UK Horse Racing Tips: Galway

This looks a match between RISK FACTOR and N'Golo, with preference for the Joseph O'Brien trained former. Out of the high-class Refinement, the selection filled the runner-up spot on his first two starts before making the breakthrough at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day. He since finished second to Appreciate It in a Grade 2 at the Dublin Racing Festival and he makes his debut over flights now. N'Golo, who is presumably named after French World Cup winner and Chelsea star N'Golo Kante, is an interesting contender for Willie Mullins. A winner on his fourth start at Clairefontaine in August of 2018, the grey son of Galileo subsequently changed hands for E100,000. He has his first start over flights now and it'll come as little surprise if he proves good enough to win this. Others of note here are point-to-point winners Clondaw Hollow and Walking The Walk, Denis Hogan's Royal Aide and Saucy Yeats who is half-brother to Ordinary World.
Prediction : 1st Risk Factor 2nd Ngolo 3rd Clondaw Hollow

BORN BY THE SEA has been no worse than fourth in four trips to Ballybrit and he is the one to be on. A good third to Mt Leinster here on Monday, the Paul Gilligan trained gelding should be able to make his presence felt. Ego Des Mottes, for Willie Mullins and JP McManus, is of obvious interest on his handicap debut, while the shortlist in this ultra-competitive contest is completed by Bellewstown winner Eagle Moon.
Prediction : 1st Born By The Sea 2nd Ego Des Mottes 3rd Eagle Moon

Another fiercely competitive contest with no less than seven last time out winners in the line-up. Although now an eleven-year-old, WESTERN BOY might be able to upstage his younger rivals. Once rated 137 over flights, he is now down to a mark of just 115. He showed his well-being by coming from well off the pace to win on the level at Ballinrobe recently, and back over flights now for the first time since March of 2019, a bold bid looks likely. JP McManus owns the selection and he is also represented by Filon D'oudairies and Fightfortheroses. The former was a good winner at Limerick last month and looks open to further improvement. Shumaker, who has won his last two on the level, is another leading contender, while Poseidon, Leahman and Goodbye Someday are others for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Western Boy 2nd Filon DOudairies 3rd Shumaker

Willie Mullins dominates here, with seven of the 20-strong field trained by master of Closutton. Paul Townend has opted to partner Canardier and it's not difficult to see why. The eight-year-old gelding fell at the last in the Coral Cup when likely to be at least placed. That was his first start for Mullins and there should be plenty more to come from the son of Crillon. Top-weight Stratum has a course win to his name and is another leading hope for the champion trainer, along with Sayo. The Jam Man, who was ninth in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham, has been disappointing on the level since, but it'll be interesting to see how he fares now back over hurdles. The vote goes to MINISTERFORSPORT. A winner of a valuable handicap hurdle at Cork in April of 2018, the nine-year-old has been campaigned over fences in recent times. He was beaten by just a short head in a Grade 3 at Naas on his penultimate start and with Hugh Morgan taking a valuable seven pounds off his back here, a bold bid looks likely.
Prediction : 1st Ministerforsport 2nd Canardier 3rd Stratum

A relatively weak contest for the festival. MING DYNASTY ran a nice race on his debut over fences at Tipperary recently and he can be expected to come on plenty for that run. Hampered at the first and again at the last, the son of King's Best did well to finish fifth at the Limerick Junction venue. The Gavin Cromwell-trained eight-year-old managed to win three times over flights in 2019 and it'll come as little surprise if he registers another success now. Convara hampered the selection when he fell at the last at Tipperary, and he is given second preference with Cathal Landers taking five pounds off. The versatile six-year-old was still in with every chance when he crashed out at the last in Tipperary and he might be able to make amends now. Stormey is tried in cheekpieces for the first time and he should give a good account of himself, while Star Max and Global Jackpot are other leading contenders.
Prediction : 1st Ming Dynasty 2nd Convara 3rd Stormey

Five of these ran in the Galway Plate on Wednesday, with Livelovelaugh faring best in sixth. The Storyteller, who is the highest rated runner in the line-up, was pulled up early in the Plate, with his rider Davy Russell later reporting to the Stewards that his mount made mistakes at the first three fences. MENGLI KHAN is coming into this race fresher than most of his rivals and with Davy Russell booked to ride he looks the one to side with. Ninth in the Galway Plate twelve months ago, he recorded a confidence boosting success over flights at Kilbeggan earlier this month and it'll come as no surprise if he manages to follow-up now. The aforementioned Livelovelaugh ran a fine race here on Wednesday and he is given second preference, while Blazer, who was seventh in the Plate, is another leading contender.
Prediction : 1st Mengli Khan 2nd Blazer 3rd Livelovelaugh

PORTMORE LOUGH makes plenty of appeal with Gavin Brouder taking a valuable seven pounds off. The nine-year-old grey finished a good third in the Troytown at Navan in November and since unseated at the Dublin Racing Festival. Before that he was twice successful at Ballybrit and justified good market support on both occasions. Handicap debutant Macgiloney is given second preference. He put in a good battling performance to see off Doctor Duffy at Roscommon recently and it'll come as no surprise if he manages to follow up here with Shane Mulcahy taking seven pounds off. The hat-trick seeking Gunfire Reef couldn't have won any easier at Limerick last week and it'll be interesting to see how he fares back over fences.
Prediction : 1st Portmore Lough 2nd Macgiloney 3rd Gunfire Reef

All eyes will be on HALLOWED STAR here after his impressive success at Tipperary last month. His trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon has his horses in fine form since the resumption of racing and the Co Carlow handler couldn't hide his enthusiasm after the victory of the selection at the Limerick Junction venue. "I think this lad is very special and I'll go as far as saying he is the best I've had since Hidden Cyclone," said Hanlon. The son of Sea The Stars was bought by Mrs Antoinette Mee since his Tipperary win and it'll be disappointing if fails to follow up here with Patrick Mullins booked to ride. Dual bumper winner Snegurochka is given second preference, but she does have an inexperienced rider aboard and hasn't been seen since last October. The Gordon Elliott-trained Jawbox and Kilbeggan victor Eilise's A Lady appear the best of the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Hallowed Star 2nd Snegurochka 3rd Jawbox