Punchestown 1 5 24 Gorgeous Tom and Darragh O Keeffe green yellow win the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle© Photo Healy Racing
Emma Nagle is in flying form when it comes to finding value ahead of a typically competitive seven days of racing next week at Galway.
Emma has taken a deep dive in to the form and picked out five horses she thinks it will pay to follow.
Entered in the Connaught Hotel QR handicap, Monday 19:00 and the “Tote Where’s Danny” Mares Handicap Hurdle, Wednesday 18:00
It’s normally a safe bet to follow the Mee family silks at Galway where they have been carried into the winners enclosure at the track 18 times in the last five years (29% strike rate). Enfranchise showed a liking for this specialist track when breaking her maiden over hurdles at the festival last year and again when finishing second in the Oyster Stakes last September.
Absent since that September run, she returned to action in emphatic style at Gowran in May to win the Vintage Tipple Stakes. She’s in the Connaught Hotel QR handicap on Monday, but her Wednesday entry in the “Tote Where’s Danny” Mares Handicap Hurdle would particularly catch the eye off a hurdles rating of 123.
Entered in the Colm Quinn Mile Handicap, Tuesday 19:10 and the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Ahonoora Handicap, Sunday 16:00
Erzindjan is a fascinating entry for Paddy Twomey who saddled two winners and a second from just four runners at last year's Galway Festival. Last seen in Ireland when trained by Dermot Weld for the Aga Khan, the imposing son of Lope De Vega won twice and ran well in Group company before moving to ply his trade in Dubai.
Back on Irish soil an opening mark of 106 is a bit of a guessing game but going straight into a race of this calibre (Colm Quinn Mile) on his first start for Twomey suggests he must be pleasing his trainer who is very skilled at placing his horses.
Entered in the Tote Galway Plate, Wednesday 19:10
After coming so close to dining at the top table over hurdles, the seven-year-old is now rated 11lbs lower over the larger obstacles and could finally get his big day in the sun in the Galway Plate. Perhaps, a little out of his depth competing in Grade 1 chases through the spring, back in handicap company here with a nice racing weight there are plenty of positives.
13 2 24 Thurles Zanahiyr and Jack Kennedy near win the Horse Jockey Beginners Steeplechase© Photo Healy Racing
After winning his beginners' chase in Thurles, the undulations of Galway shouldn’t be much of a worry. Jockey bookings will be interesting and if Jack Kennedy gets on board his price of 12/1 won’t last too long.
Entered in the Galway Hurdle, Thursday 17:05
It’s fair to say Gorgeous Tom had a baptism of fire for Henry De Bromhead, bumping into the likes of Slade Steel and Caldwell Potter on his first two starts. The Champs Elysees six-year-old stood up to the test though, running consistently before eventually breaking his maiden in April.
He went to Punchestown on his final start where he downed the flag of the Grade 1 performer Mistergif in good style. Nicer ground seems to bring out the best in him and a 9lb hike for that Punchestown win should not be his limit. A very straightforward horse, likely to be ridden handy, there should not be any hard luck stories.
Entered in the Colm Quinn Mile Handicap, Tuesday 19:10 and the Guinness Handicap, Friday 18:35
Watching Derry Lad’s run in the Nifty 50 Handicap at Epsom on Oaks Day was painful for backers of Kevin Coleman’s charge. After being held up in rear, it took a long time for a gap to emerge before he switched out and flew home on the outside.
The Colm Quinn Mile is one option for connections, but being so high on the ballot they’re unlikely to get a run. He’s also in the Guinness Handicap on Friday over 12f, a trip he’s proven to stay. His running style will always make things difficult on a sharp track like Galway, but if the gaps emerge he has the ability to take advantage for his shrewd trainer.
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