UK Horse Racing Tips: Galway

MYSTICAL POWER makes his jumping debut and is hard to go past. He is regally bred being by Galileo out of the top-class mare Annie Power, and comfortably landed a bumper at Ballinrobe in May. Afterwards, jockey Patrick Mullins commented that he had plenty of jumping done and jumps well. He bids to enhance Willie Mullins' fine record in this race. There should be plenty more to come from Samui after he asserted to win over flights at Tramore last month. He is one of three representatives from Gordon Elliott's stable. John McConnell's Hypotenus was beaten into second at odds-on at Cork, but he also finished runner-up in a Grade 3 juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse in February which shows what he is capable of.
Prediction : 1st Mystical Power 2nd Samui 3rd Hypotenus

DARKENED won this race by a nose last year off the same mark of 109. Daniel King claims 5lb and his mount returns to Galway after a solid third place on the Flat in Killarney, so another big run looks likely. A recent staying-on second in a Flat handicap at Leopardstown should have brought One Cool Poet to the boil. He certainly loves Ballybrit and has claims with James Smith taking 7lb off his back. Mark Fahey's stable is in terrific form and Largy Gift could be a useful recruit for him after he routed the field by 19 lengths in a Uttoxeter maiden hurdle last month. Boom Boom Boom was far from outclassed in fifth in a much higher grade at Listowel in June and the cheekpieces that were deployed then are retained.
Prediction : 1st Darkened 2nd One Cool Poet 3rd Largy Gift

There is plenty of rain forecast for Galway, so this seven-furlong assignment is going to take plenty of getting. AIR COMMANDER made a pleasing debut in second on yielding ground at the Curragh and ought to progress. He holds plenty of big-race entries and is related to two winners who were more than capable on testing ground. The 93-rated Mythology is sure to be popular. He was a close third on debut at the Curragh and didn't run badly at all in fifth when upped in class for a Group 2 at the same track. He was last seen finishing runner-up over this trip on soft ground at the Curragh, and he has plenty of notable entries. The penny dropped late for Beauty Thunder when sixth over 6f in Fairyhouse. This step up in trip promises to suit and he is by a sire who is getting soft-ground winners. Sea The Stars colt Sea The Polaris made a pretty penny at the sales and represents a strong stable on debut.
Prediction : 1st Air Commander 2nd Mythology 3rd Beauty Thunder

TEED UP has a formidable record in Galway where his form figures across Flat and hurdle races read '21121'. The deluge of rain on Sunday is ideal for him and he had a perfect comeback race when second at Tramore just under three weeks ago. Ray Barron takes 7lb off his back, so he is on a very handy weight. Patrick Mullins ticked this race off last year and should have another good spin on former Swedish St Leger winner Lot of Joy who has been keeping very lofty company over hurdles. Hms Seahorse can get into a powerful rhythm on slow ground and is well in the hunt for a cheque. Line Out is entitled to come on plenty from his first run in more than 20 months when unplaced on the Flat at the Curragh. He has good assistance in the saddle.
Prediction : 1st Teed Up 2nd Lot of Joy 3rd Hms Seahorse

RHYTHM KING revels in heavy ground - which is likely to be a crucial asset, and has useful form. Runner-up as a juvenile over today's course and distance, he was unsuited by six furlongs at Naas in May and while might ideally prefer a mile as a three-year-old, his ability to excel on testing ground is key. The Snapper is similarly suited by testing ground and while he has recent form, is held by the selection on Bellewstown form in April and course form last October. Rio Largo is in good form and received a bump when beaten 9.75 lengths by the selection on heavy ground at Bellewstown. La Tulipe Noire ran well on recent reappearance run and while dropping in distance isn't ideal, coped with heavy ground as a juvenile. Lovejoy loves soft but was well beaten recently and is woefully drawn in 18 while Rumbled Again is drawn 17 and would prefer good ground. Biggerthanbigtime is long absent but has form on soft while Not Just Yet is ground-versatile but was reported to have 'never travelled' on a recent run. Rathbranchurch is trip and ground-versatile.
Prediction : 1st Rhythm King 2nd The Snapper 3rd Rio Largo

EXPELLIARMUS is unproven on testing ground but is unexposed. She showed promise at Navan in June and while well beaten when ridden from off the pace over a mile at the Curragh subsequently, received minor bumps and was eased when all hope was lost. Connections claim 7lb and her half-brother Common Practise improved dramatically at this distance and, notably, liked soft ground. Teorie has consistent maiden form and while the form of his soft-ground Leopardstown win is nothing special, is nonetheless interesting on handicap debut. Immutable revels in testing ground and is in-form but has plenty weight while Voice Of Reason narrowly won a recent maiden but encounters testing ground for the first time. Youcrackmeup was 9lb out of the handicap when running well at Limerick but has been hit by the handicapper and is without her 5lb claimer, dropping in distance and reverting to testing ground. In-form Booyea would prefer good ground while Ikigai Star was well held on handicap debut. Pearl Of Australia was reported to have hung right at Down Royal but has previously beaten Astar (which debuts in handicaps) at Roscommon.
Prediction : 1st Expelliarmus 2nd Teorie 3rd Immutable

SHOOT CHAMPAGNE showed promise on debut. Well-related, she handled easy ground at Cork (Money To Burn finished fourth) and while beaten 1.5 lengths, powered home and looks sure to improve. The Cork winner had previously chased home Lionnar, which finished fourth in a hot Killarney bumper which ties the selection's form to closely-matched pair Wrecking Ballbilly and My Great Mate. That Killarney race was run at a fast pace and both are capable. Hypersonic Missile was bought for 34,000 pounds following an English point-to-point bumper win last March, with the runner-up subsequently finishing second in a Plumpton bumper. Topgun Simmy ran well in an April sales' race but runs in a first-time tongue-tie, which is a possible negative. If You Let Me won an April point-to-point but faces a tough task. Arctic Gale's (a half-brother to a staying winner) connections target Galway and nicely bred Pinyon Jay represents Gordon Elliott but both will need to be smart to win on debut. Master Otis needs to improve while Where's My Jet has pointing form.
Prediction : 1st Shoot Champagne 2nd Wrecking Ballbilly 3rd My Great Mate