16:45 Galway – Oh So Fine
Dermot Weld has not won this fillies maiden since 2016 with Eziyra, but has managed 14 victories in the contest since 1990, including success with Dance Design under jockey Mick Kinane in 1995. Umneyaat represents the Rosewell team this year in what looks a competitive opener this Tuesday with Meala, Angel Palm, Bondi Dreams, Sweet Molly Malone and Winter Oasis interesting contenders.
Umneyaat drops down in trip following her third-place finish on debut behind the Donnacha O’Brien-trained winner Shale and should improve under Oisin Orr.
OH SO FINE for the latest O’Brien to take up training gets the vote here with a middle draw in stall five following her fifth-place finish on debut at the Curragh last month. She raced wide throughout at HQ and was tapped for toe at the three-furlong pole, before staying on and making nice headway in the closing furlong under Gavin Ryan.
The latest racing odds are on PaddyPower.com now
She’s a nicely bred filly, by Galileo, out of the Aidan O’Brien-trained mare, Nell Gwyn and might represent some value against more fancied runners. Six of the last eight winners of this maiden were drawn five or higher and I believe Oh So Fine will relish the Galway hill under impressive young jockey Gavin Ryan who is having a good season.
The Jim Bolger-trained Meala has the best form in the book and a good draw in stall three under Kevin Manning – she finished fourth on debut to Frenetic and was ahead of today’s rivals, Angel Palm and Sweet Molly Malone in a maiden at Leopardstown which has produced winners.
Bondi Dreams takes her chance on debut for Jessica Harrington, while the inform Johnny Murtagh team saddles Winter Oasis, who finished third at Limerick earlier this month – the second Amber Kite won a maiden at Gowran Park last Saturday for Ger Lyons.
17:15 Galway – Mostaqqer
Despite a wide draw in stall ten, MOSTAQQER can land this 7-furlong maiden for Dermot Weld and jockey Oisin Orr in a contest that doesn’t look the strongest on paper.
The Sheikh Hamdan-owned runner was gelded after his debut behind Wichita at the Curragh on his only juvenile start at the Curragh last August and looks primed to break his maiden following a comeback run at Roscommon last month.
The son of Brazen Beau wasn’t fancied in the betting at Roscommon but stayed on nicely and learned plenty. It’s hard to see him out of the frame here in a race Weld has farmed over many decades, winning six of the last twelve renewals.
The main opposition is headed in racecard order by Balmari, an arguably exposed Mick Halford runner, who finished fifth on a seasonal return at Gowran Park after several runs as a juvenile. Elsewhere, Teed Up looks interesting despite a poor draw for Ken Condon and Billy Lee, with the son of Gleneagles making a nice debut when second at Gowran earlier this month.
War Leader is exposed for Aidan O’Brien and drawn in the car park, while Rocket Science might reach the frame on his third start for Jessica Harrington.
17:45 Galway – Celestial Object
The Michael Halford-trained Surrounding is looking for back-to-back wins in the Listed Corrib Fillies Stakes, one of our feature races on day two of the Galway Festival.
The now seven-year-old has good form this season when second to the vastly improving Speak In Colours in the Ballycorus Stakes and third to Romanised in the Minstrel Stakes 10 days ago. However, the awful draw in stall 15 has seriously dented his chances with seven of the last eight winners all drawn 5 or lower.
There’s very little between plenty of these runners on official ratings which makes this a competitive renewal, which could be landed by the Jessica Harrington-trained CELESTIAL OBJECT, one of two runners for the Newtown Anner Stud. She’s been knocking on the door of late with two good second places finishes over one-mile at both Leopardstown and Killarney. The daughter of Galileo runs off a rating of 99 and more importantly likes to race forward with the drop back to 7 furlongs looking ideal with a good draw in stall 5.
She can dominate from the front here and find plenty up the hill under jockey Shane Foley, with both Inhale and Champers Elysees looking two of the more interesting challengers in my opinion.
Inhale has been racing down the field in listed races this season and has a low draw in stall 3 under jockey Chris Hayes, while Champers Elysees takes her chance for some black-type having improved from a rating of 79 in handicaps since last season. Elsewhere, Joseph O’Brien runs Unforgetable, A New Dawn and Crotchet, while the Ger Lyons-trained Auxilia is another who can’t be discounted.
18:15 Galway – Frank Arthur
Ger Lyons has won three of the last four renewals of this handicap and can secure another victory in this contest with FRANK ARTHUR under Colin Keane.
The three-year-old saw off Mostaqqer at Roscommon and hopefully the Dermot Weld-trained runner can boost the form by winning earlier on the card (17:15) this Tuesday evening. The Spratt, Lyons, Jones-owned runner finished second to Fame And Acclaim at the Curragh on his handicap debut nine- ays ago and now runs off a 3lbs higher mark of (84).
One of today’s rivals, Mythologic finished just behind in third place at the Curragh, while Layfayette also found Frame And Acclaim too hot to handle in a separate handicap at Cork earlier this month.
Flying Scotsman could be well handicapped for Joseph O’Brien and now wears cheekpieces for the first time under Wayne Lordon – this horse finished behind Ten Year Ticket and Vatican City in maiden’s last season.
Elsewhere, Meaningful Vote bounced back to victory, beating Frame And Acclaim at Naas recently which is good form, while Comfort Line for Mick Mulvany returns to handicapping following a recent maiden success at Limerick.
* Prices on our snazzy new bet widget are bang up to date.
Galway tips summary:
16:45 Galway – Oh So Fine
17:15 Galway – Mostaqqer
17:45 Galway – Celestial Object
18:15 Galway – Frank Arthur
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Grab racing previews from the US, UK, Ireland and the rest of the globe here
- Placing bets is easier than ever with Paddy Power News’ live odds banners