UK Horse Racing Tips: Galway

IMPERO had plenty of placed form on the Flat for Donnacha O'Brien with a rating in the high 70s and appears adaptable in terms of ground conditions. He should be well schooled by Tom Cooper and it will be interesting to see how strong he is in the market. He finished about four lengths behind Common Practice when that rival won a 1m4f Curragh maiden in June but Joseph O'Brien's charge hasn't set the world alright in two runs over hurdles. Mr Globalist has shown promise in three hurdle starts, while Calico made a creditable start at Ballinrobe but hasn't jumped well on both outings since.
Prediction : 1st Impero 2nd Common Practice 3rd Mr Globalist

SANDOR CLEGANE is one of four bumper winners in the line-up and gets the vote. The Paul Nolan-trained gelding created a big impression when scoring in runaway fashion on debut at Punchestown and, while failing to add to that victory in three subsequent outings, has come up against some smart sorts including Facile Vega in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown. Three Card Brag handled heavy ground well when scoring on debut in a Wexford bumper this spring, while Nucky Johnson is another interesting recruit to hurdles after showing a good attitude when successful at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Green Glory caused a surprise when winning at the Punchestown Festival but could find no extra in the straight on his hurdling debut at Cork, while Camino Rock made a promising debut in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle but needs to bounce back after a disappointing effort at Punchestown.
Prediction : 1st Sandor Clegane 2nd Three Card Brag 3rd Nucky Johnson

ITSWHATUNITESUS is an exciting recruit to hurdles. The Walk In The Park gelding impressed when easily winning a Naas bumper on debut and was far from disgraced on his only subsequent start behind Facile Vega in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown. Baby Zeus is a useful sort on the Flat winning twice and has been generally consistent in Premier Handicaps this year including when third over 1m4f at the Galway Festival. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding was soundly beaten on his only previous outing over hurdles at Kilbeggan in May but can surely do better. Point-to-point winner Path D'oroux won a 23-runner bumper at the Punchestown Festival, the form of which has been working out well, while Secret Artist has also shown promise in bumpers.
Prediction : 1st Itswhatunitesus 2nd Baby Zeus 3rd Path Doroux

GUILY BILLY was bought for 310,000 pounds at Cheltenham just after winning a Tinahely point-to-point and was a wide-margin winner of a Tramore maiden hurdle last winter. The son of Coastal Path was found to be amiss after disappointing in the Punchestown Grade 2 novice hurdle won by Dysart Dynamo and hopefully can restore his reputation over fences. Snake Oil is another promising, lightly-raced gelding having won a Listowel bumper and Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in good style and ran better than his finishing position would suggest at Galway last time. Punitive is a three-time winner over hurdles but is very lightly-raced over the past two years and now switches to Gordon Elliott.
Prediction : 1st Guily Billy 2nd Snake Oil 3rd Punitive

COVENTRY made a promising start to life with Gordon Elliott when runner-up over an extended 2m7f at Punchestown. He was beaten by a head over a similar trip on soft ground at this track last year. The form of Merlin Giant's victory in a maiden hurdle at the festival at this track in July looks very strong. He stayed on well to win by four lengths over an extended 2m and the horses in second, third and fifth landed maiden hurdles on their next starts. He is up in trip, but looks to have plenty of scope over hurdles. He may not want bottomless ground, though. His stablemate, Bold Getaway, is returning from a long absence, but was a ready winner of a maiden hurdle on attritional ground at Limerick last Christmas. The Big Galloper hasn't been out since winning at Musselburgh in February and is worth checking for market strength.
Prediction : 1st Coventry 2nd Merlin Giant 3rd Bold Getaway

LIKABLE CHANCER attracted plenty of support in a Ballinrobe handicap chase after almost six months off. He is entitled to come on plenty from that sixth place. He has plenty of placed form on very testing ground which makes him interesting and gives him each-way claims. Brandy Harbour lost out by a nose over a shorter trip at this venue in early October and could get compensation. He was trying to exploit a much lower hurdle mark compared to his chase rating. He's a former point-to-point winner which gives him prospects over this 3m trip. Costalita could show up well on this ground. The going is an unknown for Bearwithmenow, but he did land a gamble over a similar trip at Wexford in June. Reserve Courting Vickie has a chance if getting a run.
Prediction : 1st Likable Chancer 2nd Brandy Harbour 3rd Costalita

This is ROYAL RHYTHM's ground and he has an each-way shot returning from a break off a lowly mark. He has been placed in two of his last four staying handicap hurdles. Davy Russell is an eye-catching booking for Twoplustwo Equals. She is a lightly-raced mare who was just collared close home over an extended 2m6f on good ground in Killarney at the start of the month. She is still to prove her fondness for heavy ground (pulled up on it in Limerick last Christmas) but, if she handles it, she is a big threat. There are also nagging concerns over the ground for A Dublin Job who was a decent second at Tipperary this month. Veneziano Springs is on a handy mark and a fair run wouldn't be surprising.
Prediction : 1st Royal Rhythm 2nd Twoplustwo Equals 3rd Veneziano Springs

ALLIBABA ran into a useful-looking horse on debut at this track and can improve upon that second place. He came home clear of the remainder and that run showed that he will handle plenty of cut in the ground. Firm Footings finished third in a Punchestown bumper in April. He is in good hands and has to rate a danger. Soldante finished a place behind Allibaba in third here after attracting support. He is entitled to come on from that opening effort. Downtheoldbogroad reverts to a bumper after finishing fourth in a hurdle race at Limerick. He can get involved.
Prediction : 1st Allibaba 2nd Firm Footings 3rd Soldante