Morosini
FORM: NH 2-1 Flat: 2- (Jessica Harrington)
Monday
5.20 Galwaybayhotel.com & Galmont.com Novice Hurdle
This promising son of Martaline makes plenty of appeal in the Festival opener. On his Irish debut, he shaped with distinct promise to take second in a Grade 3 juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse in February, and he returned from three months off to win nicely at Ballinrobe next time.
The Ballinrobe contest looked quite a decent affair as the runner-up Foveros had previously looked very smart when winning his maiden at Cork, and Morosini did well to win that day as he made a couple of errors over the course of the race.
The stiff two-mile trip at Galway promises to suit him better and he should improve further as a result of the experience that he picked up last time.
This race promises to be his sternest test yet since arriving in these parts, but he looks equal to the task at hand and may well prove to be graded class in due course.
Newcross
FORM: (/1277-31) (Tony Martin)
Monday
7.40 Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap (70-100)
This might be the year where Newcross finally gets his turn at Galway and he is put forward as the answer to Monday night’s feature, which is a race where Tony Martin’s representatives have a decent record of two wins and two podium finishes in the last seven runnings.
The rather sparingly-campaigned Newcross has had to settle for second on his last two appearances at this meeting and last year he endured terrible luck in running yet still managed to finish a close second in a one-and-three-quarter-mile handicap.
That effort suggest that this gelding could have premier handicap potential, and he has done nothing since then to dispel that notion.
On his most recent outing at Listowel, he won a useful amateur riders’ conditions race with plenty to spare and a 7lb rise in the ratings for that effort is unlikely to count against his prospects here. After just 10 career starts spread over three years, he still has room for improvement and a race like this could well be within his reach.
Movewiththetimes
FORM: /423P/UF8- (Enda Bolger)
Wednesday
7.20 Thetote.com Galway Plate
This eight-year-old isn’t absolutely certain to get a run in the Plate, and it should be pointed out that he has yet to win a race over fences, but should he make it into the line-up for Wednesday’s feature, he could be closely involved.
So far this gelding’s chasing career has been dogged by some poor jumping with the result that he comes here with some less than impressive form figures, the most recent of which saw him finish eighth to A Plus Tard in a novice handicap chase at Cheltenham.
However, there are reasons for believing that this son of Presenting could stage a revival on his Irish debut. A switch to his current trainer will surely aid his jumping tribulations, and he might well have finished third in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November only for falling at the last fence, which would have represented a very good run.
Another point to consider is the decent form he showed during his first season over fences which ties in closely with the likes of the Cheltenham winner Coo Star Sivola and the high-class Finian’s Oscar. If he is still able to perform to that level, he can at least make his presence felt.
Galeola
FORM: Flat: 8-85113 (Sheila Lavery)
Wednesday
8.30 Play The Tote Superfecta Handicap (60-80)
Whatever assignment she takes up next week, this filly should take beating as she looks a fast improver who might still be ahead of her ascending handicap rating. After three maiden runs, she made a winning start to life in handicaps when scoring over a mile and seven furlongs at Leopardstown last month.
A 9lb rise for that display followed but that failed to prevent her from following up over a mile and a half at Tipperary 10 days later when she readily accounted for the subsequent winners Sharp Focus and Molly Kaye.
The daughter of Rip Van Winkle looked unlucky not to make it a hat-trick when caught late on in the Ladies Derby last weekend and that effort may not represent the summit of her abilities. She might well be at her best with an ease in the ground, which should stand her in good stead for next week where ground can often ride on the easy side, and her ability to be effective at a range of trips is another positive. Whatever direction she heads in, she is one to follow closely.
Golden Spear
FORM: NH: /26040/1-0
Flat : /1551/0/6020- (Tony Martin)
Thursday
4.55 Guinness Galway Hurdle Handicap
His last run over hurdles was a decidedly underwhelming one, but if that effort is discounted there are grounds for believing that Golden Spear could be the answer to this year’s Galway Hurdle.
Firstly, there is the eight-year-old’s Galway record to consider. He won the premier mile-and-a-half handicap in 2016 after filling the runner-up spot in that race the previous year, and in 2017 should have won the two-mile handicap hurdle on the Friday evening of the meeting.
Admittedly, last year’s effort in the amateur riders’ handicap was a poor one, but his overall course record stands up to close scrutiny.
Secondly, Golden Spear has long left the impression that he could land a major handicap over hurdles, and he absolutely bolted up in quite a useful event at Down Royal on his penultimate jumping outing last November.
He is now 9lbs higher, and a Galway Hurdle will take much more winning, but he might just be equal to the task at hand, and his ability to act at this venue is a notable positive.