Galway Festival Day 3 preview

3.00

Smart bumper performer BLACKMAIL can give Tony Martin another winner here. He ran a very eye-catching race on his return when second to stable-mate Ted Veale on the level at Bellewstown and Martin pointed out afterwards that he had jumped impressively when winning his point-to-point so he looks an exciting recruit to hurdling now. Some Article is interesting with Tony McCoy getting the leg up. He looked a smart sort when winning his bumper and wasn't disgraced on his hurdling debut behind the classy Un Atout. He was a leading contender when running out in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle on his last start, back in January. He clearly has talent and could be the threat to the selection. Enchanted Forest should really have won a maiden hurdle before now if he is up to a mark of 120. His run at Dundalk on the Flat a couple of weeks ago would be a worry as he dropped out tamely to finish tailed off. There is no doubt on the best of his hurdles form he'd be involved but he needs to show that again. Minella Reception hasn't run since finishing a moderate enough third here last October. He looks to have place prospects again on his return while Pumbaa ran well on his hurdling debut at Limerick but looks up against better horses here. Scienter won well when taking his bumper in Cork a few weeks ago but this looks a hot enough maiden hurdle for his jumping debut. (GC)

3.35

DEFINE looks worth a shot here in a tricky contest. He's a previous course and distance winner and the ground looks ideal for him. He bounced back to form with a cracking run down in Listowel last month having slipped down the handicap a bit. Despite getting 5lb for that effort he still looks on an attractive mark compared to his old ratings and there may be another day in him. Ruby Walsh is an eye-catching booking for Lady Of Glencoe. You can forget her last run in the farcical Leopardstown maiden but judged on her previous two efforts over timber she looks on a nice mark for her handicap debut. She was no match for Our Man Zebo at Wexford last month but he looks a nice horse. Six Stone Ned has been running well over fences and may just have improved a bit judged on those efforts. He could be on a nice mark back over hurdles again. Banana Flambe ran a nice enough race in a novice Roscommon earlier this month and money for him on his handicap debut would be interesting while Courtncatcher has been in good form but may want a bit further than this. (GC)

4.10

There looks more to come from SHANPALLAS, who impressed when winning at Down Royal last time. The handicapper didn't miss him then giving him 11lb for that comfortable victory. He gave the impression, however, that another step up in trip might suit as he really only started motoring in the closing stages and was drawing away going to the line. That run was in late May and he has had a nice break since. Landero, who was behind him in fifth at Down Royal, absolutely skated up at Roscommon last month and that performance seemed a big improvement on previous showings. He was given 12lb for that and may find this a bit more competitive now. Usuel Smurfer is another who looks set to be suited by a step up to three miles. He kept on without pegging back Imperial Shabra at Bellewstown and that was probably a tough enough task as the winner looked well treated over timber compared to his chase rating. It's hard to know what Blackwell Synergy achieved when winning by 30 lengths at Southwell last month and he looks to face tougher opposition now. Your Busy, a previous winner here over fences, still looks on a fair mark over timber after getting 6lb for his narrow victory in Killarney and it would be no surprise if he got involved. (GC)

4.45

Alkali is the obvious place to start here representing Dermot Weld and has certainly shown enough in three maiden starts to give her a big shout. The ten furlongs last time was probably short enough and her previous run behind the smart Dabadiyan would make her hard to beat. The third then Waver ran off 86 here on Monday so a mark of 76 looks maybe a couple of pounds below what she is capable of. The selection goes to UNION DUES, however, who could prove a class act here. He looked a really smart sort when taking his first two bumpers and went to Cheltenham looking a leading contender with Partick Mullins very sweet on his chances. He just weakened out of it, in the champion bumper, inside the final furlong having hit the front three furlongs from home. He's obviously well regarded and this looks a nice race for him on his return with presumably a hurdling campaign on the agenda. Zip Wire hasn't run since Dundalk in January but that form was highlighted here on Monday as he finished second to Edeymi then. He would need to be primed on his return to take this. Beyond Berlin ran really well down in Killarney last time when just losing out to Absolutlyfantastic. This may just prove a slightly better maiden though. Darwins Fox just lost out when tried on the level at Tramore last month but the fact that the winner was well beaten off 70 in a handicap since suggests he needs to improve on that while the Ballydoyle horse Army Ranger can't be ruled out but needs to come on a fair bit from his Tipperary debut. (GC)

5.30

Plenty of possibilities here as usual and you'd imagine it's short odds that Carlingford Lough, the fancy of many, will get a run as the first reserve. Anyway, without any great conviction another seven-year-old that could be worth a small each-way investment is BUCKERS BRIDGE. True, he'll be dismissed by some as a mud-loving novice but he's a promising type contesting his first handicap going up to a trip that seems likely to suit the former point-to-point victor. Klepht is another that began 'between the flags,' that could go well. Klepht's trainer, Tom Mullins' (also has last year's winner Bob Lingo and Fosters Cross in) brother Willie is three-handed as well and he deploys cheek-pieces on Terminal (Ruby Walsh up – must be a big player) and Lambro (hasn't performed up to scratch lately). The former Liam Burke runner, Bobowen won the Summer Plate at Market Rasen and that form could get a boost through Woolcombe Folly at Galway on Tuesday night. Though some may view him as handicapped out of it he can't be underestimated representing the formidable team of Dr Newland and Sam Twiston-Davies. Dermot Weld has booked Jason Maguire for Majestic Concorde so you certainly can't be ruling that one out. Now running in the J P McManus silks, Jacksonslady will be a popular pick and justifiably so with Barry Geraghty in the saddle. Some of the others worthy of consideration include Mr Cracker and Muirhead. (EM)

6.05

A few no doubt will recall Moonbi Range winning this race back in 1995. Christy Roche did the steering on that occasion for Aidan O'Brien and can that Nordico mare's son (by Fasliyev), MOONBI CREEK get the job done now eighteen years on for the Rosewell House team. The blinkers are put on for the first time and it would seem that this has been an objective for some time, probably since he disappointed here last year. He again has to deal with a wide draw but perhaps the 'blinds' can now work the oracle. The Mee family like to see their colours carried to victory at Ballybrit and with Joanna Morgan putting a hood on Antiquus for the initial occasion a forward showing is anticipated. Wexford handler Colin Bowe has made his name 'between the flags' and he fields an interesting participant here in last year's winner of this event, Gris Ladera. The grey is Bowe's first flat runner and with Connor King booked she could outrun her likely odds. Cases can be made for many many others in a fiercely competitive heat. (EM)

6.40

First-time blinkers woke LUCKY KITTEN up to spring a surprise at Gowran back in April. He mightn't have shown much spark at Listowel in the interim but this stiff track promises to suit the Kitten's Joy gelding (also the sire of Diplomat already a bit of a course specialist) and he gets the nod. Luna Forest impressed when scoring at Bellewstown – form that hasn't particularly worked out – but if she's strong in the market her chance would have to be taken very seriously with Megan Carberry helping greatly with her 7Ib claim. In theory this should be one of the easier events of the week to work out given that there are only four runners. Realistically though, it'll hardly cause shock waves if Indian Icon or Capitol Hill prevails, especially with Connor King's claim bringing the latter's impost down to a feather-weight. (EM)

7.10

Unless Andy Oliver's newcomer, Velocity Of Sound is more than useful, JAYED JIDAN is hardly for beating here. Owner of Velocity Of Sound, Mike Donohoe is a well-respected bloodstock agent and he enjoyed success with the likes of Senyuman before selling that one on. Given that he represents a good trainer too in Andy Oliver, Veloctiy Of Sound could be alright but Jayed Jidan can make his experience count on this occasion. A well-bred sort, the grey has displayed promising form in two outings to date, coming home well both times. An extended mile here is expected to serve him well. (EM)