17:10 Galway

Leg 1 Selections: Tax For Max 

The Galway Festival kicks off with an excellent-looking listed novices’ hurdle event and this should go the way of Willie Mullins’ TAX FOR MAX, who holds a clear edge on the form available and comfortably landed the odds when last spotted at Punchestown. He was extremely unfortunate not to beat a high-class field over the same course-and-distance when caught inside the final 100 yards to finish third having travelled best back in April. He is up against a few interesting types here, including Amir Kabir, but he’s the class act in the field and should be too good for these. 

17:40 Galway

Leg 2 Selections: Jon Snow, Hannon

It could be a quick-fire double for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, who team up with chase debutant JON SNOW, who won three times over hurdles, including when all-the-way winner on his only previous visit to this course. He warmed up for this assignment with a good second on the Flat last-time-out and, with the physique, scope and potential to take higher rank over the larger obstacles, he’s a major contender. I wouldn’t rule out HANNON though, another useful hurdler that came very close to making a winning chase debut just over three weeks ago when beaten under a length. He ran well in the Galway Hurdle at this meeting last year when midfield and could be thereabouts with more to come. 

18:10 Galway

Leg 3 Selections: Dower House 

Aidan O’Brien’s DOWER HOUSE is related to a host of winners, including the very classy Churchill and this daughter of Galileo wasn’t given a hard time of things when an eye-catching sixth on debut in a large field event. That form looks useful as her stablemate who won the race has followed up in a Group Three since. With a lot more to come, she should take a step forward from her debut and go close to winning this contest. 

18:40 Galway

Leg 4 Selections: Monaasib, Saltonstall

We will do well to get past this leg four because this race is one of the trickiest handicaps I have seen in Ireland for a long time. However, it’s possible MONAASIB will strip fitter from his return at Cork back in May. The four-year-old enjoyed a productive 2020/21 campaign, in which he placed twice in Listed/Group Three events and, with more to offer over a mile, he’s not without hope at a big price here. SALTONSTALL won this two years ago off a pound lower mark and wasn’t disgraced when a fair sixth last year off 105. He is back down to an attractive mark and, off a nice weight, he’s got solid claims. 

19:15 Galway

Leg 5 Selections: Karakoul

This isn’t a competitive heat and the in-form Johnny Murtagh has found KARAKOUL a good opportunity to open his account on the back of a good fourth last-time-out. His second in Killarney last year when splitting Piz Badile and Buckaroo is outstanding form for this grade given what the first and third have done since who are now rated 111 and 110. If he can produce that sort of performance in this race, this should prove to be a straightforward task for this son of Fast Company in the famous Aga Khan silks. 

19:50 Galway

Leg 6 Selections: Church Mountain, Super Over 

CHURCH MOUNTAIN is unbeaten in two starts at this course and ran a good race when third last time off this mark. He’s a reliable horse and should go close to filling the frame. SUPER OVER was consistent when trained by Archie Watson and has continued his good run of form for current connections, placing in all three starts at Dundalk. He only just failed to capitalise on a pound higher mark last time, so back on the turf under his three pounds claimer, he’s greatly respected.