2020 Galway Day 5 Tips by Dave Stevos

This week has been a real struggle at Galway and Thursday was a complete flop. Shamiyan travelled well for a long way but stopped like he was shot turning in. Pakens Rock was given absolutely no chance by his jockey. He was posted 12 horses wide at one point and after a slowish start the writing was on the wall early. Moyode Gold was outpaced before staying on late but couldn’t reach the frame. Friday’s action looks trappy enough but I like a couple at decent odds. Check out Dave Stevos’ 2020 Galway Day 5 tips below…

Day 5 Galway Selections: 4.45pm – Maiden Hurdle (4yo+)

Barring accidents this is surely between the top two in the betting. Risk Factor for Joseph O’Brien is odds on after his Grade 2 effort last time at Leopardstown (16f gd/yd). He has course form in the book, finishing 2nd to Russian Diamond in a bumper here last season. Soft ground won’t be a worry and he has a favourite’s chance. N’Golo is making his debut for Ricci and Mullins and he was a 12f winner in France on soft. He will likely know his job but at the prices I’ll be taking an e/w chance on Saucy Yeats here.

This 4yo daughter of Yeats was given a nice introduction in a bumper at Tipperary earlier this month. Her inexperienced jockey met trouble when travelling well in the home straight and the filly looked a bit green too. She should be much wiser with that experience behind and Daniel Holden takes over in the plate. The winner of that race won another bumper next time so there is substance to the form. At odds of 25/1 Saucy Yeats could go well if she takes to hurdling.

2020 Galway Day 5 Tips: Saucy Yeats e/w @ 25/1

2020 Galway Day 5 Tips: 5.15pm – Conditionals Handicap Hurdle (4yo+)

A field of 14 go to post in this handicap hurdle for conditional jockeys. After his excellent 3rd here earlier this week in a flat maiden, Born By The Sea is near the head of the market. Mt Leinster was 2L ahead of him that day and ran big in the Galway Hurdle off 142 yesterday. Born To Sea is in off 119 here, Jack Gilligan takes off another 4lb and surely he is handicapped to run a big race.

One that could go well at a bigger price is Schedar for Michael and Mark McDonagh. This 5yo son of Shirocco was well beat last time at Wexford on heavy. However, he previously ran a very nice race at Naas off 95 on slightly better ground and he has form on good to yielding too. His trainer has his horses in decent shape with his last two runners finishing 3rd and 4th at big prices. With 4 places available, Schedar is the each way selection at odds of 20/1.

2020 Galway Day 5 Tips: Schedar e/w @ 20/1 (4 Places)

5.45pm – Galway Live Handicap Hurdle (4yo+)

This is another very tricky looking race and 15 are due to go to post. Décor Irlandais is a massive price at 33/1 off top weight. He has placed Grade 2 form in the book and he can be forgiven his poor run at Cheltenham. However, his trainer’s string are badly underperforming in the past two weeks and I’ll just be watching him today.

One that could go well off a lower weight is Future Proof for Noel Meade and Eoin Walsh. This son of Dream Ahead was last sighted 5 days ago at the Curragh (10f gd/yld). Conditions were a bit too quick for him there and today’s ground should suit better. He won a maiden on soft/heavy at Gowran in March and he was 4th behind Pakens Rock in a maiden here last term. Odds of 20/1 look too big and off a mark of 124 Future Proof is the each way pick.

2020 Galway Day 5 Tips: Future Proof e/w @ 20/1 NAP (5 Places Betfred)

6.15pm – Guinness Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Next up at Galway on Friday is this 23f handicap hurdle. The one I’ll be taking a chance on at huge odds is Foveros for Willie Mullins and Mikey Fogarty. This son of Authorized was below par on the level last time at the Curragh (12f gd). However, it was his first run back from a break of 5 months and he was entitled to need it. The fact he was sent off the 5/2 fav suggests that he may have been showing a bit at home too.

This horse has had two previous runs at this track and they both resulted in victory. He took a pair of Novices in Aug/October last season on good and soft ground respectively. Those wins came over 20.5f but the way he finished suggested that further might suit. He didn’t get a run in the QR 2 mile flat race here earlier this week but he may well make up for that disappointment with a big run here. At odds of 33/1, Foveros is the each way selection.

2020 Galway Day 5 Tips: Foveros e/w @ 33/1 (6 Places Skybet)

2020 Galway Day 5 Tips: 7.45pm – Blazers Handicap Chase (4yo+)

Another decent sized field for the feature on Friday with 15 going to post. Gunfire Reef heads the market for Danny and Mags Mullins after a facile Limerick hurdle win last time. That was off just 92 though and he is 23lb higher in this chase. He won his previous start in this discipline off 106 and he is clearly a horse in good form.

At a half decent e/w price Mindsmadeup could go well here for Matty Smith and Robbie Power. He returned from an absence with a nice win at Kilbeggan over hurdles (25f gd/yld). Mindsmadeup is in off a mark of 121 here, 7lb lower than when a decent 6th behind The Conditional at Cheltenham last October. He has placed bumper form at the track, drying ground will suit and at odds of 11/1 Mindsmadeup is the each way tip.

2020 Galway Day 5 Tips: Mindsmadeup e/w @ 11/1 nb (4 Places)