2022 Galway Races Sunday Preview and Tips – DS
2022 Galway Races Sunday Preview and Tips
The rain properly arrived at Galway on Saturday. The ground got worse as the day went on and it’s going to be a proper slog tomorrow. We had a great day at Goodwood on Saturday bit it was so close to being the greatest of days. The Lamplighter and Euchen Glen both should have won. Commanche Falls did win though, landing the Steward’s Cup at odds of 25/1. Let’s hope we can finish off the week with a flourish, 2022 Galway Races Sunday tips are below.
2.00 – Adare Manor Handicap Hurdle (0-116)
Unanswered is the favourite in this 2 mile handicap hurdle for the Tudor Jack connections. He ran a very nice race here on Friday but the recent rain has to be a worry. Yes, it was a bit soft on Friday but this will be a different kettle of fish altogether. Looking through the field, most of these want nice ground. One horse that will relish the rain though is Garcon Doux. Trained by Philip Fenton, this horse enjoys getting his toe in.
He is by Valirann, a G2 winner on soft. While his dam preferred nice ground, he seems to have followed in his father’s hoofsteps. Three starts ago he broke his maiden in a handicap hurdle at Cork (16f sft/hvy). He fell on good ground next time at the same track but a return to easier ground saw him bounce back to form with a good 2nd at Tramore (21f yld). He was only beat 3L off 109 and this unexposed type could still have more to come off a 2lb higher mark. The drop back in trip is a plus, as is the rain. At odds of 14/1, Garcon Doux is the e/w selection.
2022 Galway Races Sunday Tip: Garcon Doux e/w @ 14/1 (6 places B365) NAP
2.30 – Kenny Galway Handicap Hurdle (0-123)
Another big field handicap hurdle, this time over 3 miles. This will take a fair bit of getting on the ground and stamina will be at a premium. One horse who will love the ground is Song of Earth. By Mahler, he is a former two time heavy ground winner. A bumper at Wexford and a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park. His win last win came off 111 in a handicap chase at Fairyhouse (21f yld) and he looks well worth another try at 24f on bad ground.
He did try the trip on yielding back in January and he could only manage 5th. Previously he ran over 23f on heavy in a race won by Irish National hero Lord Lariat. A stumble with the jockey losing his iron didn’t help and he finished 5th, beat 22L for the win. To be honest, he didn’t look like he was crying out for the trip that day but he is bred to get it and in fairness to him, he has only had two tries at 24f. The biggest plus is that he will handle the ground and at odds of 33/1, Song of Earth can hopefully hit the frame.
2022 Galway Races Sunday Tip: Song Of Earth e/w @ 33/1 (6 places B365)
3.40 – Handicap Chase (4yo+)
The one to be on here at odds of 18/1 could be Vado Forte. He has had three runs this summer on good ground and been well beaten every time. He has never won on that sort of a surface but his record on heavy ground is better. Gordon Elliott’s charge was a dual winner on bad ground when trained in England. Those wins came over 19f and 16f off 114 and 126 over hurdles but he is a better chaser.
vado Forte is in off 137 today so he is handicapped to go close on his best chase form. His sole win so far in Ireland came in a conditions chase at Limerick (19.5f sft) where he beat January Jets by 15L. He was rated 138 at the time and a repeat of that would surely see him go close here. At odds of 18/1, Vado Forte is the each way selection.
2022 Galway Races Sunday Tip: Vado Forte e/w @ 18/1 (4 places) NB
4.10 – Ahonoora Premier Handicap (0-105)
Current Option has won the last two renewals of this race but on much better ground than he gets today. He has finished well beaten both starts on proper testing ground and the son of Camelot would prefer a sounder surface. The TXODDS horse On A Session has run well in this race numerous times in the past. He was only beat 0.5L in it last year and he gained a confidence boosting win last time out at Musselburgh. That was on better ground than it is today though and hopefully he goes through the muck tomorrow.
At the odds, despite a bad draw, I am backing Baradar in this. Rossa Ryan is over to ride and he’ll be delighted to see the torrential rain. He has disappointed the last thrice but his last start on heavy at Tipperary would give him big claims here off 97. He finished 2.75L behind 107 rated stablemate Raadobarg in receipt of 4lbs, a horse that won the Irish Lincoln off 98 previously.
His last start on heavy ground before that came in the Racing Post Trophy where he ran a massive race behind Mac Swiney in 3rd. On soft/heavy he has form figures of 33110 and the son of Muhaarar can hopefully enhance that record on Sunday at odds of 25/1.
2022 Galway Races Sunday Tip: Baradar e/w @ 25/1 (5 places)
5.10 – Knock Airport Handicap (50-80)
Maybe Girl Crush can put her run earlier this week behind her now she is back on bad ground. This lightly raced filly has had just four starts. She ran alright in a maiden and then a claimer on good before getting off the mark in a Roscommon maiden on soft/heavy. She beat an 80 rated Weld horse at Roscommon off level weights and she may have needed the experience when beat 7.5L behind Dairerin here earlier this week.
It wasn’t a dreadful run considering she chased a crazy pace and I am hoping she can get to the front and dictate this time. She is related to a 16f hurdle winner and 14f and 10f winners on the flat so this trip should be fine stamina wise. At Roscommon she wasn’t stopping at the finish over 7.5f so hopefully, she’ll be grand over 8.5f. At odds of 20/1, Girl Crush is the each way selection.
