Bold Thady Quill, left© Photo Healy Racing
The 115,000 euro Topaz Mile Handicap is the highlight on day two of the Galway Festival on Tuesday and the draw is dominating the thoughts of trainers.
Ken Condon runs Bold Thady Quill who comes to Ballybrit on the back of three runner-up finishes in-a-row. The seven-year-old is well versed in big handicaps and his trainer said: "He won off 81 two years ago and now he's on 102. He's in very good heart and has gone close off 96 and 99 in two big handicaps recently. It's a big pot and he should give a good account of himself though he is drawn 15 and that's a very difficult draw." Specific Gravity has a better berth in stall three. He is having his third start for Ado McGuinness having been placed in Dubai for Mike De Kock. A second place to Breathe Easy at the Curragh would appear to have left him primed for this race.
McGuinness said: "We've a real good draw. I've been checking out the race from the last three or four years and none have won from an outside draw. We've one of the best claimers on board (Sean Corby) and that claim could be a huge factor. He ran a very good prep race at the Curragh.
"A relative of mine, Stephen Thorne, was on the Darley Flying Start Programme and spent four months with Mike De Kock at this year's Carnival. He told me this horse was going to be sold and that I had to try and get him and that's how the Total Recall Racing Club got him."
Seanie is housed in gate 12, however, his trainer expects him to run a patient race. David Marnane said: "He's a horse with plenty of ability, but he needs everything to drop right. He's in blinkers and they have had a good effect at home, but it is different in a race. He has run well in Galway before and he wasn't beaten far in this race last year. We'll be taking our time in the race and he wouldn't be winning out of turn. He beat Jamesie in Dundalk and has been second to Lily's Angel."
Seanie was eighth in this valuable contest in 2012 before finishing fourth last year to Brendan Brackan who controlled proceedings.
English raider Balty Boys carries top weight of 9-12 for handler Brian Ellison who has booked Seamie Heffernan for the ride. This son of Cape Cross is bidding to follow-up on a win in a Class 2 handicap at Newmarket. Ellison also supplies Cape Cross gelding Baraweez who is partnered by Colm O'Donoghue. He has improved 15lbs since the end of April. Others crossing the Irish Sea are Jack's Revenge for George Baker and Kevin Ryan's Pintura
Dermot Weld, the undisputed king of Galway, has Defining Year and Calibrate in the field. Pat Smullen is on the former while Leigh Roche gets the leg-up on the latter. Defining Year is easing down the handicap and runs off 93. Hint Of A Tint has bagged stall one, but may be best watched on her first run for almost a year. This is though a drop in class for David Wachman's filly after running behind the likes of Fiesolana and Just Pretending in Group 3 company.
Willie Mullins runs Lucky Bridle who landed a Thurles maiden hurdle last year and Shamar a double hurdle winner.
