Paul Ferguson has two selections from Galway for us on Wednesday; Blackmail (4/6) in the 3.00 and Union Dues (5/4) at 4.45. Compare odds and bet.
The ground turned pretty quickly at Goodwood yesterday and any further deterioration will surely favour Dawn Approach in the Sussex Stakes showdown with Toronado.
In the lead up to the meeting, I had been thinking the track maybe more suitable to the stalking tactics of Richard Hannon’s colt, but I’m happy to just sit and watch what will, hopefully, be the race of the day.
Over in Ireland, the Galway Plate looks extremely competitive indeed and, with the participation of the ante-post favourite and first reserve Carlingford Lough unknown at the time of writing, it is not easy to assess overnight.
In the race before the big one Union Dues (4:45) is fancied to score for Willie and Patrick Mullins, the pair who provided us with the concluding winner on day one.
A winner on good ground at Killarney last July, the five-year-old took a Grade 2 bumper at Navan in December, before shaping really promisingly for a long way in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March.
The selection travelled very powerfully to the foot of the hill and the 1m4f trip here, on his debut on the Flat, really ought to suit.
Earlier on the card, Ruby Walsh can land the opener as he did on Monday, aboard another smart bumper performer Blackmail (3:00) who makes his debut over hurdles in the 2m maiden.
Tony Martin’s five-year-old has a couple of cracking pieces of form to his name in defeat, when runner-up to Moyle Park over Christmas and fourth to The Liquidator in the Grade 1 at Punchestown, and he scored in that sphere at Leopardstown in January.
Despite exaggerated waiting tactics, the son of Black Sam Bellamy stayed on well to split stable-mate Ted Veale and Pique Sous (the top two in the betting for tomorrow’s big race) over 1m4f on quick ground at Bellewstown.
Assuming he translates his bumper form to hurdles at the first time of asking, he ought to take a bit of beating, despite this race looking above average. One note of caution is that the same connections’ aforementioned Ted Veale was beaten in this contest a year ago, but the stable could hardly be in better form, so he has enough in his favour.
Wednesday’s selections:
3:00 Galway Festival : Blackmail 4/6 Bet365
4:45 Galway Festival: Union Dues 5/4 Bet365
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Last Year’s Book Results – Leading Prospects:
- SPRINTER SACRE – Unbeaten – winner at Aintree & Cheltenham
- SIMONSIG – Winner at Aintree & Cheltenham
- CINDERS AND ASHES – 10/1 winner of Supreme Novices Hurdle
- BOBS WORTH – 9/2 winner of the RSA Chase
- MENORAH & SILVINIACO CONTI – Both Aintree Winners
- SIR DES CHAMPS – Unbeaten inc 3/1 Jewson Cheltenham Winner
- FINGAL BAY – Won 4 times inc Challow Hurdle
- RAYA STAR – 10/3 winner at Wetherby, 12/1 Ladbroke Hurdle winner, 15/2 Scottish Champion Hurdle winner
- AMBION WOOD – 14/1 EBF Final Sandown winner
- CHAMPION COURT – 6/1 G2 Dipper Novices Chase winner
- PALACE JESTER – 14/1 winner at FFos Las
- SWINCOMBE FLAME – Hat-trick winner inc Lanzarote Hurdle at 9/2
- TEAFOR THREE – 5/1 NH Cheltenham Chase winner (Manifesto Novices’ Chase)
