UK Horse Racing Tips: Galway

Tony Martin had a near miss on Wednesday with Unanswered, who may turn out again later on this card, and can strike here with NIBIRU who won well on the Flat at Fairyhouse last time. The seven-year-old ran well under both codes at last year's festival and was unlucky in running when fifth in a less valuable handicap hurdle over this trip. With a nice racing weight on his back, he can make amends on this occasion. Magnor Glory has been very progressive over the last year or so and recorded his third win over hurdles at Killarney a fortnight ago. That was over 2m4f but a fast-run race over two miles should suit him equally well. Zoffanien was another to score at the Killarney festival when bouncing back to form to land a gamble. Like Magnor Glory, he's been raised 7lb and this will be tougher off top weight. He's fitted with blinkers for the first time. Jiving Jerry is a dual course winner but will do well to land this after nearly nine months off.
Prediction : 1st Nibiru 2nd Magnor Glory 3rd Zoffanien

ROMAN HANDS had Thunderbear half a length back in third when runner-up at Bellewstown and can confirm the form on the same terms. These two colts are drawn near the rail and one would expect to see Shane Foley make plenty of use of his mount who is fitted with headgear by his in-form trainer. Thunderbear probably ran as well as could have been expected in a Group 3 at the Curragh last time and should appreciate coming back into maiden company. Keep In Touch made a pleasing debut when fourth over this trip at Naas and her yard had an impressive juvenile winner here earlier in the week. Blue News stayed on well for second at Navan and is interesting over this extra furlong while Mount King, who ran in a recent barrier trial, is a newcomer to note.
Prediction : 1st Roman Hands 2nd Keep In Touch 3rd Blue News

BUSSELTON warmed up for this with a win on the Flat at Roscommon and had very solid form in novice chases last term when winning on three occasions. The form of his handicap debut second at Punchestown was boosted when the winner finished third in the Galway Plate. He had four of these rivals in arrears at Punchestown and can account for them again. Born By The Sea was a hugely popular winner for his local connections in this race a year ago and will be primed for a repeat bid. He ran well behind Easy Game at Listowel last month and being 6lb higher this time around is not insurmountable for the eight-year-old. Aramax was third in last year's renewal and had a nice run over hurdles at Ballinrobe in May which should tee him up for a good run again. Waitnsee is a very capable chaser on her day and her hurdles victory at Kilbeggan was franked by the winner here on Wednesday.
Prediction : 1st Busselton 2nd Born By The Sea 3rd Waitnsee

Willie Mullins has won this four times in the last seven years and BABY ZEUS is his only representative. The five-year-old was fourth in this last year, is now 2lb lower and is well drawn. He's had just the one spin over hurdles this year which came back in May and he runs his best races when fresh. Merroir is a likeable mare who won on reappearance at Ballinrobe and has a good record at this venue. She won over this trip at last year's festival and was placed in Listed company at the September meeting. Ruler Legend slammed Shark Bay by over five lengths over 1m2f at Naas earlier in the season and now meets that rival on the same terms. He made no impression at Royal Ascot but could be on a nice mark for his handicap debut. Shark Bay is on a hat-trick after landing a couple of small-field conditions events. This step-up in trip could suit him but his mandatory penalty for winning at Gowran leaves him 4lb wrong at the weights compared to his new mark of 98.
Prediction : 1st Baby Zeus 2nd Merroir 3rd Ruler Legend

RAVING ROYAL may be worth another chance here despite a slightly disappointing effort at Bellewstown last time. The Kingman filly travelled nicely approaching the straight then but weakened in the closing stages on softening ground. She was easy to back that day after a very promising debut effort at Navan when she had stayed on strongly to finish third to a smart sort in Newfoundland. That form has received a few boosts since and back on a sounder surface Raving Royal may be able to step up. Stellar Storm shaped with promise on her debut at Killarney. She was staying on in fourth that day when the penny dropped late. The Kitten's Joy filly may be able to turn the tables now on the two Ballydoyle fillies that were in front of her that day, Honeycomb and Ark. River Rain, who was third in a strong Curragh maiden last time, is another that has to come into the mix in a competitive looking contest.
Prediction : 1st Raving Royal 2nd Stellar Storm 3rd Honeycomb

GRAPPA NONINO was just denied by the in-form Dunum at the Curragh last time and may be able to go one better here despite a wide draw. The Teofilo colt didn't have the clearest of passages on his handicap debut at Leopardstown prior to that and is still unexposed on just his sixth career outing. Dunum franked the form when winning here on Tuesday and Grappa Nonino could be well treated despite a 4lb rise for his last run. Rockbury Lad ran well when fourth here on Monday and he could be a big player again off the same mark. Colin Keane maintains his partnership with Grizabella on her first outing for 'Shark' Hanlon. The Bobby's Kitten filly won a claimer at Fairyhouse last time and could be nicely treated back in handicap company.
Prediction : 1st Grappa Nonino 2nd Rockbury Lad 3rd Grizabella

SANDHURST is entitled to improve from his comeback effort at Leopardstown just over three weeks ago and can claim this. The Galileo colt made his first start for Jessica Harrington then and was staying on when third to Shoshone Warrior, who got a freebie up front that day. Shane Foley will surely keep better tabs on that rival today and is fancied to turn the tables. M C Muldoon makes his first start since finishing mid-division in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket last October but fitness shouldn't be an issue coming from Willie Mullins' yard. The Mastercraftsman gelding won over hurdles here last year and could be a big danger. Shanroe has to be respected but giving a nice chunk of weight away to some of these looks a tough task.
Prediction : 1st Sandhurst 2nd M C Muldoon 3rd Shanroe

INDIGO DESERT is very interesting here on his first outing since joining Willie Mullins. The Exceed And Excel gelding was last seen winning a Dundalk maiden last December and is very lightly raced so open to plenty of improvement. He still looked green, wandering in the closing stages, when beating Mads Black Eights that day and could be better than his initial mark of 75. Matthew Smith saddles three in this and two of them won last time out. La Hacienda bounced back to form when scoring at Leopardstown, before finishing seventh here on Wednesday, but hasn't been helped by the draw in 18. Arabian King (also engaged to run here on Thursday) has fared a bit better in 12 and the English import is interesting tried back on the level after winning over timber at Kilbeggan just over two weeks ago. The Ballydoyle filly Cherub hinted at ability first time up at Dundalk before finishing mid-division in a couple of stronger maidens. Market moves for her on her handicap debut would be noteworthy.
Prediction : 1st Indigo Desert 2nd Arabian King 3rd Cherub