Cork winner Spot The Pro is tipped to go well © Photo Healy Racing
2.15 Easy-fix Beginners Steeplechase
Tony Martin has enjoyed a great week at Ballybrit, and NEAREST THE PIN may provide the Co. Meath handler with yet another winner. The going is not ideal for the eight-year-old but he does have plenty of jumping experience and going back he has placed form on soft ground against the likes of Flemenstar, Days Hotel and Hidden Cyclone. It was a decent beginners event that he finished third to Sizing Italy at Killarney last time, and that winner’s stablemate Darwins Fox is now an interesting rival having beaten all bar the useful Union Dues here on the Flat on Wednesday. Pass The Hat has shown promise in good handicap company, and can be forgiven his latest poor effort at Listowel having made a mistake around halfway. Letter Of Credit was a useful bumper performer and also won a maiden hurdle at this venue for Ger Lynch. There was no shame in being outclassed by Rebel Fitz over fences at Ballinrobe last time. (AM)
2.45 Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Steeplechase
RUPERT may provide a bit of each-way value in receipt of over a stone from top-weight Pires. The lightly-raced gelding has generally been quite consistent in this type of event over the past 18 months, so it’s probably best to forgive him a life-less effort when last seen at Down Royal three months ago. A reproduction of his second to Jacksonslady at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting would make him a big player here, and the booking of Paul Townend for the first time is interesting. Pires has obvious claims with his stable in great form, and the versatile gelding comes here in great shape having made the frame at the Curragh on Irish Derby weekend before just failing to peg back Knockcroghery over hurdles at Limerick. Toner d’Oudairies was just touched off in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last year, and now makes his handicap debut over fences having scored at Fairyhouse in the spring and picked up plenty of jumping experience. (AM)
3.20 Vision Express European Breeders Fund Mares Handicap Hurdle Busted Tycoon is one of many Tony Martin-trained horses in top form at present having completed a hat-trick over hurdles before a stylish victory on the Flat here on Tuesday. The handicapper was obviously impressed as he’s given the dual-purpose mare a 15lb hike for that latest win and Martin may elect to take advantage of her old Flat mark in the two-mile handicap here on Saturday. If that’s the case she’s unlikely to turn out again here, and GET OFF THE STAGE could be the one to benefit most. Athenry trainer Pat Kelly and his son Tony would like nothing better than a winner at this Festival meeting, and she ticks plenty of boxes. The six-year-old had a ‘sighter’ of Ballybrit when runner-up in a mares maiden hurdle here last autumn, and again handled testing ground well when beating all bar Teochew last time in a similar 20-runner event at Cork. Twin Plan has progressed well this year for Jimmy Lambe scoring five times in a variety of disciplines.
3.55 Trappers Inn Maiden Hurdle
Curley Bill and NOTABLE GRADUATE stand out here. Noel Meade's charge is rated 1lb higher on the Flat but his figure of 85 is sure to go upwards now after landing the featured Guinness Handicap here on Friday evening. In the belief that Curley Bill, unlucky not to score over hurdles at Down Royal last Christmas, will not reappear less than 48 hours later, that would leave the way clear for Weld's charge. The Galileo gelding made the frame on his only hurdle start, although well beaten behind Ned Buntline, in a good class Leopardstown maiden. He could never get in a blow when sent off joint-favourite for the big amateur riders handicap here on Monday evening but this looks a good opportunity to give the Rosewell House team yet another Festival winner. (AM)
4.30 Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle
I highlighted the chance of Get Off The Stage earlier on this card in the mares handicap hurdle, and the Kelly’s also have strong prospects here with SPOT THE PRO. The Barathea gelding took a maiden hurdle in tremendous style at Cork back in April and has not been seen since, perhaps in order to preserve his handicap mark for this meeting. The going was similarly testing on that occasion, and he’s got scope for further improvement. Wither Hills comes here in decent form having made a bold show against Aladdins Cave here on Monday, and it should be noted that both his previous wins were gained with cut in the ground. Stephen Mahon has enjoyed a good time of it over the past few months, and sent out a wide margin handicap hurdle winner here earlier this week. It could be dangerous to underestimate his Green Thirty Two despite a 9lb hike for a recent Ballinrobe success. (AM)
5.00 Galway Shopping Centre Flat Race
Dermot Weld has made a significant impact with his team of bumper horses this week as Marty’s Magic was narrowly beaten on Monday and Dont Tell No One scored on Thursday. The Rosewell House maestro introduces another newcomer here in the shape of TALWEEN, and it will be interesting to see if she attracts similar strong support in the ring. The daughter of Nayef is a half-sister to Rawaaq who won the Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial for the yard earlier this year and is from the family of champion miler Bahri. In light of that pedigree it is somewhat surprising that she was purchased for just 6,000gns at Tattersalls this February. Weld has a strong line on what is required as Top Othe Ra and Sukiyaki filled the minor placings just behind Marty’s Magic here on Monday. The principals were involved in a bit of scrimmaging close to the line, with Katie Walsh’s mount actually going through the railing just after the winning post. (AM)
5.30 Fr. Breen Memorial (Pro-Am) Flat Race
DEVILS BRIDE has looked a gelding of some potential in recording two wins on varying ground conditions over the past few months and, as Gigginstown aren’t usually too keen on campaigning their horses in bumpers, it’s interesting that this fellow is given the chance to complete his hat-trick. He showed a nice turn of foot when bouncing off the ground at Tipperary last month, and tacky going here might be of some concern. The Weld team is always to be feared, and Grecian Tiger also boasts a good level of form having won first time out at Naas back in January and been placed in a Listed event at Limerick. He’s been given a break since finishing down the field in the Champion Bumper at the Punchestown Festival. Gowran Park winner Ebazziyr is out of the Aga Khan’s Irish Oaks winner Ebadiyla, while Five Hawk Wings and Some Officer both won well last time but have a lot more on their plate now.
