We’re halfway through the Galway Festival, and County Carlow trainer Willie Mullins has a very busy day of runners, with 13 horses due to perform at this afternoon’s meeting.
We’ve looked into their form and today’s chances ahead of their races.
Read on for a full preview of and tips for the Galway card, courtesy of BoyleSports, who provide all the latest horse racing odds.
The Mullins team are taking no prisoners in the opener, the Grade Three novice chase (2.10), run over two and a quarter miles, as they send four horses into the mix; Fine Margin, Gold Dancer, Westport Cove and Runcok.
Fine Margin came back from a break to win at Wexford, and likes today’s ground conditions, so is not without a chance, but may be better over further. He is not the stable’s first string here, though; a role which befalls Westport Cove here, ridden by stable jockey Paul Townend. This gelding also won his last start, very impressively so at Ballinrobe over one furlong less. He’s also happiest on decent ground, is an out-and-out two miler, so should have the speed for this, but he does step up to this level for the first time, which must be taken into account. Gold Dancer, another who won his last start – his first ever over fences – in nice style, ran good races in some Graded hurdles last year, so ought to be up to this level, though he might prefer softer ground. For only his second try over fences, this might be too tough an ask. Runcok fell on his first chase start in June, but rectified his mistake last time to win at Tipperary, despite making some jumping errors. He has a lot of ability, but must prove that his jumping is good enough before we can rely on him to be competitive in a race like this.
In the next Grade Three race, the prestigious two-mile Galway Hurdle (4.30), the champion trainer has five runners; Gaucher, Tounsivator, Batman Girac, Winter Fog and Jalila Moriviere.
Gaucher looks a reasonably likely candidate for a win in this company, having been last seen finishing a very creditable fourth in the Grade Three Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary, and has come down a pound in the handicap, so may go better. He was well beaten over course and distance at this meeting last year, but has improved vastly on ratings since and should factor. Tounsivator comes back off a break today, having rather lost his way towards the end of last season. To his credit, he has always run well fresh for Mullins, so could turn his most recent poor form around today. He is quite versatile regarding the ground and is a Grade Two winner, so he ought to be up to this, but has something to prove at present. Batman Girac is an unreliable sort – not without ability, he does tend to disappoint in high class races like this. Last time out, he was eighth of 12 in the Grimes Hurdle, behind stablemate Gaucher, and looks unlikely to be much further forward from there today. Winter Fog is a top-level performer, having picked up places in numerous Grade One races last season. He made a fair return to action in the Grimes Hurdle for fifth of 12, and usually comes on for a run, so he could be a main player here, though he does have a lot of weight to carry today. Jalila Moriviere, running in the famous JP McManus colours, has only run in Ireland three times, displaying some fair ability when winning at Limerick over two miles, and following up with a good fourth of 16 in a Listed contest at Punchestown in May. She is quite far down the handicap here, which may play to her advantage, and it must be noted that she is the choice of Paul Townend here.
Mullins again has multiple horses in the two and a half mile novice hurdle (5.05); I Am River, Cameletta Vega and Keep Up.
I Am River, another owned by JP McManus, impressed on his hurdles debut in June, winning quite a warm maiden in good style. He ought to be able to progress from there and go well for Mark Walsh, the owner’s retained rider. Cameletta Vega, the mare with the stable jockey onboard, was last seen winning ahead of a very classy rival in Emily Love at Cork. If arriving here in similar form, she will likely be involved at the sharp end. Keep Up, a smart bumper winner last year, was untidy in her jumping on hurdle debut at Punchestown, but was talented enough to win by five lengths, well ahead of the 17-strong field behind her. If her jumping has sharpened up, she might be a danger, but she won’t get away with mistakes in this company.
The Closutton team have just one runner in the bumper (6.10): Wartime Leader. This son of Churchill makes his stable debut, having made a strong start to his career for Pat Doyle when second in a Naas bumper in January. The form of that race has worked out strongly already, so he ought to be able to win this, despite this looking a hot race in its own right.