Mick Fitzgerald’s Horse Racing Tips
14:10 – Sir Angus
14:45 – Hercule Du Seuil
15:20 – Metabolt
15:55 – Dandy Alys
16:30 – Encanto Bruno
17:05 – Tudor City (each-way)
17:40 – Sign From Above
18:10 – I Will Be Baie
*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.
14:10 – Sir Angus
Joyeux Machin was unlucky at Wexford when still in contention on his chasing debut but blundered badly at the last. With that experience under his belt, he should have a chance now. The one concern is that a couple of these rapid-fire fences may not help him. That sways me towards Sir Angus who has run well in a couple of big-field handicaps and should know his job.
14:45 – Hercule Du Seuil
Willie Mullins’ top weight has looked good in winning little Novice Chases at Killarney and Ballinrobe. He has a Grade 2 win over hurdles at Fairyhouse and could be too good for these. Henry de Bromhead’s Ballyadam is the obvious danger. A decent handicap hurdler at one stage he was comfortably beaten by Hercule Du Seuil at Ballinrobe in a Novice Chase before winning at Wexford last time. He’s not slow.
15:20 – Metabolt
UK raider Metabolt has been running consistently but is a little higher in the weights now (rated 84) then when starting this winning run off a mark of 74. He is versatile with regard to ground conditions and it’s an interesting choice by trainer David Loughnane to send him to Galway.
15:55 – Dandy Alys
A decent 7f Stakes race is next where another UK raider can grab the prize. Trainer Ralph Beckett has spotted an opening for this daughter of Dandy Man and with Irish champion jockey Colin Keane booked she ticks all the right boxes. Was last seen finishing second on soft ground at Carlisle over 6f and last season finished third in a 6f sales race at the Curragh on soft ground.
16:30 – Encanto Bruno
Trainer John McConnell is making a name for himself in both codes and this son of Mahler won a decent bumper at Cheltenham’s showcase meeting last October. His only defeat in four bumpers came when mid-div behind A Dream To Share at the Cheltenham Festival. He won a maiden hurdle at Bellewstown very nicely over 2m 1f and can claim this 2m 4f novice hurdle on the way to better things.
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17:05 – Tudor City (each-way)
Fairytales do happen in this game. Tudor City is already a two-time winner of the Galway Hurdle and to make it three would be an amazing story for Tony Martin and owner John Breslin. He ran in the Apprentice Derby at the Curragh last time – doing exactly the same as he did in his warm-up last year – except this year he won it. He now gets to race off 136 in the Galway Hurdle, the same winning mark as 12 months ago. Despite being in the wilderness over hurdles since that famous win last year it’s hard to get away form his Curragh win as it proves he’s fit and well and there’s little doubt that this has been his target all season. The same jockey Liam McKenna rides as connections use his 5lb claim again.
At the head of the market, Zarak The Brave finished third in the four-year-old Champion Hurdle and is an obvious contender as is Filey Bay who finished second in the Betfair Hurdle and third in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He is not badly treated off his current handicap mark and would rate the obvious danger.
17:40 – Sign From Above
Joined Peter Fahy to race over obstacles after running on the Flat for Jessica Harrington. He won his first Flat handicap for Fahy oof a rating of 62 over 1m 4f at Down Royal. He has some very good form to his name over hurdles (4th to High Definition at Leopardstown in Dec 22) despite not winning a maiden hurdle subsequently. Tuned up for this when third at Ballinrobe last time in his first handicap hurdle, but a mark of 68 entitles him to be a player back on the level and he gets the vote.
18:10 – I Will Be Baie
Willie Mullins’ runner ‘won’ at Punchestown in June but lost the race in the stewards’ room for a hefty bump on Onlyamatteroftime. He was a point-to-point winner for Colin Bowe and sets a good standard in this 2m 2f bumper under Patrick Mullins.
Mick Fitzgerald’s Horse Racing Tips
14:10 – Sir Angus
14:45 – Hercule Du Seuil
15:20 – Metabolt
15:55 – Dandy Alys
16:30 – Encanto Bruno
17:05 – Tudor City (each-way)
17:40 – Sign From Above
18:10 – I Will Be Baie
*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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