Horse Racing Tips: Best ante-post bets for Galway Mile Handicap

Colm Quinn Mile Handicap Tips

Frank Hickey – Mister Wilson
Fran Berry – Fort Vega

*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 Tuesday – Colm Quinn Mile Handicap – 18:40

Frank Hickey – Mister Wilson

I see the case for Fort Vega but their inexperience could be the issue. I am partial to a Sheila Lavrey-trained horse at Galway though as the yard has landed a good few winners at Ballybrit over the years.

I backed Yerwanther in a previous race so I am very annoyed with her. Gavin Cromwell’s Mister Wilson looks like he’s been targeted at this race. Cromwell is a special trainer with winners at Royal Ascot, a Grand National runner up, the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. It’s unbelievable to be able to train that variety of horses.

Mister Wilson never really took to hurdles – with only one win from nine over obstacles – and he’s better on the Flat.

He’s run well at Galway before when just touched off over this trip in September rated 80 and was then just subsequently beaten at Tipperary off a rating of 83.

He’s only a four-year-old and this may have been the plan for a while. A bit of rain will be no harm for him either.

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Fran Berry – Fort Vega

The draw over the 7f and 1m races is huge in these competitive handicaps. If you’ve a good draw on the inside and get away quick it’s brilliant. If you’re slow away it could be game over before you reach the bend. You can run into a dead end and get shuffled back through the field.

If the pace is even, then everyone gets a fair shot at getting a good position. But if they fly out for a furlong and a half and then steady right up – things gets very compacted and that’s where the trouble starts. You need a lot of luck. If you’re drawn out wide then you have no choice but to stay back and try to slot in after a few furlongs. If you’re on the inide you have to commit to get out quicly and get to the front or you’ll be stuck behind a wall of horses. A low draw is a good draw if you can use it. If it goes against you though, you’re in trouble.

Fort Vega, trained by Sheila Lavery is really interesting and will be a popular winner in Australia if he wins. He went to Royal Ascot and probably shouldn’t have. He needs a cut in the ground, he was very good at Gowran Park and his handicap win at Naas has worked out pretty well too. He’s improving and is a big player along with two Joseph O’Brien-trained horses, Yerwanthere, if the rain arrives and Adelaise.

We haven’t seen the best of her, she travels really well, she was nearly the last one to come off the bridle at Royal Ascot. Those three at double-figure ante-post prices are unexposed and that’s what you need coming into this race. We’ll see who stands their ground.