Horse Racing tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s best bets on Galway Plate day

Mick gives his seven fancies for Wednesday's action at the summer festival.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 3 years ago

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

Galway Plate day brings back some great memories for me watching some of my friends win one of the biggest prizes in the summer jumping season. Placing in the race for Dermot Weld when Ansar won with David Casey on board was fantastic for him. Now lets get into some tips for Wednesday’s action!

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16:35 – Ena Baie

Ena Baie has performed with real credit on all types of ground. She was placed in a good novice handicap at Leopardstown over Christmas and she is interesting, as is Socially Distant, which is very topical! Socially Distant ran very well in a competitive mares race at the Punchestown Festival. She could go really well for Brian Cooper and trainer Paul Nolan, but I just favour Ena Baie.

17:10 – Off Your Rocco

Off Your Rocco is a son of Shirocco, and is unbeaten, winning a bumper and a hurdle race at Killarney. Winning at Killarney is a good yardstick and Off Your Rocco could be very progressive. Gordon Elliot trained the dam who was smart on her day and this unbeaten five-year-old could be on the up.

17:45 – Desir Du Large

If Off Your Rocco wins, then Desir Du Large will be supported in the market as he was runner-up to him at Killarney last time. That was a strong run to just get denied in the closing stages and it would be nice for him to get his head in front again as he’s been very consistent for connections.

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18:15 – Battleoverdoyen

I feel like a cheat deserting The Shunter as he has been really good to us, winning at the Cheltenham Festival when ridden by a 7lb claimer. He is again ridden by a 3lb claimer Simon Torrens who is excellent value, but still races off a mark 16lbs higher then that Cheltenham win. The fact that the last two fences come up quickly is not ideal, but the long run in will give him a chance to get going again.

Royal Rendezvous is the choice of Willie Mullins’ stable jockey Paul Townend and it’s no surprise really as this son of Kings Theatre was narrowly beaten in last year’s race of a 7lbs lower mark. Top Moon is another on the shortlist after a comfy success at Wexford and he is the choice of JP McManus’s retained rider in Ireland, Mark Walsh. It can’t have been easy trying to pick the right one of the five entries he has.

The one that I have gone far is Battleoverdoyen. He looked so good when winning at Down Royal last autumn and if you look at some of his form it is absolutely top drawer. It’s really interesting that connections are running him and I expect him to go very close at a nice price in a race where Paddy is paying the first 6 home each-way.

18:45 – Dalton Highway

Dermot Weld got his Galway festival off to the perfect start when Coltor won the Monday night feature. Dalton Highway won a two mile handicap on the Flat at the Curragh recently and this son of Zoffany is top-notch over obstacles too and can make his presence felt.

19:15 – Tiger Voice

Tiger Voice is already a winner at the track having won on soft ground last September. Henry de Bromhead’s six-year-old has run some good races since, including a nice win at the Punchestown Festival in a 2m handicap chase, where Battleoverdoyen was third.

19:45 – Santa Maria

The Mares’ Flat race is competitive but I’ll take a speculative punt on debutant Santa Maria for Dermot McLoughlin.  Her dam, Ellazaria, was smart and there are plenty of winners in the pedigree. The booking of top amateur jockey Barry O’Neill is a huge plus.

Mick Fitzgerald’s best bets on Galway Plate day:

16:35 – Ena Baie
17:10 – Off Your Rocco
17:45 – Desir Du Large
18:15 – Battleoverdoyen
18:45 – Dalton Highway
19:15 – Tiger Voice
19:45 – Santa Maria

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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