UK Horse Racing Tips: Galway

Willie Mullins has won two of the previous three renewals with half-brothers Mystical Power and Davy Crockett and the Closutton handler could prevail again courtesy of WITCHES FAMILIAR. The daughter of Zarak bolted up on her stable/hurdling bow at Ballinrobe and is taken to improve past the 123-rated Bellewstown victor Mino Des Mottes. Carmel's Phoenix was mightily impressive at Kilbeggan and although this will be much more demanding, she looks a bright prospect.
Prediction : 1st Witches Familiar 2nd Mino Des Mottes 3rd Carmels Phoenix

This is wide open, but it might be worth sticking with LET'S GO LA FICHAD. Ross O'Sullivan's gelding took a big leap forward to break his duck at Sligo, which coincided with the switch to a sounder surface. He enters handicaps from an opening mark of 110 and should have more in the locker. That said, so should several others, including the likes of Drombane and Hopeful Hero. Can Happen went close on the level after winning over flights at Ballinrobe so he must be respected and, although absent since scoring at Wexford in March, it would be unwise to rule out Westoftignes.
Prediction : 1st Lets Go La Fichad 2nd Drombane 3rd Hopeful Hero

Aidan O'Brien won this last season with subsequent star three-year-old Constitution River and City Of Gold's experience gained when fifth at Fairyhouse presumably played a part in Wayne Lordan riding him instead of stablemate Hmas Perth. He will need to take a major step forward if he is to topple ONE NUMBER because the Joseph O'Brien-trained colt bounced back from his Windsor Castle disappointment to make the frame in Listed company at Naas. Our Boy Bailey was ahead of him in mid-division at Royal Ascot so has to be feared.
Prediction : 1st One Number 2nd Our Boy Bailey 3rd City Of Gold

Teed Up, Sirius and Filey Bay have helped Emmet Mullins and Willie Mullins dominate this contest in recent years and the latter's best chance this time could be Tounsivator, who was fourth in the Galway Hurdle 12 months ago and returns on the back of a hard-fought Fairyhouse triumph. As useful a jumper as he is, EAGLE FANG is a bit better and could be well treated in this sphere after a breakthrough Flat success at Killarney. Light Up The Dark caught the eye behind Tounsivator at Fairyhouse and leads a formidable Joseph O'Brien assault on the race. Granite Bay is just one more to consider.
Prediction : 1st Eagle Fang 2nd Tounsivator 3rd Light Up The Dark

DANCING SAXON finished second in a Listed race on Wednesday and is officially a whopping 16lb well-in, so connections are rolling the dice with this swift turnaround. A half-sister to the high-class Dancing Gemini, she showed nice ability in scoring over this distance at Dundalk back in February and although making a quick reappearance following her Naas race isn't ideal, she has a satisfactory middle draw and should take all the beating. Expert Dancer defeated a subsequent winner at Limerick in June, while another Limerick maiden winner Motta Alta has changed hands recently. Unfamiliar was raised 4lb for her narrow Limerick success, but is 3lb out of the handicap.
Prediction : 1st Dancing Saxon 2nd Expert Dancer 3rd Motta Alta

NOD OF APPROVAL flopped as a gambled-on favourite at last year's Festival, but can put things right now. Out of a Galileo mare, he disappointed badly here last August but has recently shown glimpses of form and finished well behind Darius Dark at Cork in April and the Curragh last month. His same rider utilises his 5lb claim today. Darius Dark is chasing a four-timer, but is 8lb higher than at the Curragh. Vantage Code has changed ownership since finishing second to Nermal at Roscommon and steps up further in trip, while Themis scored easily at Limerick but is 14lb higher.
Prediction : 1st Nod Of Approval 2nd Darius Dark 3rd Vantage Code

Connections of POWER OF KNOWLEDGE have seemingly left the door open for the regally-bred colt to potentially breed some day, and he is well regarded. Out of Champion Hurdle heroine Annie Power and by a stallion who has produced an Arc and an Epsom Derby winner, two of his siblings were capable hurdlers and he was given a favourable TV mention by today's rider last week. Prime Contender smartly won a Dromahane point-to-point in April before selling for 200,000 euros. Annie Power's original trainer Jim Bolger runs Teofil, who showed smart ability at the Punchestown Festival, while Which Flannerys finished second in a lesser Punchestown race in June. Lanespark, brother to a debut bumper winner, and Dreams Are Forever, brother to Cheltenham Festival winner City Island, could be smart.
Prediction : 1st Power Of Knowledge 2nd Prime Contender 3rd Teofil