UK Horse Racing Tips: Galway

Emmet Mullins has lined up TEED UP and Aurora Princess for a busy week and whichever horse turns up for a third-run should take all the beating, with a 1-2 being a possibility. TEED UP revels in testing ground and while 10lb higher than when winning here last year, should better his 113 rating. Aurora Princess was narrowly beaten from today's same hurdle mark on Wednesday and is now 6lb ahead of the handicapper with his rider claiming 4lb. In-form Stilyker is open to further progression but is better suited by a sound surface and disappointed having raced too keenly on testing ground in May. Hearts Are Trumps is 6lb higher than when winning at Ballinrobe but would prefer good while Boom Boom Boom ran well in a useful handicap in June but prefers fast ground. Four-year-old By Your Side likes testing ground but was well held at Bellewstown and has plenty weight while Scottish raider Trebizond was well held in June and would prefer good. Bal De Rio won an ordinary recent claimer. Bythesametoken, 11-race maiden Hidalgo Des Mottes and Wee Charlie have been running well but face stiff tasks.
Prediction : 1st Teed Up 2nd Stilyker 3rd Hearts Are Trumps

Lightly-raced stayer CALL THE TUNE reverts to hurdles in first-time cheekpieces but is somewhat unexposed over hurdles. He should improve from his return from a 449-day layoff at Kilbeggan and his best form, in winning a Navan heavy-ground chase in 2022 and chasing home the well-in Ballyshannon Rose on his previous hurdle run in 2021, gives him every chance. Pure Sirloin was a well backed winner at Navan and while pulled up on his most recent run, returns from a short break, stays well and likes easy ground. Macgiloney and My Design are closely matched on a dramatic Kilbeggan race in June when both fell at the final flight and should get involved. Peaches And Cream was well held at Killarney but is a dour stayer who is rated higher over fences. Pairc Na Ngael is rated 14lb higher over fences but prefers good ground, while stablemate Summer Tide's best form is also on a sound surface. Sphagnum is rated 6lb lower in this sphere but disappointed on a recent chase run. Junior Rattler ran well behind Pakens Rock at Kilbeggan but hasn't won since May 2021.
Prediction : 1st Call The Tune 2nd Pure Sirloin 3rd Macgiloney

The keen-going SAINT SAM steps up slightly to his longest distance to date but has good recent form over middle-distances and has a touch of class. He concedes weight but has twice been Grade 1-placed and is an enthusiastic and progressive six-year-old. Stumptown finished a close second in Cheltenham's Kim Muir Chase in March and while forgiven a pulled-up effort in the Irish National having made jumping errors, drops in distance and doesn't have the selection's pace. Andy Dufresne was an early casualty in the Galway Plate and while a Grade 2-winning hurdler at his best, hasn't won since December 2020. Peregrine Run, a marvellous 20-time winner, is now 13, while Born By The Sea was well held in Thursday's Plate.
Prediction : 1st Saint Sam 2nd Stumptown 3rd Andy Dufresne

ROSEY'S HOLLOW got off the mark over fences recently and should run well in her first handicap chase. A Grade 3-winning novice hurdler in 2021, she has been slightly disappointing since and while this race is much tougher her Tipperary win, she competes from a low weight and is ground-versatile. Hubrisko is a course hurdle winner who is rated 5lb higher in this sphere than over hurdles but should compete on his handicap chase debut, having run consistently recently. Vado Forte was a minor surprise winner of last year's renewal and while his rating slightly climbed before he was subsequently claimed, he showed some of his old sparkle at Punchestown in June. Sole Pretender has been an excellent performer and while he refused to race at Tipperary, he defied a big weight to win a Listed chase at Killarney subsequently, although he has a preference for good ground. Hereditary Rule won well at the Punchestown Festival but is 10lb higher today with today's rider claiming 4lb less and he drops slightly in distance.
Prediction : 1st Roseys Hollow 2nd Hubrisko 3rd Vado Forte

CURRENT OPTION is fancied to cement his place as a Galway Festival legend by landing this feature race for a fourth successive year. The Ado McGuinness-trained gelding has been given a chance by the handicapper as his three previous wins here came off marks of 99, 105 and 97 but he still seems to retain plenty of his old zest. He probably ran too keen and was denied a clear passage when still beaten just over two lengths here over a mile on Tuesday. He can reverse places with Dunum and the selection's stable companion Casanova, who both finished in the money on that occasion and should again go well. Hotrocket is on a hat-trick after scoring with a bit in hand over this trip at both Gowran and Fairyhouse and Conor Stone-Walsh again claims a valuable 7lb. On A Session filled the runner-up spot in this race last year and is effective on soft ground.
Prediction : 1st Current Option 2nd Dunum 3rd Hotrocket

STROMBERG was unlucky to come up against the smart looking Caught U Looking in a similar event at Leopardstown last month. The Joseph O'Brien-trained colt was no match for the well-backed winner but drew clear of the remainder in that 18-runner maiden and should progress with the benefit of the run. Caught U Looking's trainer Noel Meade is now represented by Kiki Roberts who stepped forward from her first start when ridden more prominently at Bellewstown last month. Romford put in his best work at the finish on debut behind Givemethebeatboys at Navan. That form has been well advertised since and he should appreciate the step up in trip.
Prediction : 1st Stromberg 2nd Kiki Roberts 3rd Romford

MALBAY MADNESS just failed to peg back Lan Cinnte over C&D on Wednesday and may go one better with the Emmet Mullins yard in good form. The selection, who landed a gamble in a Killarney nursery for Eddie Linehan, may benefit from the application of a hood. There is little to choose between Quantum Light and La Tulipe Noire on running behind Rio Largo over seven furlongs on testing ground here on Monday. Quantum Light was having her first run since joining current connections from Ralph Beckett, while La Tulipe Noire won a Dundalk maiden over a mile last winter. Hasten Slowly has gained both wins on a sound surface including at Naas last time so the ground could be a worry.
Prediction : 1st Malbay Madness 2nd La Tulipe Noire 3rd Navy Beach

YOU OUGHTA KNOW easily won a bumper on debut at Kilbeggan this spring which was probably above-average for the venue. It is interesting to note that Patrick Mullins keeps faith with the son of Beat Hollow rather than partner Aurora Vega, a full-sister to Facile Vega, who also won in great style on her only start at Sligo in June. Lionnar had subsequent easy Tipperary winner Crooked Tannie well behind when fourth on debut at Killarney before beating Beauforts Storm (won since) at the Curragh, with Mont Beuvray about six lengths back in third. Chef D'etat has won both his starts at Tramore and Worcester, while Shark Hanlon is also represented by Fort Randall who has shown promise on both starts.
Prediction : 1st You Oughta Know 2nd Lionnar 3rd Aurora Vega