Ideal Pal aiming to extend winning run The progressive Ideal Pal goes in search of more success when he lines-up in the Eventus Handicap at Galway on Monday. The Michael Mulvany-trained grey has hit a rich vein of form recently, winning his last three, with his most recent triumph coming at Ballinrobe just last week. Now up to a career high mark of 79, the son of Tough As Nails faces 10 rivals in this extended mile-and-a-half contest. Joseph O’Brien saddles strong contenders in the shape of Millswyn and A Wave Of The Sea, who were fifth and sixth respectively in the Ulster Derby at Down Royal last month. Halimi, who was fourth in the Ulster Derby, also takes his chance, while Monty’s Miracle, Dundory and Building Bridges are other stand-out names in this competitive affair. Jessica Harrington trains Building Bridges and she is represented by Calling Time and Pepperoni Pete in the Claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap. The former has won four of his last six and will be well-fancied to defy top-weight in this wide-open heat. Last-time-out winners Sunset Nova and Fancy Footings are sure to have plenty of supporters here, while Improving, Engles Rock, Deira Surprise and Cruella Dovil are other leading hopes. Harrington again saddles a strong contender in the shape of Morosini in the opening race on the programme, the Galwaybayhotel.com & Galmont.com Novice Hurdle. A winner at Ballinrobe in May, the son of Martaline has most to fear from the Willie Mullins-trained Authorized Art, while hurdling debutant Winner Takes Itall is an interesting contender for Joseph O’Brien. O’Brien and Mullins could again be the men to side with in the concluding Monami Construction INH Flat Race. The well-bred Risk Factor, who was second on debut at Ballinrobe, is the O’Brien hope, while Mullins saddles Think Positive, a half-brother to the much revered Samcro. Naas runner-up Innisfree should prove hard to beat in the Claregalwayhotel.ie (C & G) Irish EBF Maiden, while the four-year-old Monkeylou should give a good account of himself in the ultra-competitive Easyfix Handicap Hurdle.
