Jaime Sommers© Photo Healy Racing
Racing returns to Galway on Monday where the all-National Hunt seven-race card is headed by the E20,000 Deacy Gilligan Irish EBF (Mares) Hurdle with a pair of Michael Bowe-trained mares, Jaime Sommers and High Nellie bidding to follow up recent wins.
Bowe, famous for his handling of the family's legendary hurdlers Limestone Lad and Solerina, won a race with his own-bred High Nellie at Wexford recently but it was the success of his brother, John Bowe's Jaime Sommers, out of top racemare Solerina, at Kilbeggan 10 days ago that is likely to spark most interest.
Five-year-old Jaime Sommers has won just twice, at Kilbeggan, in 25 runs but the manner of her most recent success was quite taking and despite being raised 14lb for that win, she should be able to continue the family tradition and win plenty more races.
Perhaps the biggest danger to Jaime Sommers is the Willie Mullins-trained Contingency
The four-year-old made a successful start to her jumping career at Tramore a month ago, winning with plenty to spare, and looks yet another high-class mare for the champion trainer to go to war with.
Racing begins with the Galway 2020 Maiden Hurdle, where Mullins introduces Stratum to hurdling, having won on the Flat for John Gosden in the past. The four-year-old gelding was bought for 160,000 guineas last October having won once and attained a rating of 92 in his time with Gosden.
Elsewhere on the card, the Jimmy Finn-trained Dorkas will be hoping for better luck in the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase, having fallen at the final fence at Tramore when leading. He has solid claims from just a 3lb higher mark. Dundrum Lad is also likely to be popular with punters in the Anglo Printers 1890 624 624 Handicap Hurdle.
Trained by Mags Mullins and owned by JP McManus, the Westerner gelding won readily on his return from nearly a year off at Sligo last month and a 7lb rise is negated by Donal McInerney's claim. Filly Mullins third on her debut, looks the most likely winner of the bumper.
