Alan Marron is back to preview Day Two of the Galway Festival.
Well we failed to get a winner on the board on Day One folks but we went very close on a couple of occasions. Anchorage stayed on strongly but finished second and Turbine was well punted and travelled like the winner but was subsequently beaten a half a length having been punted down from 25/1. Let’s hope for better on Tuesday.
Scroll down to check out my selections and hopefully we can get a winner or two on the board.
4.35 CAULFIELD INDUSTRIAL IRISH EBF MAIDEN 7F
Dermot Weld is a master around Galway and he teams up here with Colin Keane aboard EMILIE GRAY.
This looks to be the easiest opportunity for this filly to get her head in front and it would be a surprise to me if she is beaten.
Her debut form at the Curragh when third to subsequent Group One winner Joan Of Arc is much the best and even though she is dropping back down to seven furlongs from a mile, I think that will really suit.
She has a nice draw in stall eight and the weight concession of five pounds from the colts and geldings should be more than enough.
She will get my NAP vote for Day Two as I would be very disappointed if she got beaten.
5.10 COLM QUINN BMW IRISH EBF FILLIES MAIDEN 7F
This maiden looks to concern Twinkle and Radiyka but it would be TWINKLE who will get my vote for Aidan O’Brien and Seamus Heffernan as I thought she looked like she would learn plenty from her first experience on a racecourse.
Leopardstown maidens are normally a very good guide and Twinkle looked like she was going to be outpaced when running green over two furlongs out but stayed on strongly in the end to finish fifth behind Homeless Songs.
The market that day suggested that she would need the run so it will be very interesting to see how she fares in the betting on Tuesday.
She could prove very hard to beat.
5.45 COLM QUINN BMW IRISH EBF FILLIES & MARES LISTED STAKES 7F
LUSTOWN BABA arrives here off the back of a poor run last time out and will have to leave that behind but with the ground likely to be considerably softer than originally expected I would be of the opinion that it will be very tough to leave her out of the equation.
She has two RPRs of 107 and 109 on soft ground over six furlongs and that form alone should be more than enough to see her in contention.
There are plenty of question marks around the market leaders and she just might surprise a few at a decent price.
Should be tough to keep out of the frame.
6.15 COLM QUINN BMW MILE HANDICAP 1M (PREMIER HANDICAP)
Aidan O’Brien and Seamus Heffernan combine here with HOROSCOPE and he looks one of the most interesting runners in the race for me based on his victory last time out.
He didn’t have to be at his best to see off the field he faced but he done it in tidy style and looked like he could improve off the back of it.
The ground wont be an issue to him and the hustle and bustle of a premier handicap shouldn’t be an issue either considering that he ran an excellent race to finish third to Visualisation on heavy ground in the “Habitat” handicap at the Curragh.
He also ran in the Britannia at Royal Ascot and ran a decent race there also. I think they will go much more of a clip here and put the emphasis on stamina.
He should be finishing late and fast and hopefully get up close home.
6.45 CAULFIELDINDUSTRIAL.COM HANDICAP 1M
DISCO BOOTS really impressed me last time out on her first start of the season when she readily accounted for a decent field around Killarney.
She caught the eye a couple of times as a juvenile but really stepped up to start her three year old campaign. She will have no issue with yielding ground and could maybe prefer a little more juice.
She has a nice draw and with improvement to come and Kevin Manning on board she looks tough to keep out of the frame.
The form of her juvenile runs have worked out well with the likes of Create Belief going on to win at Royal Ascot.
I would keep a close eye on the market but she looks a very solid each way proposition and should go close.
7.15 CAULFIELD INDUSTRIAL HANDICAP 1M (DIV I)
This handicap is split into two divisions and they look very competitive affairs.
There is one angle to take into this race though and that is in foal mare DIVINE CELT could still be in decent form after finishing second last time out.
That race has worked out well as the winner on that occasion Dance Emperor has followed up at Gowran Park.
She has a nice draw in stall two and has only been raised a pound for that. Mares in foal tend to be a couple of pounds better that their rating suggests and with ground conditions in her favour she will be tough to keep out of the frame.
Should go very close.
7.45 CAULFIELD INDUSTRIAL HANDICAP 1M (DIV II)
The aforementioned DANCE EMPEROR will be looking to land the hat trick in the second division of this handicap and by the way he won last time out that could be very possible.
Sam Ewing stays on board and this horse remains on the same mark so looks potentially well treated.
I would keep an eye on the market, if Divine Celt happens to land the previous race then Dance Emperor could be very well punted.
The ground conditions could be the biggest worry if they ease much more but he is in the form of his life and I think he is going to take plenty of beating.
He has some course form when finishing third to Out On Friday last year.
I would expect him to go very close.
8.15 LATIN QUARTER HANDICAP 2M
Last years winner of this race WALKING ON GLASS looks poised to go well again off a five pound higher mark and will be my selection to end Day Two on a high.
This horse has won his last two over hurdles and is rated 125 in that sphere and that leaves his flat mark of 76 very appealing.
I think he comes into this race in much better form than last year and I’m very surprised that he is not shorter in the market.
If you go back to June 2020 there is one piece of form that still makes this horse look exceptionally well treated.
He got the better of subsequent Group One winner Princess Zoe in a handicap at Navan off a stone lower mark and anything like a reproduction of that form will be more than enough.
I am of the opinion last years renewal of this race was better and Walking On Glass could be very tough to keep out of the placings here to end Day Two.