Horse Racing Tips

Timeform Irish SmartPlays: Monday 29 July

Horses at the finish
The 2019 Galway Festival gets underway on Monday evening

"...it will be disappointing if she can't get back on the up now switching to handicaps..."

Timeform on Istoria

Timeform pick out their three best bets from the opening day of the Galway Festival...

AUTHORIZED ART - 17:20 Galway

Willie Mullins has won four of the last five renewals of this race - incidentally, the other winner was Joseph O'Brien's Le Richebourg, now a very smart chaser - and he looks to hold sound claims of adding to his tally here with AUTHORIZED ART. He looked an excellent prospect when making a winning debut for the yard at the Punchestown Festival, winning by three lengths with plenty seemingly in hand, and this looks a good opportunity for him to maintain his unbeaten record on these shores, with further improvement on the cards. Lethal Steps and Morosini can battle it out for the minor honours, with the latter's less exposed profile just tipping the balance in his favour.

ENGLES ROCK - 19:05 Galway

A determined winner of her penultimate outing at Listowel, ENGLES ROCK ran at least as well in defeat when second at Gowran Park last time, keeping on well to go down by just half a length and leaving the firm impression that this mark won't prove beyond her another day. That view is backed up by the weight-adjusted ratings for this race, with only Fairy Footings (who has been done no favours by the draw) ahead of her, and her proven form at this idiosyncratic track also offers plenty of cause for optimism, having chased home none other than Hermosa in a C&D maiden at this meeting 12 months ago. The thriving Calling Time is feared most in her hat-trick bid.

ISTORIA - 20:10 Galway

ISTORIA showed plenty of ability when third on her debut at Cork in May, and that form could hardly have worked out better, with the second and fifth both winning next-time-out. Admittedly, Joseph Murphy's charge has failed to build on that in her two subsequent starts, but there were viable excuses for both of those defeats, and it will be disappointing if she can't get back on the up now switching to handicaps, starting out from a potentially lenient mark with blinkers added for the first time. Millswyn also has the blinkers applied today and could be the one to give the selection most to do, while Ideal Pal cannot be discounted, either, in his four-timer bid.

Recommended bets

Minimum Bet Guarantee

Betfair's 'minimum bet guarantee' on all Class 1 and 2 races in the UK and Ireland - which means all customers are able to bet to win a minimum of £500 - has been extended to cover all races at selected meetings this week. T&Cs apply.

GET £50 IN FREE BETS MULTIPLES WHEN YOU SPEND £10 ON THE BETFAIR SPORTSBOOK

New customers only. Bet £10 on the Betfair Sportsbook at odds of min EVS (2.0) and receive £50 in FREE Bet Builders, Accumulators or Multiples to use on any sport. T&Cs apply.

Prices quoted in copy are correct at time of publication but liable to change.