Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Galway

Leg 1 Selections: Music Drive

MUSIC DRIVE some really good form in bumpers last season, including when eighth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. He wasn’t at his best next time but he sets a good standard ahead of his hurdles debut and I am sure connections will be deflated if this five-year-old can’t make a winning start in this sphere. 

Leg 2 Selections: Hgranca De Thaix 

HGRANCA DE THAIX has been off for eight months but displayed promise over hurdles last term, including when third of 20 at Punchestown when last spotted. He looks nicely-treated for his return to action and, with a good claimer booked to ride, to reduce his weight further, this is a good opportunity for him to open his account with more to come. 

Leg 3 Selections: Bugscuffle, Wild Caprice 

BUGSCUFFLE ran a very solid race when fifth on handicap hurdle debut last time and off the same mark on his return to action, he should be thereabouts. WILD CAPRICE has shaped well in each of her three chase starts and has made the frame three times over hurdles this year off this mark or higher. In a race lacking strength in depth, she should make a bold effort.

Leg 4 Selections: Jon Snow 

Willie Mullins’ has two representatives here and while Bacardys has high-class hurdles/chase form in the book and Frontal Assault was last seen finishing second in the Irish National, JON SNOW gets the vote. He was smart over hurdles and ran a tidy race when third on chase debut here over a trip short of his best before winning in good style at Killarney next time. 

I was seriously impressed with the way he jumped, travelled and quickened up in the closing stages. The seven-year-old has fitness on his side and connections keep Sean O’Keeffe in the saddle from when the pair won last time too, which is a positive sign, and his mount is open to more improvement. He is a good horse, so with lots in his favour, he can follow-up in this race. 

Leg 5 Selections: Iberique Du Seuil

Hallowed Star ran well on his chase debut to finish second but given the winner has let the form down since, I am happy to take him on at the odds. The vote instead goes to Gordon Elliott’s IBERIQUE DU SEUIL, who gets all the allowances, and won a pretty good Grade Two over hurdles on his final start of the last campaign. His previous seventh in the Boodles is solid form and while he was down the field on his return, his trainer clearly used that outing as a prep-run for today’s assignment. If he can produce something close to his best hurdles form, he should go close on his chase debut. 

Leg 6 Selections: Jeremys Flame

JEREMYS FLAME warmed up for this with a spin over hurdles last time when third and is reverted back to this sphere on favourable terms. This eight-year-old mare has some strong chase form within her inventory and given she’s versatile over various distances, she has to be considered as a leading player here.