UK Horse Racing Tips: Galway

A tricky little contest and recent winner ANNA BUNINA may prove the pick. She gained a deserved win at Cork six days ago when running out a cosy winner and with Sean O'Keeffe taking 5lb off her back here she looks to be running off a nice weight. Saint D'oroux sets the standard with a mark of 131 but would need to step up on his comeback effort in handicap company at Bellewstown towards the start of the month. He is fitted with cheekpieces now and if he recaptures the form that saw him finish third in the 'Fred Winter' at Cheltenham he'd be the one to beat. Very Excellent is another last time out winner, scoring in good style at Bellewstown, and also has to come into calculations.
Prediction : 1st Anna Bunina 2nd Saint DOroux 3rd Very Excellent

This looks a good opportunity for DOCTOR DUFFY to get off the mark over fences. Charles Byrnes' charge was turned over at a short price at Kilbeggan on his last outing but to be fair the horse that beat him then, Macgiloney, is a decent sort. The front two pulled nicely clear and on just his third outing over fences there should be room for improvement still from Doctor Duffy. Braid Blue was prolific over the water last year but returns from an absence now and would have a bit to find with the selection on hurdles ratings. Karl Der Grosse obviously hasn't been straight-forward to train and disappointed on his last couple of hurdles outings. It's interesting that Willie Mullins persists with him, however, and he could be one to watch on his chase debut.
Prediction : 1st Doctor Duffy 2nd Braid Blue 3rd Karl Der Grosse

Galvin is surely unlikely to turn out again here bar an early fall or mishap in the Plate on Wednesday. Presuming he doesn't turn up POLISHED STEEL looks the one to side with. He impressed when winning on his chase debut at Tipperary at the start of the month and didn't run too badly when having a spin on the Flat at Killarney last time. This looks a nice stepping stone for him over fences. Russian Diamond could be a danger on his chase debut for connections that love to have a winner at this meeting. He took his bumper here last season and went on to show some smart form over timber. It was a decent run on his return at Tipperary at the start of this month and he is sure to be primed for this assignment. The mare Dime A Dozen was a good winner over fences at Tipperary last time and also has to be considered getting weight from the geldings.
Prediction : 1st Polished Steel 2nd Galvin 3rd Russian Diamond

ALABASTER may be good enough to carry top-weight to victory here in an ordinary looking contest. He hinted at ability over jumps in some strong maiden hurdles during the winter and it was a solid run on his return when fourth at Bellewstown. That was a decent level for a summer maiden and he doesn't look harshly treated now off a mark of 109. Acclamatio didn't run too badly when fourth in a handicap hurdle at Bellewstown earlier this month and there could be a day in him off his current mark over timber. He looks one to keep an eye on in the market. Thousand Tears bumped into a well handicapped rival when second to Bective Cave at Kilbeggan last time and looks another to consider in a tricky contest.
Prediction : 1st Alabaster 2nd Acclamatio 3rd Thousand Tears

ARAMON has a touch of class, as a former Grade One winner, which gives him prospects of defying top weight of 11-10 in this showpiece. The seven-year-old gelding has had a good 2020 which started with a fair fifth in the Grade 1 Irish Champion Hurdle, behind the unbeaten queen of National Hunt racing Honeysuckle. He then carried a big weight to second in the Grade 3 County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, before landing the Grade 3 Grimes Hurdle under 12 stone in Tipperary last month. He gave the favourite Petit Mouchoir 11lb and a two-length beating which was a particularly notable performance. The latter comes back for more, but is worse off at the weights. Felix Desjy enjoyed a hack canter around Navan in a qualified riders' maiden to leave him spot on for this. He won a Grade One novices' hurdle at Aintree last year, before coming second in the Grade One novice hurdle at Punchestown. He has strong credentials and, indeed, won his maiden hurdle in Ballybrit. He is given maximum respect. Aramax is improving at a rate of knots and is very lightly raced. He is a half brother to Aramon, and was a ready winner of the Grade 3 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at this year's Cheltenham Festival. He should plunder plenty more prizes.
Prediction : 1st Aramon 2nd Felix Desjy 3rd Aramax

JON SNOW is taken to get the better of The Very Man. In theory there is very little between them as The Very Man is rated 5lb higher on a mark of 134 and has to give Jon Snow 6lb. There may be a bit more to come from Jon Snow, though, as he has only been seen five times. He is clearly well thought of as he has gone off favourite for four of those races. His sole victory came in an extended two and a quarter mile maiden hurdle at Leopardstown. The Very Man (was also engaged to run here on Wednesday) won't be easy to crack. His confidence has been boosted with victories in his last three races. He has been steadily climbing the rankings, culminating in a neck success at Roscommon. Belfast Banter has ability but hasn't put it all together since falling when clear in Cork. A runner-up berth in Bellewstown was more like it albeit he was beaten six lengths.
Prediction : 1st Jon Snow 2nd The Very Man 3rd Belfast Banter

TUNE THE CHELLO got off the mark with a stout staying performance in an extended two miles six furlongs mares' maiden hurdle at Killarney, which brings her right into contention for this. The form of that race was franked when the runner-up came out and obliged by a whopping 33 lengths in a mares' maiden hurdle at Limerick last week. The Trigger keeps winning and is some servant to connections. The veteran started his winning run in a handicap chase in Tipperary at the start of the month and then delivered in a pair of handicap hurdles in Kilbeggan and Limerick. He took that three miler in Limerick by a healthy eight lengths. His revised mark over hurdles is now 102. He is only just passed over, more to do with his busy July as this will be his fourth staying race in a month. Cherif De L'isle successfully passed a staying test on heavy ground at Limerick. He would welcome plenty more rain to make it more of a galloping test.
Prediction : 1st Tune The Chello 2nd The Trigger 3rd Cherif De LIsle

Willie Mullins' POWER OF PAUSE is highly likely to show more. He didn't land a blow in fifth at Leopardstown, however, that run can be seen in a better light as he had two subsequent winners in front of him. This ground shouldn't be as testing as it was in Foxrock that day. Slige Dala was a beaten favourite in third at Punchestown in November. His first run, though, was laden with plenty of promise when he was half a length second at Killarney. That race has thrown up several winners, so can go well. Fame And Glory gelding Smokey The Bandit represents strong connections and should be monitored for market strength. Mullins' other representative, newcomer Definite Katie in receipt of plenty of weight, is also worth a market check. Visionarian won his point-to-point in November and could get involved.
Prediction : 1st Power Of Pause 2nd Slige Dala 3rd Smokey The Bandit