2020 Galway Day 4 Tips by Dave Stevos

We didn’t get a winner on the board today but at least most of them ran well. Getaway Gorgeous finished a gallant 2nd but her jockey will regret not having her closer to the pace turning in. Morga was hampered around a mile out by a faller and never really got into it afterwards. Enjoy D’Allen ran a grand race, he just got ran out of the money close to home. Pump Road was left with too much to do and managed 6th. We were on for 5 places of course! At least Snugsborough Benny (22/1) and Powersbomb (adv 16/1) both placed to ensure we didn’t finish empty handed. Check out Dave Stevos’ 2020 Galway Day 4 tips below…

Day 4 Galway Selections: 4.45pm – Guinness Novice Hurdle (4yo)

I am currently based around 20km from Galway Racecourse and it has been raining pretty heavily for the past 6 hours. It will surely be testing there tomorrow so I’ll be focusing on horses with form on soft or heavy ground. The one I like at a half decent price in this is Shamiyan, a rare runner over timber for Mick Halford. Paul Townend rides and this horse shaped very nicely on his hurdling debut at Roscommon.

His best form on the level came on heavy at Gowran (12f) when 3rd in a maiden last October. He is very well bred, by Lope De Vega and his dam is related to plenty of black type performers in France. His owner has had just 2 runners in the past at Galway and one of those was a winner. Paul Townend looks a significant booking and with ground to suit Shamiyan could hit the frame at odds of 14/1.

2020 Galway Day 4 Tips: Shamiyan e/w @ 14/1 NAP

2020 Galway Day 4 Tips: 5.45pm – Novice Chase (Grade 3)

With Galvin an unlikely runner only 7 will likely go to post in this 22f Grade 3 Novice Chase. Polished Steel is the favourite but he may not appreciate the rain. Russian Diamond has winning form on soft/heavy so he won’t mind conditions. Dime A Dozen is unraced on softer than yielding but Aforementioned has a couple of solid placed efforts on testing ground. Scheu Time is another that has form on soft ground but the bookies are taking no chances with any of them. With only 7 runners I won’t be having a bet in this.

2020 Galway Day 4 Tips: No Bet

RTE2 Live Selections: 6.15pm Galway – Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

The one I like in this 16f handicap hurdle is Lusis Naturea from the in from Paul Traynor yard. Conor Orr rides and he owes us a favour after beating Powerbomb on Wednesday. This horse was still within striking distance on his seasonal return at Naas when he was brought down. Last time out he reverted to the flat and he ran a grand race in the Ladies’ Derby at the Curragh.

The rain shouldn’t be a big worry for him as he ran a blinder on soft/heavy at Leopardstown behind Quizical back in October. His sole run at Galway was encouraging too, a fine 3rd to One Cool Poet over 12f. His only win over hurdles came on good to firm, but Lusis Naturea has enough soft ground form in the book to warrant a small each way bet here at odds of 16/1.

2020 Galway Day 4 Tips: Lusis Naturea e/w @ 16/1 (5 Places)

RTE2 Live Selections: 6.45pm – Galway Hurdle (Grade A)

The feature on Thursday is this Grade A handicap hurdle and the one I like at a massive price is Pakens Rock. Trained locally by Barry Murphy, this horse has been completely dismissed by the bookies. This will be his first run since he finished down the field at Cheltenham back in March. The absence is not a worry as he goes very well fresh. His last win came under Oakley Brown at Thurles (16f yld) off a mark of 129. He is now 7lb higher but he has had just 11 starts over timber and there could be more to come from this 7yo son of Central Park.

He made hay at this track in September/October, winning a maiden and a novice. Both were at today’s trip of 16f and both came on testing ground. The start will be crucial for this fella as he likes to be up with the pace so hopefully there is no early drama. The tongue tie is on for the first time since he was pulled up in a hot race at Fairyhouse, so that is a slight worry. However, he is 2/2 over C&D, he is locally trained and his record after breaks of 69 days or more reads 12. 66/1 looks massive to me and with 6 places available Pakens Rock is the e/w pick.

2020 Galway Day 4 Tips: Pakens Rock e/w @ 66/1 NB (6 Places)

2020 Galway Day 4 Tips: 7.45pm – Handicap Hurdle (24f)

The final selection of the day in this 24f handicap hurdle is Moyode Gold. This 7yo daughter of Gold Well won a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle back in January (20f hvy). She then ran very well in a couple of handicaps at the same track, including one over 24f. The handicapper raised her 5lb for those two promising 2nds and she is now in off 107.

Connections will be happy that the rain has come as this mare’s best runs came on heavy. She proved her stamina for today’s trip at Fairyhouse too so she ticks a couple of boxes. The lack of a recent run is a worry but hopefully her trainer has her ready to rock. If she is fully fit she looks capable of running a big race at odds of 11/1.

2020 Galway Day 4 Tips: Moyode Gold e/w @ 11/1 (4 Places)