UK Horse Racing Tips: Galway

The weather is predicted to take a turn for the worse ahead of Saturday's action and THIS SONGISFORYOU is tipped in the hope that ground conditions don't deteriorate too much. A bumper winner at last year's Festival, he had a good spin on the Flat here on Wednesday having run creditably behind previous winners on his hurdling bow at Roscommon a few weeks ago. In the same colours as the selection, Enfranchise drops into maiden company over hurdles for the first time having finished fifth in a Listed novice contest here on Tuesday. Useful on the Flat, she has had five runs over hurdles and all that experience will be an asset. Olympic Man was a Flat winner over 1m7f in France and twice ran well over hurdles, but he's been off well over two years and Paul Townend prefers to ride fellow French recruit Ninth Titan, who was found wanting at stakes level on the Flat but is a four-time winner over 10 furlongs.
Prediction : 1st This Songisforyou 2nd Enfranchise 3rd Olympic Man

A valuable contest that Willie Mullins has farmed over the years and one of his strong contingent, NIKINI, is put forward as a sporting selection. A winner over 2m4f last autumn, she ran well on soft ground in a Grade 3 contest at Down Royal in November and has warmed up for this with a couple of spins on the level. Kieran Callaghan takes off a valuable 5lb and maybe she'll improve for this longer trip. Paul Townend is on Power Of Pause, who has been gradually returning to form after missing almost two years and won't mind testing ground . His second at Ballinrobe in May was an encouraging effort. Thecompanysergeant was a progressive novice last term and was last seen when finishing runner-up in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse. He should relish the step up in trip and is ground versatile. Watch The Weather bolted up at Tipperary but a stone rise in his rating may be too much to overcome.
Prediction : 1st Nikini 2nd Power Of Pause 3rd Thecompanysergeant

NAVY SEAL, whose trainer has won this maiden on numerous occasions, has a run under his belt which is likely to prove crucial and he kept on nicely when fifth over this trip at Killarney last month. He's well entered up in Group races and many of the Ballydoyle juveniles show significant improvement on their second start. Wootton Bassett has been doing well with his two-year-olds this year and Bad Desire, a half-brother to an unbeaten French colt who was a Listed and Group 3 winner at two, is likely to be the main threat to the selection. Kathaniel's half-sister won first time out at two last term for Dermot Weld and Andy Slattery's newcomer may be next best.
Prediction : 1st Navy Seal 2nd Bad Desire 3rd Kathaniel

LORD VADER, who had placed form on the all-weather in Britain, caught the eye on his second start for Emmet Mullins at Limerick in April and again came home well when fourth in the Ladies Derby at the Curragh. He wasn't beaten far in a premier handicap at Leopardstown that produced a couple of winners here earlier in the week and it's noteworthy that his shrewd trainer now goes back into maiden company with him. The well-bred Simpson's Paradox is rated 10lb higher than the selection and had a good run over C&D last year when third to a pair of Ballydoyle-trained colts. He didn't do much wrong when second at Killarney after a three-month layoff and looks sure to go close. Katola is a half-sister to three winners and it will be interesting to see how strong the Weld newcomer is in the market, while Bottler'secret made a promising debut at Limerick and has place claims.
Prediction : 1st Lord Vader 2nd Simpsons Paradox 3rd Katola

With just the two starts to his name, PORTLAND remains a relatively unexposed colt who has the potential to do better. A promising third on his debut at the Curragh in June, the son of Dubawi was somewhat disappointing when only beating one home at Tipperary next time. However, he was forced to make the running on that occasion and still looked very green. The Aidan O'Brien-trained juvenile holds a couple of decent entries, so is clearly expected to progress. Jakajaro ran out a very impressive winner on his handicap debut at the Curragh last month. Despite a subsequent 12lb rise, the David Marnane-trained colt should be a serious contender. Lia Fail needed every yard of this trip when winning at Down Royal on her latest start and she shouldn't be discounted in receipt of weight from her main rivals.
Prediction : 1st Portland 2nd Jakajaro 3rd Lia Fail

In a race where most of those favourably drawn are prominent racers, it could pay to take a chance on a closer in anticipation of a pace collapse. DAZZLING SPIRIT tends to be slowly away from stalls in her races before rattling home at the finish and while the Thomas Mullins-trained mare has found the post coming too soon of late, the way this race will likely be run could see her pick up the pieces late on. C&D winner Speckled Meadow falls into a similar category, tending to miss the break then finding her feet late on. Billy Lee rides Galway better than most and the mare shaped well when second at Leopardstown recently. Shawaamekh, who ran very well when second here last year, looks best of those drawn low. The Johnny Levins-trained nine-year-old will appreciate any rain that falls.
Prediction : 1st Dazzling Spirit 2nd Speckled Meadow 3rd Shawaamekh

ONE COOL POET appeared to have lost his way somewhat before showing that the spark was still there when an eye-catching second at Leopardstown on his penultimate start. A three-time winner at the 2019 festival, the Matthew Smith-trained veteran has to be respected if turned out quickly following a scheduled engagement here on Friday night. Wild Dollar ran below par at the Curragh last time but had been threatening to get his head in front with a couple of promising runs prior to that. The Eddie and Patrick Harty-trained five-year-old has to prove his stamina but will be involved in the finish if the trip doesn't prove his downfall. Expound has a wide draw to overcome but should be competitive if Joey Sheridan can negotiate that obvious negative. However, the Denis Hogan-trained gelding may not want it to get too soft as his best form has come on a sounder surface.
Prediction : 1st One Cool Poet 2nd Wild Dollar 3rd Expound

THE TWELVE PINS makes her reappearance here having been absent since just being denied in a bumper at last year's Festival. The form of that particular race has worked out well with a number of subsequent winners behind her. It has to be a major positive that the Willie Mullins-trained mare has previous experience of this track. Andrew Slattery has done very well with his small team of bumper horses in recent seasons so his Tramore runner-up Royal Hollow has to be given serious consideration. The five-year-old is entitled to improve from that initial racecourse outing so we could see a better mare now. Faux Fur has shown real consistency in just three starts to date so the Gordon Elliott-trained Wings Of Eagles filly should again make her presence felt.
Prediction : 1st The Twelve Pins 2nd Royal Hollow 3rd Faux Fur