GALWAY 6.40

 

I could write reams about the ones I'm not ultimately backing but suffice I think to say that whilst I see Teed Up and Lot of Joy as genuinely dangerous horses at the top of the market and the likes of Zinc White; Dartan, Shajak, Whiskey Sour and HMS Seahorse as genuine dangers too at varying prices and Burren Song and Female Soldier as big longshots who can and may cause a shock, I quite readily came to a shortlist of 6 runners.

 

From that list, I see both ALHUMIT and THE VERY MAN as the types to run an enhanced place to somewhere from 5th to 8th place and if you wish to bet accordingly please feel free.

 

This will be a test of the stamina of the horse and jockey and an ability for the riders to ride tactically up with or just off the pace and to keep plenty in the tank for the kick up the hill off the bottom turn. It's a lot steeper than you get a feel for on the TV.

 

My 4 against the field though all have proven stamina on the Flat and in some cases over Hurdles, appear to go in Soft and Yielding conditions and look primed for the types of Yards that can ready one here.

 

MAZE RUNNER for Willie Mullins has Course and Distance form in this race and looks very well handicapped with a 7lbs Claim off a mark of 92. POWERFUL AGGIE has more than a touch of quality, gets the trip, won't mind the Going and other than being drawn 17 I have absolutely no reservations at all, the same applies to DUTCH SCHULTZ , who was 3rd in this last year and who is back to a similar mark and running well from Stall 15, finally LINE OUT who looks primed for the race off a mark of 85 with a 5lbs Claimer, and who has proven very adept in big fields more than once including winning a 30 runner race.

 

If those four aren't in the first 6-7 home with luck in running then I will frankly be very disappointed.

 

TIPS - (1) Maze Runner / (2) Powerful Aggie / (3) Dutch Schultz / (4) Line Out (Alhumit would be first reserve if a non runner in the 4 listed)