2022 Galway Races Friday Preview and Tips – DS
2022 Galway Races Friday Preview and Tips
Not a bad day at all at Galway on Thursday. It was a short head away from being much better though. Our 22/1 e/w NB Tudor City landed the big one in great style. Our 20/1 e/w NAP Emilie Gray was chinned in the dying strides. The rest of our selections disappointed but I won’t complain too much. As the week wears on at Galway, the quality dips but there’s a couple of decent betting races tomorrow. Dave Stevos’ 2022 Galway Races Friday previews and tips are below.
5.00 – Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle (0-140)
Last year I put Politicise up for this race at 33/1. He had run well earlier in the week on the flat and to be fair to him, things just didn’t go his way. He was short for room on the inside, got bumped and he ended up 10th, beaten around 13L off 133. It wasn’t as bad a run as the distance beaten suggests. He was still travelling okay on the inner coming to the second last but as can happen at Galway they swept around the outside and from sitting in 3rd or 4th, he was suddenly shuffled way back.
This year, Politicise is back for another crack off a 10lb lower mark. Ado has decided there is no need to claim and Plate winning jockey Jordan Gainford gets the leg up. This fella has had three awful flat runs this season. However, I am hoping they were being used to build his fitness ahead of a return to hurdling.
He has hit the frame on two of his previous three runs in Ballybrit and unlike last year, he hasn’t had a run on the flat this week. Maybe the run came too soon after his nice flat effort and this year, McGuinness has decided to come here with a fresher horse. He’ll be desperate to get a winner on the board before the week is out and at 80/1, hopefully Politicise can be the one.
2022 Galway Races Friday Tip: Politicise e/w @ 80/1 (5 places)
6.00 – Galway Blazers Chase (140 = 11st 12lbs)
We landed a 25/1 winning NAP in this last year and he is back to try again. Born By The Sea is now 6lbs higher but on his win last season, he should be able to defy that rating. This locally owned and trained horse is a quality operator on his day. Since winning here he hasn’t got his head in front since but I wouldn’t be worried about that. Gilligan has undoubtedly targeted this race again and he showed on unsuitably soft ground at Listowel in June that he retains all his ability.
He was only a length behind Easy Game in Kerry (19.5f sft). He was getting 10lbs from the 160 rated winner but it was still a great run. You can put a line through Kilbeggan as that he was probably just out for a spin and Gilligan wouldn’t have wanted him to go any higher in the handicap. A run on the flat at Ballinrobe should have sharpened him up nicely and he is now back to defend his crown. I think Born By The Sea should be single figure odds here. So, at 18/1, he has to be worth backing e/w. Hopefully lightning strikes twice.
2022 Galway Races Friday Tip: Born By The Sea e/w @ 18/1 (5 places) NAP
6.35 – Guinness Premier Handicap (0-105)
Colin Keane and Ger Lyons are a pair to be feared in Premier Handicaps. At 20/1, San Martino could go very well for them here. This 4yo son of The Ghurkha was well beat last time behind Shark Bay at Killarney. However, he was keen, he raced wide and Keane eased up late on. In the end he finished 6L behind the winner but he is now 13lbs better off with that rival today.
This horse was shaping like a winner in waiting on his previous two runs. At Fairyhouse (13f gd) he ran a very good race to be beat just 1.25L off 79. Previous to that he was beat just 2.75L on heavy ground at Roscommon. Those were two mickey mouse handicaps and I have a feeling if they were worth more, this horse could have won if Keane wanted to. The likely strong pace will suit him well here and hopefully Keane can get him to settle. He’ll need luck in running too but he won’t lack for assistance from the plate and at 20/1, San Martino is worth chancing e/w.
2022 Galway Races Friday Tip: San Martino e/w @ 20/1 (5 Places B365) NB
7.40 – Arthur Guinness Handicap (50-70)
Off an effective mark of 63 and from a decent draw in stall 10, Santa Catarina could go well. By Adaay, Willie Browne’s filly has shown enough ability to suggest she can win a handicap. On her racecourse debut at Dundalk (8f) she ran a blinder to finish 2.5L 3rd, chasing home Singsong Lady (since won off 71) and the now 89 rated Jezebel Queen.
Her best turf run came on her penultimate start at Sligo (10f gd). She was again only beat 2.25L and she didn’t quite see it out over the trip. The winner of that race was only beat 4L off 84 here earlier this week. She last ran in a Curragh maiden and wasn’t beaten that far at all. Now, she makes her handicap debut off 68 and with Jake Coen claiming 5lbs, surely she can make her presence felt. On the evidence of Sligo a stiff, turning mile will suit and at odds of 20/1, Santa Catarina is the e/w selection.
2022 Galway Races Friday Tip: Santa Catarina e/w @ 20/1 (5 places)
