Galway Festival SmartPlays: Wednesday July 30

Timeform
30 July 2014

Timeform thinks it will be McManus, not McCoy, smiling after the Plate

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Timeform pick out their best bets on Wednesday, including one in the Plate.

"...Alderwood is McCoy’s pick, but could be vulnerable at today’s trip and so we prefer the reliable Wise Old Owl."

Greatness might not have much hurdling experience, but he has plenty of potential and we're hoping this will be enough to take the 16:10. He was well-backed when making a winning handicap debut on his last hurdles outing and beat several subsequent winners that day. With what looks a highly workable mark here and the Tony Martin yard already among the winners this week, he should go well. Recent Killarney scorer Golden Ticket could be the main danger under AP McCoy.

Another competitive renewal of the Galway Plate sees JP McManus mob-handed. Cheltenham Festival winner Alderwood is McCoy's pick, but could be vulnerable at today's trip and so we prefer the reliable Wise Old Owl. Second in this race in 2012 from a 4-lb higher mark, the 10-year-old has plenty of other good course form and is capable of going well after a break. Dangers abound of course, but Wise Old Owl is taken to give John Kiely a second Plate in as many years after Carlingford Lough's success in 2013.

It's hard to go a day at Galway without backing a horse trained by Dermot Weld and Sarafiyla (18:40) is our nominated banker for the yard today. Weld has won this race in the last two seasons and it has been Sarafiyla's target ever since she landed her maiden at Leopardstown when last seen. Admittedly, the competition weren't up to much that day, but she did it comfortably and should make a winning start in handicaps today. Royal Memory ran well behind a decent sort on his handicap debut last time out and is respected.

Timeform Irish Smartplays
All at Galway

Back Greatness in the 16:10
Back Wise Old Owl win and place in the 17:30
Back Sarafiyla in the 18:40