Hi all,
It’s the start of the Galway Festival today and I have two selections from there, as well as Windsor & Ayr.
Galway
5:20 – Authorized Art – 6/4 – Gen – The selection represents Willie Mullins who has won four of the last five running’s of this. The selection won on his first start of the trainer when running out the easy winner of a Punchestown maiden 75-days ago. Looks capable of much better and can win this.
8:40 – Think Positive – 3/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – Like the first selection is trained by Willie Mullins who landed this NHF race in 2013 & 2017 and has a 45%-win strike rate with such runners at Galway in the past 5-years. Finished lame when favourite for a valuable bumper at the Punchestown Festival back in April. Has since finished runner -up at Kilbeggan. Looks more than capable of landing a bumper before going hurdling.
Ayr
4:00 – Shoot For Gold – 15/8 @ Coral & William Hill – The rain that fell at the track yesterday has turned the ground soft which should suit the selection. The 3-year-old makes his handicap debut here and could be ahead of his mark. An easy winner of a soft ground Windsor novice race last October. The son of Sea The Stars was then unable to handle the step up to Group 1 company when a well beaten 6th of 9 in the Grand Criterium at Saint-cloud. The colt holds Great Voltiguer and St Leger entries so is clearly highly regarded by his trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, who won this race 12 months ago and has his horses in great form at present. He might not be up to St Leger class but looks on a decent enough mark here.
Windsor
7:50 – Embour – 6/1 @ Bet365 – The Windsor Sprint Series Final and a field of 16 have declared to go to post for this decent prize. The selection won over C&D two starts back. He then finished a good 4th over 5f at Ascot 16-days ago and will appreciate the return to 6f. The 4-year-old is 5 wins from 8 runs 7 placed when racing within 17-days of his last start. Sean Levey whose 4 wins from 4 rides on the gelding is also back in the saddle.
Cheers
John