UK Horse Racing Tips: Galway

BYTHESAMETOKEN has been running OK over fences recently and reverts to hurdles rated 10lb lower, with his rider claiming 4lb. He is now 10 but has been holding his form nicely over fences, with his last hurdle run being when finishing a useful sixth at Listed level last August. Neveradullmoment won over C&D in a slightly lesser race at last year's Festival, but failed in 10 subsequent chase starts and having been outpaced at Thurles in December, was subsequently tried over longer distances. Forecast rain will suit La Hacienda and while well held here on Monday, she retains a favourable enough hurdle rating.
Prediction : 1st Bythesametoken 2nd Neveradullmoment 3rd La Hacienda

SEA MUSIC was well beaten by the winner when finishing second here on Wednesday but nonetheless defeated plenty of rivals and should again compete from that same rating. Placed third in a hot bumper at last year's Festival, his Kilbeggan debut chase win earned him a fences rating of 134 and should better his hurdle figure. I Am Spider Man has recently climbed the handicap ladder and while he competes from a career-high mark, the recent Sligo runner-up subsequently won over fences from a higher chase rating. There was nothing exciting about Topgun Simmy's winning maiden hurdle form, but he showed capable bumper form and that recent success was his first attempt over a staying distance.
Prediction : 1st Sea Music 2nd I Am Spider Man 3rd Topgun Simmy

A first-fence faller in Wednesday's Plate, JANIDIL is smart on his day and drops in grade from prior races. Runner-up in the 2022 Ryanair Chase and once rated 164, he was well beaten in the English National and Stayers' Hurdle in recent runs, but last November conceded 5lb when finishing second to Allaho. Notably, he had the measure of today's rival Easy Game until falling at the final fence at Fairyhouse in April 2023, when the pair raced from level weights. Easy Game, a 19-time winner, blundered his chances away in the Plate, while bottom-weight Hurricane Georgie finished seventh but needs to improve to win. Her stablemate Tullybeg disappointed in the Plate, while Final Orders' rating has fallen.
Prediction : 1st Janidil 2nd Easy Game 3rd Hurricane Georgie

BARNACULLIA finished second to Fighting Fit in last year's renewal and was again defeated by that rival in September, but is weighted to turn form. His Listowel run was his latest race over fences, but he is 15lb better off for that length-and-a-half defeat and showed his old sparkle on the Flat here on Wednesday. Fighting Fit hasn't run since March but will indeed be in good trim for today's race. He won with a rating of 125, under a 5lb claimer, last year and while he should run well, has plenty of weight now. C&D winner The Big Chap should improve considerably following a recent reappearance run and any softening of the ground will help his chances.
Prediction : 1st Barnacullia 2nd Fighting Fit 3rd The Big Chap

Course form is always a key factor at this venue and the line-up includes Current Option, something of a Galway legend having won this race three times, and DUNUM, who took this in good style 12 months ago. The Natalia Lupini-trained gelding made a pleasing return when only dropping away in the closing stages over a mile at the Curragh and will appreciate this drop in distance. Grey Leader made all to score over an extended mile here on Thursday and should go well under a 7lb penalty. Others for the shortlist include This Songisforyou, who also drops back in trip after being placed in a premier handicap on Tuesday, and No More Porter.
Prediction : 1st Dunum 2nd Grey Leader 3rd This Songisforyou

SAINT BRANDON beat Green Brothers by over a length in a barrier trial at Naas back in May and the pair both made a promising start under Rules. The selection kept on in fifth behind Fiery Lucy at Fairyhouse and gets the nod over Green Brothers, who was fourth to the odds-on Va Va Vroom over this trip at Leopardstown. Right And True represents powerful connections but has to give weight away all around, although the son of Arizona could well have progressed from his debut at the Curragh three months ago. Calcifer and Kitty Bear are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Saint Brandon 2nd Green Brothers 3rd Right And True

TACHOS was placed twice this year before opening her account at Gowran and the form of that race could hardly have worked out better. The Dermot Weld-trained filly beat Puturhandstogether by a neck, with Courageous Strike in third, and they have both won since at the Curragh. Artful Approach was fourth in that Gowran race and now reopposes after scoring over 7f here on Monday. Cornahilt Soldier has run well twice here earlier this week and is now fitted with blinkers, while Iseult Of Ireland starts off in handicaps after two placed efforts in maidens, including over a mile at Gowran last weekend.
Prediction : 1st Tachos 2nd Artful Approach 3rd Cornahilt Soldier

DELTA FORCE justified strong support when successful here on Monday and gets the vote to follow up. The Charles Byrnes-trained gelding appears quite versatile having also run well on soft ground when runner-up at Leopardstown back in March. Willie Mullins has won this race five times in the past decade and is doubly represented with Luckinthecity, who won at Listowel before being soundly beaten on testing ground at Leopardstown, and Portcammon, who has been absent since winning at Roscommon 12 months ago. Pure Logic may reverse Tipperary places with Eaglewood on these revised terms, while dual bumper winner The Passing Wife is another to note.
Prediction : 1st Delta Force 2nd Luckinthecity 3rd Portcammon