UK Horse Racing Tips: Galway

SIR ARGUS is a half-brother to useful chaser Brahma Bull and goes over fences for the first time after showing improved form over hurdles in the spring. After landing a maiden at Cork, he came home well to be third in a big-field handicap at the Punchestown Festival and makes plenty of appeal for the champion trainer. Joyeux Machin bounced back to form after a few indifferent runs over hurdles when easily beating Jungle Prose at Wexford, and his chase debut at the same track was promising. Paul Nolan's charge was in with every chance until making a costly mistake at the last, which saw him drop to third behind the talented Ballyadam. Jungle Prose was a very progressive hurdler last term and was notably weak in the market when runner-up on chase debut at Kilbeggan. She should be all the better for that experience.
Prediction : 1st Sir Argus 2nd Joyeux Machin 3rd Jungle Prose

HERCULE DU SEUIL has convincingly beaten several of these rivals already and is hard to oppose. The Saddler Maker gelding was far too good for Ballyadam at Ballinrobe in May, with Lieutenant Highway further back in fourth, and his recent victory over Solness at Killarney was equally emphatic. He likes to get on with things and can again make all. Ballyadam showed the benefit of his first taste of chasing when winning at Wexford and is 4lb better off with the selection compared to their clash at Ballinrobe, but will find it hard to turn around the form. Killarney runner-up Solness has a 5lb pull at the weights with the selection and is fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time so may be able to get a bit closer without turning the tables. Fifth in last year's Galway Hurdle, Heia was an easy winner on chase debut at Tramore and can give a good account.
Prediction : 1st Hercule Du Seuil 2nd Ballyadam 3rd Solness

A C&D winner on heavy ground in October, SAN AER was a fine fourth in the Irish Lincolnshire first time out this season. Not at his best in three starts since, he could well bounce back with conditions to suit. Inchturk was returning from a break when fourth at Killarney and is likely to be sharper with that run under his belt. He has form on easy ground. Cheers Again was hit hard by the handicapper for a couple of easy wins on the all-weather, but was only narrowly denied on testing ground at Cork in April and is 1lb lower now. He is another who has been a bit below par of late, but is capable of a bold bid if restored to his best. Trained by Galway native David Loughnane, Metabolt has been in good form across the water this season. He has won on good to soft, but would probably prefer a sounder surface.
Prediction : 1st San Aer 2nd Inchturk 3rd Metabolt

Third in a valuable sales contest at the Curragh last term, British raider DANDY ALYS ran by far the best race of her three-year-old campaign when runner-up in a Listed contest at Carlisle in late June. That track would have a few similarities to Galway, including a stiff finish, and the daughter of Dandy Man handles soft ground well. After a couple of runs over 1m2f, Keep In Touch drops back markedly in trip, with a visor fitted for the first time. A maiden winner over C&D last year, Dermot Weld's contender was beaten less than a length in two subsequent juvenile starts in stakes company. Honey Sweet was runner-up in last year's renewal of the race at Carlisle in which the selection was second this time around. After a lengthy layoff, she was fourth at Naas last week on stable debut for Joseph O'Brien and a tongue-tie is applied for the first time.
Prediction : 1st Dandy Alys 2nd Keep In Touch 3rd Honey Sweet

WHAT PATH won his bumper around here and can land a hat-trick now over timber. Willie Mullins' six-year-old has gained both of his hurdle wins over three miles but shouldn't be too inconvenienced by dropping back in trip, with most of these races at Galway run at a good gallop. The standard is set by his stablemate Horantzau D'airy, who has a rating of 130. The French-bred easily justified his short price in maiden company at Punchestown in late May and had run well in competitive handicaps on his previous two outings. Encanto Bruno was impressive on his hurdling debut at Bellewstown, when a short price, and it will be interesting to see how he measures up now in this company.
Prediction : 1st What Path 2nd Horantzau Dairy 3rd Encanto Bruno

Perugino Diamond was the last four-year-old to win this, back in 2000, but ZARAK THE BRAVE looks to have strong claims. Willie Mullins' charge kept top company in juvenile hurdles last season, chasing home the brilliant Lossiemouth on a couple of occasions and also finishing third in Grade 1 company in France. A mark of 145 looks lenient for the Zarak gelding, who could be a top-level hurdler in the making. Emmet Mullins has already made a mark this week and he saddles two. Filey Bay, third in the County Hurdle back in March, warmed up for this with a spin on the Flat at Roscommon and could be a big player. His stablemate Merlin Giant is another who has to be on the shortlist. He won his maiden hurdle over C&D last year and comes into this in form having won on the level at Down Royal in late June. Dual winner Tudor City is on the same mark as when successful 12 months ago and just scrapes into the field. He is sure to run his race again.
Prediction : 1st Zarak The Brave 2nd Filey Bay 3rd Tudor City

Willie Mullins has a couple of interesting ones in this and AGHABOY may be worth a shot on his return to the Flat. The German-bred won twice over hurdles last season after joining Closutton before finding things a bit tougher up in grade behind illustrious stablemate Lossiemouth. He has been eased 6lb since last running on the Flat and could be on a lenient mark. Stoke The Fire ran a big race to finish second on his return from a long absence at Down Royal in late June and with that run under his belt, he is entitled to play a big part now. All In Peder commands respect given his connections and is fitted with first-time blinkers. He has already won twice this season.
Prediction : 1st Aghaboy 2nd Stoke The Fire 3rd All In Peder

I WILL BE BAIE can give Willie Mullins another bumper winner. The French-bred cost 150,000 pounds after winning his point-to-point and was first past the post only to be demoted on his 'track' debut in a Punchestown bumper in June. He showed signs of greenness that day when hanging left in the closing stages and should improve from the experience. Patrick Mullins reported that he was very highly thought of after that 'victory'. The market may prove the best guide to the chances of Sea Music, who makes his first start for Emmet Mullins. The Sea Moon gelding failed to complete on his first couple of point-to-point runs before finishing second at Fairyhouse in April. The Gordon Elliott-trained Docteur Elysees is a newcomer to note. She is out of a mare who won three times over hurdles.
Prediction : 1st I Will Be Baie 2nd Sea Music 3rd Docteur Elysees