14:10 Galway

Leg 1 Selections: Fakiera 

The Gordon Elliott-trained FAKIERA was a very smart hurdler last season, in which he ran well in Grade 2 and Grade 1 events. He built upon his chase debut with an encouraging staying-on second last time, where he probably would have won in another stride. Open to a lot more improvement with the potential rank higher in this sphere, he can showcase his qualities under Jack Kennedy and deservedly open his account here. 

14:45 Galway

Leg 2 Selections: Call Me Lyreen, Sole Pretender 

A quality grade 3 novices’ chase and I like two against the field. Gordon Elliott’s CALL ME LYREEN was a good hurdler last term and wasn’t disgraced when midfield in the Galway Hurdle on this card twelve months ago. He has looked exceptional in winning both his starts over fences and should make his presence felt in this grade. SOLE PRETENDER is a Grade Three winner over hurdles and also ran well when eighth in the Galway Hurdle last year. He is also two-from-two over fences and did little wrong when trying to defend his Grimes Hurdle title in which he was second. Back over fences, with more to come, the eight-year-old is a big player. 

15:20 Galway

Leg 3 Selections: Comfort Line, Big Baby Bull

An ultra-competitive handicap with two darts at the race. Firstly, COMFORT LINE, who’s four pounds below his last winning mark and returned to form when third off this mark when last spotted. He’s drawn high but he’s got the ability to play a leading role here. BIG BABY BULL made a winning start for this stable at Naas last week and remains well treated on his best form, in which he placed multiple times last year off higher marks. He’s a major threat under the champion jockey, Colin Keane. 

15:55 Galway

Leg 4 Selections: Surrounding, Red Heel 

A wide-open fillies’ listed race but SURROUNDING is a course-and-distance winner, who won a Listed event here in the past, and despite her advancing years, she’s remained consistent in three starts this year. I think she’s got a fantastic chance of more success here from a nice-looking draw in stall four. RED HEEL will find this grade tougher than when winning last time, but she’s won two of her three starts this year and could find the necessary improvement to make an impact. 

16:30 Galway

Leg 5 Selections: Falcon Eight, Hors Piste 

An interesting novices’ hurdle race for the penultimate leg on today’s field pool. The Dermot Weld-trained FALCON EIGHT has lots of Flat ability and ran a huge race when fourth in the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot. He was a close-up third in a Grade Two when last sighted in this sphere, so he’s a player. HORS PISTE was an excellent third in a Fairyhouse Grade One before bolting up at Kilbeggan in May. He has strong claims of handing Willie Mullins another winner in this race. It’s hard to look beyond these two, who appear to be a class above the remainder. 

17:05 Galway

Leg 6 Selections: My Mate Mozzie, Santa Rossa 

As ever, the Galway Hurdle is an extremely difficult race to solve. However, I have a strong opinion about MY MATE MOZZIE, who’s electric on good ground and shaped better than the finishing position indicated when eighth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham. He is five pounds lower here and warmed up for this with a spin on the Flat when second back in May. With this race sure to be run to suit, or even if he goes from the front, he could be hard to keep out of the frame. I’m hopeful he will go close. SANTA ROSSA is a quality mare, who put aside Sole Pretender in a Grade Three last time and makes her handicap debut off a fair mark. She’s been targeted at this race and is a massive contender for top honours. I really like these two.