasn't thrashed in the closing stages. Sweet Molly Malone finished out her race quite well and seems sure to benefit considerably for the run but Angel Palm may prove best of the trio but is unproven, and possibly mightn't be suited, to testing ground. Oh So Fine, another well bred Coolmore runner, was well enough held on debut at the Curragh last month but did close on the leaders in the closing stages and could play her part today, albeit she too would probably prefer a sound surface. Winter Oasis might prove vulnerable to a few while Bondi Dreams has plenty stamina in her pedigree and is surely best watched on debut today.
Prediction : 1st Umneyaat 2nd Sweet Molly Malone 3rd Winter Oasis

MOSTAQQER showed enough at Roscommon last month to suggest he can win. He was an eye-catching second at Roscommon and having met some trouble along the rail in-running, stayed on well late-on but was never in a position to challenge the winner. He clearly has plenty ability, handled yielding ground at Roscommon and this race will have been his target for some weeks. One gets the impression Teed Up is potentially quite useful but has shown difficult tendencies. He was withdrawn having become upset in the stalls (the horse in a neighbouring stall also refused to load) in the same maiden the selection ran in at Roscommon in June and again was awkward at Gowran, when he jinked left leaving the stalls. Teed Up did run a promising race in that Gowran race, which was on testing ground, and being well bred (his half-brother won the Ebor) should improve for the run and can challenge the selection strongly. Balmari has shown useful form at Dundalk but is comfortably enough held by Teed Up on Gowran form. Rocket Science is proven on testing ground but needs to improve to win while War Leader is tried in fourth-time blinkers today and while his best run was on soft last September, needs to show more than his most recent starts.
Prediction : 1st Mostaqqer 2nd Teed Up 3rd Balmari

CELESTIAL OBJECT is a hopeful pick to win this open looking Listed contest. By Galileo, she has shown smart ability through her career, comes here fit and well having run two solid races in defeat at Leopardstown and Killarney latest and while she might ideally prefer a mile, she has proven form on testing ground which would play to her stamina strengths today. A New Dawn wasn't beaten too far by the selection at Killarney latest and has a similar profile in that she might ideally prefer another furlong but is nonetheless also proven on testing ground, and has claims here. Surrounding won last year's renewal and has already won an impressive five races at Stakes level. She is the only runner to carry a penalty and while that isn't a terribly big issue, soft ground would surely inconvenience her. Champers Elysees is unusually ground-versatile, having won on both heavy and good to firm, and comes here having graduated from handicaps. She has a favourable draw in 4, comes here in excellent form but today's test is her stiffest todate. Auxilia was placed in a Listed race on soft last October but would probably ideally prefer a mile.
Prediction : 1st Celestial Object 2nd Surrounding 3rd Champers Elysees

There are plenty of recent examples of horses defying the handicapper's hefty hikes and MEANINGFUL VOTE could be the next. Meaningful Vote won on handicap debut at today's venue last October and while beaten on reappearance at Gowran in June, his latest win at Naas in July has seen him climb 12lbs, but is nonetheless of big interest today. The runner-up in that Naas race, Fame And Acclaim, has since improved his rating by 19lbs and is now rated 101, and Meaningful Vote's rider today claims a useful 3lbs, with trip and ground to suit. Comfort Line has an 11lbs rise to overcome, having won a Limerick maiden recently. He showed nice ability in his initial runs this year (finishing fourth to smart Russian Emperor at Naas) and while he seemed to improve when winning at Limerick and is proven on testing ground, he has nonetheless already been beaten in three handicaps from lower ratings. Frank Arthur and Mythologic were second and third respectively to the penalised Fame And Acclaim at the Curragh recently and while Frank Arthur has sound claims having previously proven himself on yielding to soft ground at Gowran, testing ground would be a concern for Mythologic.
Prediction : 1st Meaningful Vote 2nd Frank Arthur 3rd Mythologic

Ferociously competitive. MAGNETIC NORTH has an each-way chance. He put in a good run off the front in the Nasrullah Handicap when finishing fourth over a mile and a quarter. He was beaten less than three lengths by the winner (Patrick Sarsfield) who has emphatically boosted the form by winning a Group 3 at Leopardstown, and coming home third in a Group One in Germany on Sunday. An extended mile is sharp enough for Magnetic North, but it is worth noting that he was placed in the Ahonoora Handicap over seven furlongs at last year's Galway Festival. If he is within striking distance turning for home, he will be coming home up the hill stronger than most. There are a whole host of dangers including Njord who goes well on rain-softened ground and who has won over a similar trip in Galway. He fairly stormed in over a mile and a quarter in the Curragh last month. The handicapper gave him 10lb for that, and he has a tough draw in 18 but he is still respected. There was no fluke about Nebo's decisive victory at 50/1 in a premier handicap at Cork, and he has stall one to work from.
Prediction : 1st Magnetic North 2nd Njord 3rd Nebo

STARLITE DANCER bounced back to form in Cork and can follow up. Fozzy Stack's charge overcame a welter burden of 10-2 with a strong run to lead on the line. The form of that race looks more than healthy as the third home has since gone in twice, and the fourth has also obliged. Crucially, Starlite Dancer ran well in third in an extended mile handicap at last year's festival, and has form on yielding to soft ground. Out On Friday looks like a winner waiting to happen, particularly after being nabbed at the post in Leopardstown on Thursday. He is a 16-race maiden, but has been a close second in two of his last three starts. He is not on a bad mark at all, but probably wouldn't want much more rain. Swiss Army Officer just failed by a short head in Leopardstown, but that was on fast ground which he isn't going to get in Ballybrit. New Vocation has the ability to get into contention, so could be one for each-way players.
Prediction : 1st Starlite Dancer 2nd Out On Friday 3rd Swiss Army Officer

DANI'S BOY sprang a 50/1 surprise in Ballinrobe on Monday week ago, and can build upon that. Declan McDonogh has been booked again, and this five-year-old gelding has back form on rain-softened ground. A 4lb rise shouldn't stop him getting well involved. He won over a similar trip at the festival two years ago. King Christophe may outrun his odds. His last crack at a trip akin to this saw him run on in seventh, beaten less than six lengths, behind a winner who has since been beaten a neck in the Ulster Oaks on Friday. King Christophe is a veteran now, but is on his lowest mark ever of 54. He put in a decent shift for a long way in Killarney in mid-July before his effort petered out in the final quarter of a mile. That race was over an extended mile and three furlongs, though. There are ground concerns for Mulzamm.
Prediction : 1st Danis Boy 2nd King Christophe 3rd Mulzamm

If the ground remains yielding, it brings TURNPIKE TRIP right into contention. Since winning a couple of novice hurdles in September and October, he has been running in Graded company over hurdles, but a recent spin in a qualified riders' race on the level at Leopardstown ought to have him primed for this test. He was very heavily backed in Leopardstown before keeping on without threatening in eighth. There should be prizes to won with him over staying trips on the flat. Willie Mullins has enlisted Rachael Blackmore for Eight And Bob who has to go on the shortlist. He was runner-up in two staying Flat contests at this festival last year, including in this race. he has been off since Christmas but is likely to have this as a target for some time.
Prediction : 1st Turnpike Trip 2nd Eight And Bob 3rd Great Bear