Another 7 days of mayhem is about to descend on Galway. The best festival in the world is back as Galway plans to put the session into the recession. Over the years the sponsors may come and go, but the punters from all over the world keep coming back to make this one of the most celebrated pilgrimages of the season. 200,000 came to the city last year for it and with signs of recovery and pricing no longer Celtic tiger like, more and more punters will be encouraged to holiday in the city of the tribes. The picture on the left shows what this festival is all about. Serious craic.
The biggest two races the Galway Hurdle and the Galway plate are starting to take shape and whispers are in the air for a Galway winner to knock the stuffing out of John Mulholland, celebrating his 75th year in business. Fears that Paul John Gilligan could strike again with Lady Hillingdon and especially Nintytwo Team have fears raised in John Mulholland Towers that this could be a long 7 days. His big wins this season with Bertie’s Dream and Jadanli were expensive wins for the bookies. The markets are yet to come alive but there will always be a few gambles and few can forget the gamble pulled off on Cloone River in 2004. Last season Deutschland under Ruby Walsh threatened a similar public coup but only managed second behind a canny Stephen Gray on Bahrain Storm.
Mulholland’s bet:
Galway Hurdle
Overturn 6/1 Dirar 8/1 New Phase 10/1 Bahrain Storm 10/1 Luska Lad 12/1 Gimlis Rock 12/1 Deutschland 14/1 Slieveardagh 14/1 Cothrom Na Feinne 14/1 Jigalo 14/1 Dreamy Gent 14/1 Fisher Bridge 14/1 Alpine Glade 16/1 Cabernet Sauvignon 16/1 Alazan 16/1 Lethal Weapon 16/1 Truxton King 16/1 Alpine Eagle 16/1 Silverhand 16/1 Mojito Royale 16/1 Wikaala 20/1 Magnum Force 20/1 Tiger O'Toole 20/1 Grand Opera 20/1 Dantari 20/1 Acambo 20/1 No One Tells Me 20/1 Cloone Rocket 20/1 Gloucester 25/1 Lady Hillingdon 25/1 Guzzle An Go 25/1 St Devote 25/1 Palomar 25/1 Amazing King 25/1 Tilabay 25/1 Fosters Cross 25/1 Takestan 25/1 Cooper's Crest 25/1 Kalellshan 25/1 Total Excitement 25/1 Grangeclare Gold 25/1 Quivvy Bridge 33/1 King's Bastion 33/1 Thepartysover 33/1 Hassanali 40/1 Knockieran 50/1
Galway Plate:
Majestic Concorde 6/1 Five Dream 8/1 Themoonandsixpence 8/1 Nedzer's Return 10/1 Cuan Na Grai 10/1 Grand Slam Hero 12/1 The Last Derby 12/1 Powerstation 14/1 Truckers Delight 14/1 Nintytwo Team 14/1 Northern Alliance 16/1 The Fonze 16/1 Bobs Pride 16/1 Deutschland 16/1 Lucky Wish 16/1 Bringbackthebiff 16/1 Paco Jack 16/1 Backstage 16/1 Sarteano 16/1 Decoy Daddy 16/1 Don'T Be Bitin 20/1 Dancing Tornado 20/1 Valerius 20/1 Hampstead Heath 20/1 Del Rio 20/1 Montero 20/1 Tasman 20/1 Alfa Beat 20/1 Golden Kite 20/1 Manhattan Boy 20/1 Pennys Bill 20/1 Swing Bill 20/1 Will Jamie Run 20/1 Dancing Hero 20/1 Church Island 25/1 Killenaule Boy 25/1 Nicanor 25/1 Pablo Du Charmil 25/1 Invisible Man 25/1 Shazand 25/1 Tally Em Up 25/1 Fosters Cross 25/1 Blaze Trailer 25/1 Clew Bay Cove 25/1 Duers 25/1 Glacial Promise 25/1 Jack The Bus 25/1 Jawad 25/1 King Ali 25/1 Mister Bishop 25/1 Red Vinto 25/1 Tawnies 25/1 Wins Now 25/1 Streets Of Gold 25/1 Holly Tree 33/1 Valain 33/1 Washington Lad 33/1 Askthemaster 33/1 Chaussettes 33/1 Classic Frontier 33/1 Dream Champion 33/1 Dreux 33/1 Faltering Fullb' 33/1 Finger On The Pulse 33/1 Gonebeyondrecall 33/1 Jack Finch 33/1 Knock On The He' 33/1 Pallasmore 33/1 Reisk Superman 33/1 Who's Deal 33/1 Hello Kitty 33/1 Lord Jay Jay 40/1 Having A Cut 50/1 Head Waiter 50/1 Surenaga 50/1 Clew Bay Lodge 100/1
Early Thoughts
The plate is still looking murky with Cuan na Grai running a nice race last time out and The Last Derby coming from the same stable, it’s a hard one to solve. If any money comes for Nintytwo Team, take note as this could be a Gilligan plot horse. Bob’s Pride won last season at Galway and I would prefer it over it’s stable mate Majestic Concorde, who although has been put away since his win at Sligo to protect it’s handicap mark, doesn’t look a natural chaser and could get found out over the Galway fences. Willie Mullins is said to be delighted with Themoonandsispence.
In the Hurdle, last season’s winner Bahrain Storm showed he still has the ability at Tipperary and could achieve back to back success. Overturn will not go if it is too soft but the ground looks hard to predict with sun and rain due in equal measures. Dirar looked superb superb last time out and Gordon Elliot has a great knack of getting his horses ready for the big days. Amazing King is another would be command respect if money comes. At present, I’d side with Bahrain Storm and don’t rule out last season’s huge gamble Deutschland. He won’t have Ruby this time but he’ll be 4 times the price
Horses to Note
Dermot Welds best chances next week
Dave Duggans (from Attheraces picks for the week)
Connectivity (IRE) – Staying handicap hurlde
Stay with this blog throughout the festival for all the latest news and views.
John Mulholland's will be offering some fantastic promotions throughout the week and you can check them out on their twitter page here
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