UK Horse Racing Tips: Galway

SUNDIAL didn't beat much at Kilbeggan a fortnight ago, as is shown by the handicapper leaving his mark alone, but that facile maiden win will have served as a nice confidence booster. That was his first outing since a fine fourth in the Boodles at Cheltenham and he's on a lovely racing weight. Shecouldbeanything also ran well at the Cheltenham Festival when sixth in the mares' novices' hurdle. She has won both starts since and is another whose mark hasn't gone up. Lucid Dreams has done well in a short space of time having only started his career in March, but went up 6lb for finishing second in a Roscommon novice last time. Tekao missed the cut for the Galway Hurdle but has claims on his third in a competitive handicap at Punchestown.
Prediction : 1st Sundial 2nd Shecouldbeanything 3rd Tekao

CAPTAIN MAVERICK was friendless in the market but ran a cracker on debut at Bellewstown when second to a smart-looking newcomer. Headgear is rarely a negative when applied by Dermot Weld and the Free Eagle gelding can go one better. Quickstepping was fourth of 18 on debut at Leopardstown, where the winner looked stakes material and fancied newcomers filled the placings. By soft-ground influence Fast Company, she looks sure to go close. Megarry took a big step forward on his second start when runner-up over this trip at Roscommon, but has more on his plate here. Aafoor, who cost 70,000 euros at the breeze-ups and is from the family of Oaks winner Eswarah, is a newcomer to note.
Prediction : 1st Captain Maverick 2nd Quickstepping 3rd Megarry

DESERTMORE HOUSE did fairly well over hurdles with back-to-back wins at Downpatrick last year and a narrow defeat in a Kilbeggan handicap in May, but this scopey sort always looked a chaser in the making. He impressed when returning to Kilbeggan for last month's chasing debut and may be able to slot in effectively to handicap company, despite his inexperience. Pakens Rock has returned to form with two victories at Kilbeggan. He's not fully proven over the trip but has a good record at this venue, which is his local track. Henry de Bromhead has a fine record in this race and Toss Again, a winner on chase debut at Limerick, may be the best of his two runners. British raider Your Darling has a good record fresh and goes well right-handed, while Brideswell Lad probably needed the run over hurdles last time having been progressive over fences in the spring.
Prediction : 1st Desertmore House 2nd Pakens Rock 3rd Toss Again

Several of these won over two miles last time, but this trip is probably ideal for ZOFFMAN and he gets the vote. He landed a nice pot on easy ground at Leopardstown in the autumn when getting the better of good yardstick Safecracker and lost little in defeat when that rival exacted revenge on much more favourable weight terms at the Curragh on Derby weekend. Teed Up has an excellent course record and his win in the Monday night feature over 2m1f was his fourth at Ballybrit. He got 9lb for that so is 2lb well-in under his penalty. Chally Chute has won four of his last five starts, including a C&D success on heavy ground in the autumn. He's up 8lb for his win over 2m1f at Killarney. La Hacienda was another to win over two miles on her latest start when landing a valuable prize on the all-weather at Newcastle. A Festival winner over 1m6f here last year, she may just be vulnerable over this trip.
Prediction : 1st Zoffman 2nd Teed Up 3rd Chally Chute

Willie Mullins runs two bumper winners and perhaps VADSA QUEEN will prove the pick. The selection made a promising debut when beating all bar better fancied stablemate Lisnagar Fortune at last year's Punchestown Festival and won easily when reappearing at Tramore this summer. Ivana also looked a useful prospect when making a successful debut at Limerick. Yamalia Star and Hey Whatever are closely matched on running behind Beechwood at Killarney last month, while Eziva and Delicate Girl have also shown plenty of promise in two maiden starts. Countess Of Tyrone is a full-sister to Earl Of Tyrone, who was a highly-progressive sort for the same connections last year - winning at Listed level and only beaten around a length in the Ebor at York.
Prediction : 1st Vadsa Queen 2nd Ivana 3rd Countess Of Tyrone

NAVY BEACH has caught the eye when finishing well on his latest two starts and has probably had this week in mind for some time. The Galileo gelding came home well over a mile at Limerick and Colin Keane is now booked after again putting in his best work at the finish over 1m2f at Down Royal. The Dermot Weld-trained Partisan Hero went into the Galway notebook when finishing strongly on his handicap debut over a mile at Killarney last month and looks an obvious threat. Rio Largo has progressed well this year, winning twice over seven furlongs, including here on Monday evening, but now carries a big burden including a 7lb penalty for that recent success. Fratas ran well over 1m4f here on Monday and should be suited by the drop back in trip.
Prediction : 1st Navy Beach 2nd Partisan Hero 3rd Fratas

STRATUM gets a tentative vote with the weights in his favour. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding won the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot last year but faded inside the final furlong in this year's renewal of that stamina test behind Dawn Rising. The selection now meets that rival on 10lb better terms as he bids to overturn a six-length deficit and is fitted with cheekpieces for the first time. Dawn Rising was a Grade 3 winner over hurdles last season and warmed up for that Ascot win when placed in the Group 3 Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown. Shanroe has been a great servant to connections but unfortunately unseated his rider early on at Limerick last time, while Mt Leinster hasn't run on the Flat in nearly two years and has been campaigned over fences since.
Prediction : 1st Stratum 2nd Dawn Rising 3rd Shanroe

BELGOPRINCE returned after a lengthy layoff this spring and struck form last month winning at Tipperary. The Tony Martin-trained gelding stayed 1m6f well when beating all bar the progressive Londonofficecallin at Killarney last time and should be suited by this step to two miles. Theonewedreamof has won under both codes on testing ground this year, including over 1m6f at Bellewstown, and has been placed on both outings since over hurdles. No Hassle is on a hat-trick but has been raised a combined 19lb for wins at Tipperary and Ballinrobe, while the consistent Sign From Above is also entered here on Thursday. Luminous Light and Rain are others to consider, but No Thanks needs to bounce back after disappointing here on Wednesday.
Prediction : 1st Belgoprince 2nd Theonewedreamof 3rd No Hassle