Horse Racing Tips: Rhys Williams fancies Moon to shine at Galway

Showed ability despite poor jumping over hurdles

Galway 18:10: Moonovercloon 1.5pt win 11/1

Moonovercloon ran twice over hurdles last season and the ability he showed suggests that he can be competitive now running in a bumper for the first time.

On his debut at Punchestown, he made a very bad mistake at the second hurdle and completely backed off the third which resulted in him dropping towards the back of the field.

Further mistakes followed but having looked like he would finish tailed off leaving the back straight, he made some late headway into thirteenth at the line.

He was stepped up to 2m4f at Navan next time and shaped with plenty of promise behind some very good rivals. His jumping wasn't convincing early on and he raced towards the back of midfield before improving in the back straight and he got on to the back of the leading group turning into the home straight.

He made a slight mistake at 3 out and was pushed along after and another small error followed at 2 out. He wasn't able to go with the leading trio from that point and dropped away to finish fourth, beaten 21 lengths.

The first and second in that race, The Goffer and Highland Charge, both won Grade 3 novice hurdles later in the season and the third has won a maiden hurdle since.

That Moonovercloon was able to run to a fairly good level in that race despite those mistakes is encouraging and he looks capable of improving of that now running in a bumper.

I think he will appreciate this being a slightly stiffer test than most bumpers too and as long as he gets a clear path I think he can be competitive. Any 9/1 or bigger appeals.