2023 Galway Races Sunday Preview & Tips – DS
2023 Galway Races Sunday Preview
We landed a place with The Dabbler (NAP) at 25s at Galway on Friday. Then, we got back amongst the winners at Goodwood on Saturday with Sumo Sam, also at 25/1. My decision to swerve Galway on Saturday was the right one as the only horse I really fancied got hampered and just missed out on a place. We go again one final time this week at Ballybrit, Dave Stevos’ 2023 Galway Races Sunday tips are below.
1.50 – Adare Manor Handicap Hurdle (0-116)
The obvious one here is Teed Up. Narrowly beaten off 95 here on Friday on the flat, he is rated just 113 over hurdles. His last run over timber saw him hack up at this Festival last year off 103 for this jockey and given his progression on the flat, he could make a mockery of that mark. However, he did have a tough aul race on Friday and three runs in six days is a big ask for any horse.
Even though his price has halved since I wrote this last night, I’ll take a chance on Gold Speed for Adrian Murray. The booking of Ben Harvey looks significant and there is every chance this horse has been trained for this race. The son of Gold Well has been competing over longer distances than this recently but he is a course and distance winner and he was only beat a neck off 116 over this trip at Navan six runs ago.
He is now back down to the same mark so there is no doubt that he is handicapped to be competitive. Ben Harvey had a spin on him when 4th at Punchestown in April and connections will be pretty happy that the rain has come. He’s on his last winning mark, he is 1/1 at Galway so even at odds of 10/1, Gold Speed has to be worth backing e/w.
2023 Galway Races Sunday Tips: Gold Speed e/w @ 10/1 (4 places) NAP
2.20 – Kenny Galway Handicap Hurdle (0-123)
In the hope that Galway based trainer Brian McMahon has her fit after a 4 month absence, Killinure Lass is a speculative e/w bet in this 3 mile handicap hurdle. By Morozov, this mare has won two of her last three starts. She scored at Thurles (23f sft) off 90 in April then followed up five days later at Cork (20f hvy) off 97.
On her last run before her break she ran below par at Cork (24f yld). You could argue that the handicapper has her on that run, but you could also argue that perhaps the run came too soon. I’m going to go with the latter and with Diarmuid Moloney taking off 7lbs, I think she is capable of making her presence felt off an effective mark of 96.
She has never raced at Galway but all three of her wins have come going right handed, with two of them on undulating tracks. There is no reason why the track shouldn’t suit her and the recent rain won’t be a worry either. She isn’t one for maximum stakes due to her lack of a recent run but in the hope that she is ready to rock, a small e/w interest is advised at odds of 28/1.
2023 Galway Races Sunday Tips: Killinure Lass e/w @ 28/1 (5 places)
3.30 – Lord Hemphill Handicap Chase (0-123)
A race that I was going to leave alone, but I just can’t resist having a small e/w interest on Charlie Stout at silly odds. The old boy is a 12yo now but it is only four months or so since he toppled Darver Star in a handicap chase at Wexford (20f hvy). That came off 117 and he races from 5lbs out of the weights here off a mark of 125.
He’s been off since running an ok race on faster ground at Ballinrobe in May. The absence isn’t a worry as he has run well after similar breaks before and he likes it here at Ballybrit. He finished down the field in this race on his last visit in 2021 but that was off 134 on good ground. Otherwise, his hurdles/chase form figures here read 52312, with the win coming over today’s C&D.
With Kieron Callaghan’s claim he’s effectively racing off 120 today, 11lbs lower than he was when winning at Fairyhouse in January 2020. Yielding to soft ground is fine for him and if the forecast showers come this afternoon, even better. Quite a few of these would prefer quicker conditions so hopefully, the ground slows them down and Charlie Stout can sneak a bit of place money. At odds of 50/1, he is worth chancing for small stakes.
2023 Galway Races Sunday Tips: Charlie Stout e/w @ 50/1 (4 places)
4.00 – Ahonoora Handicap (Premier)
This is arguably the trickiest race I’ve looked at this week. You could honestly make a case for all of them. The horse I want to win is On A Session. Nicola and David Barron’s strong travelling son of Noble Mission deserves to win a big pot at this meeting. He has form figures of 2322 in this race and he has bumped into Current Option for the last two years.
Last year 1.25L separated them when he was carrying 1lb more than the McGuinness horse. This year, he is 2lbs better off and that might just be enough for him to turn the tables under Leigh Roche. They look the most likely to finish 1-2 but the bookies haven’t missed them and with many firms paying five places, I’ll take a punt on one at a bigger price.
Solid Form
Gordon Elliott and Jack Kearney have both had good weeks and they team up with Coachello. This horse has been completely written off by the oddsmakers after a poor run at the Curragh. He didn’t run his race but on his last two soft ground starts, he has place claims at least. With Kearney’s claim he is in off 97 here. On his last soft ground start at Naas (5f hvy) he finished 2L behind Moss Tucker (rated 106) off levels.
Prior to that, when he got soft ground in Meydan (6f sft) last January, he landed a Listed contest. His form figures on easy ground over 7f read 1311 so while he has been sprinting, this trip should hold no fears. He reportedly got warm before his last run which could explain the poor performance, if the prelims go more smoothly this afternoon Coachello could surprise with a big run here at odds of 66/1.
