Frank Hickey’s Galway Racing Tips
16:50 – Sysko
17:25 – Ernie From Nurney (each-way)
18:00 – Truth Be Told
18:40 – Cuban Confusion (each-way)
19:10 – Pinot Gris
19:45 – Himalayan Heights
20:15 – Cause For Comment
*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.
16:50 – Sysko
Willie Mullins has had two runners in this in the last four years and won it both times – in 2021, it was Farout, who wasn’t beaten by far in Group 1s a few starts later, and Mystical Power in 2023, who was second in the Supreme as well as winning Group 1s at Aintree and Punchestown.
He relies on SYSKO here, who won his only start on the flat in France in April of last year before switching to the Mullins yard. Obviously, he’s been given time to settle in. Sysko’s mother is a half-sister to Saint Palois, who was a Group 2 chase winner in France. His sire has produced the likes of Bunting and Batman Girac, which Willie also trains.
The field also features Bright Legend, who has some nice form on the flat as well as solid hurdles form, while Pigeon House won a Punchestown handicap hurdle off 118. Palamon was a good winner off 79 at Cork on last start over hurdles, and Feud won on hurdles debut but needs to jump better and has a 7lb penalty.
17:25 – Ernie From Nurney (each-way)
Riyami is a danger being well-handicapped on flat mark, and Denis Hogan has won this twice in the last four years. Malbay Madness is a huge player on handicap debut for Emmett Mullins, too. Rated 84 on the flat and runs here off 108.
He ran twice here at last year’s festival and had a win and a second off 78. Flicker of Hope was impressive on the last two starts but takes a huge drop in trip and that would concern me.
ERNIE FROM NURNEY has improved this season since going back over hurdles. He won at Naas off 93 and followed up snugly at Limerick in April off 99. He’s been given a small break, and the run at Tipperary earlier this month over fences just looked like good preparation. He goes back over hurdles off a 9lb higher mark but looks progressive.
Malbay Madness will be tough to beat but Ernie From Nurney looks to have a solid each-way chance.
18:00 – Truth Be Told
TRUTH BE TOLD ran a huge eyecatcher on debut at Naas last time out, just over a furlong out. He rattled home to be beaten less than a length in fourth, with reopposing Viking Invasion back in second. He should reverse that result, and that race’s form looks solid. The winner, Swagman, finished second in the Group 3 Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown last week.
Well-bred being by Too Darn Hot and Princess Highway, who was a Group 2 winner of the Ribblesdale for these connections, he is in the Group 2 Futurity and Group 1 National Stakes and may well be up to that standard.
Rock Of Cashel was the hype horse before debut at the Curragh, but was disappointing and has a bit to prove.
18:40 – Cuban Confusion (each-way)
CUBAN CONFUSION was four lengths behind the impressive Enchanted Garden on handicap debut at the Curragh last time but got no real run that day and Enchanted Garden has gone up 12lbs and is challenging for favouritism now.
Cuban Confusion had some solid form on the flat in Dundalk, particularly his second to Keepers Heart who is rated 105. Drawn in stall five here and while he has an inexperienced jockey he is claiming 10lbs and if he gets the breaks he looks a solid each-way play.
19:10 – Pinot Gris
Sionnach Eile was rated 104 at his peak and wasn’t beaten by far here last year in the 1m4f handicap when fifth off a mark of 99. He flew up in that race in 2022 off 94 and is down to 93 here. If he stays, he would be interesting.
I’d be more confident if PINOT GRIS had his pieces on, but he ran a cracker at the Curragh last time over 1m4f which would be sharp enough off 84, staying on strongly.
He bolted up at Leopardstown over 1m5f last June off 65 and nearly followed up off 81 at Listowel when beaten by a head. A slow burner over hurdles, there is a decent handicap hurdle in him but there’s still scope in his handicap mark.
19:45 – Himalayan Heights
Jessica Harrington has won this the last three years and she has Cruden and Highland Bling here. Cruden is the more obvious one, but his form hasn’t worked out.
HIMALAYAN HEIGHTS was second to the likes of Birdman and Highbury who were Group placed and won nicely at Tipperary in his maiden over 1m4f on soft ground and is a big unit. The track might not be ideal but if he can stay in there down the dip I think he will be flying up the hill. He could make a lovely juvenile hurdler this season if the jumps boys are watching.
20:15 – Cause For Comment
This is not a great-looking bumper. Delta Force for Charles Byrnes probably sets the standard. Newton Abbott outing was on decent ground and ran at a crawl, so can forgive fourth place, but Willie Mullins’ CAUSE FOR COMMENT wouldn’t need to be a world-beater to win this.
Frank Hickey’s Monday Galway Racing Tips
16:50 – Sysko
17:25 – Ernie From Nurney (each-way)
18:00 – Truth Be Told
18:40 – Cuban Confusion (each-way)
19:10 – Pinot Gris
19:45 – Himalayan Heights
20:15 – Cause For Comment
*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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