Galway Festival Day 2 Betting Preview

005 Irish Racing / Editor / 29 July 2008 / Leave a Comment

John McDermott highlights the best bets on Day 2 of the Galway Festival.

Having scored a four timer on the opening day, Dermot Weld's Noble Crusader is sure to be a hot favourite for this evenings opening race, the Tote Placepot Maiden Hurdle. Despite having Ruby Walsh on board, his current price of [3.50] is pretty short in such a competitive race and having run a disappointing race at the festival last year, I'm looking for other options in the opener. T.J. O'Mara's Hucklebuck fits the bill having had a nice prep run on the all weather at Dundalk a week ago. He hasn't jumped a hurdle since last autumn when placed at Cork and Wexford but should be primed for this evening. With his favoured good ground and Denis O'Regan in the saddle he looks very appealing at [17.0] in the win market and at [4.4] to be placed.

Charlie Swan's Sorry Al will be trying to repeat his 2006 win in McDonogh Properties Chase but has it all to do on recent form. Tony Martin and Ruby Walsh team up with Reisk Superman and although they shouldn't be competitive on official ratings, his win at Sligo over hurdles last week shows his wellbeing. Good ground seems to be the key to Thomas O'Leary's Corlaan and having won at Killarney last time out, I'm expecting a big run from the Cork entry. I'll be looking for [5.0] about him in the place market. The obvious choice here is the stalwart Kerryhead Windfarm, who is three from three over fences this season and will relish the good ground or even good to yielding if overnight rain has got into the ground. He can be a difficult ride but confidence is high that Barry Geraghty can steer him home.

Course and distance stats always hold up at Galway and My Valley's record at Galway makes him the ideal choice for the Tote Jackpot Handicap. He won this race last year and followed up with another festival win later in the week. He hasn't gone up too much in the weights since then and a win at Listowel in June shows a return to form. Pat Fahy is no stranger to the winner's enclosure at Ballybrit and is taken to return there with My Valley who is currently trading at [11.0] on Betfair.

Richard Fahey is double handed in the Tote Galway Mile EBF Handicap with Benandonner looking the pick of the two. He struggled to get home in the John Smith's Cup at York a week ago and should be better suited to this evening's trip of just over a mile. She's Our Mark has been running in illustrious company of late and certainly wasn't disgraced when eleven lengths behind Promising Lead in the group one Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in June. She has won at Group three level over a mile and was rated at 106 after that win. She has slipped back to 99 but really catches the eye at [18.0] for a win and [4.3] to be placed. She has a decent draw in stall 15 which is important around Ballybrit and is taken to provide Pat Flynn with his first winner of this year's festival.
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'm not looking any further than Rare Ransom (NAP) in the EBF (Fillies) Maiden which should provide Dermot Weld with his third successive victory in the race. Rare Ransom and Chintz pulled away from the field in a decent maiden at Leopardstown in early June and Chintz has been placed in listed and Group company since that outing. Any Mick Channon two year old has to be respected so Evening Sunset is sure to have her supporters but this evening's NAP goes to Rare Ransom who is pretty skinny at [1.8] but looks head and shoulders above the rest.

Zhukov is the tentative choice in the Tote Telebet Handicap which looks a wide open affair. Fourth last year when he failed to get home, he looks better prepared this time around to get the seven furlongs trip. He was doing his best work at the finish when second at Fairyhouse nine days ago and any rain this afternoon will help his chances. He has a high draw in 16 which can make all the difference over this trip and at [8.8] is worth a small bet.

The Tote EBF Maiden looks a tricky affair to round off the evening with many punters likely to latch onto Aidan O'Brien's Great Barrier Reef to send them home in good spirits. He was fourth to First In Command last time out at Naas and the winner certainly didn't set the world on fire when tenth of fifteen in the G.P.T Handicap here yesterday. Keyala from the David Myerscough stable looks to have the best form and a repeat of her second to Ard Fheis at Naas in June would be enough to settle this affair. She is drawn 10 and with a three pound claimer in the saddle she is a worth supporting at around [6.0].