Ryan McElligott

2.30 O’LEARY INSURANCES MAIDEN HURDLE 2M 150YDS

Big Ben can continue a superb week for his connections. In just two flat outings last season he finished third to Stellar Mass in a smart Curragh maiden before returning to there last August to land a 1m2f maiden. On his only outing over hurdles he finished a 1½l second to his high-class stablemate Landofhopeandglory at Fairyhouse in November.

Aydoun shaped up nicely on his hurdling debut here on Monday. He was beaten 21l into third by Le Richebourg but there was plenty of promise in his effort there and this race represents a drop in class. Tarazani, a former winner at this track, is respected following his good second to Jan Van Eyck in a flat handicap at Leopardstown last month.

Selection: BIG BEN

Next best: Aydoun

3.05 GALWAY SHOPPING CENTRE HANDICAP HURDLE (GRADE B) 2M 6F 168YDS

Willie Mullins holds a particularly strong hand here and his Lagostovegas makes plenty of appeal. She posted an excellent effort on Monday night when finishing third to Whiskey Sour in the valuable riders’ handicap and before that she won nicely over an extended 2m at Killarney. This trip represents a major a step into the unknown but her flat efforts suggest that she is a likely stayer. She has plenty of solid handicap hurdle form but she could have more to offer over this new trip.

Showem Silver looked a likely candidate for this race when scoring over 2m6f at Fairyhouse over Easter. He followed that with a creditable fourth to Minella Awards in a decent 3m event at the Punchestown Festival and he has been kept under wraps since then. Aussie Reigns endured a troubled run behind Showem Silver at Easter and can be rated better than his sixth place effort there.

The improving Westland Row could be dangerous off a light weight and the top weight Hidden Cyclone is another to keep in mind. He was sixth to Whiskey Sour on Monday when he ran well after a slow start and he is at least as good as when finishing second in last year’s Galway Hurdle.

Selection: LAGOSTOVEGAS

Next best: Showem Silver

3.40 GALWAY SHOPPING CENTRE IRISH EBF MAIDEN 1M 73YDS

Amedeo Modigliani looked a colt with a big future on his debut at the Curragh last month when he was a strong-finishing third behind the subsequent Group 2 winner Gustav Klimt and the Group 3-placed Would Be King. This race should be well within his reach. Crecerelle looked to progress from his debut when finishing sixth to the exciting The Pentagon in a 7f Curragh maiden several weeks ago and he should give the selection most to do.

Selection: AMEDEO MODIGLIANI

Next best: Crecerelle

4.15 GALWAY SHOPPING CENTRE IRISH EBF NURSERY HANDICAP 7F

This could fall to Deep Breath who will enjoy moving up to this trip for the first time. On her debut, she claimed a last gasp success over the subsequent winner Sankari Royale in 6f maiden at Fairyhouse and followed that with third (beaten 1¾l) to Golden Spell in the first nursery of the season at the Curragh last month. She finished off well at the Curragh indicating there would be more to come from her over this trip.

Mount Wellington is also trying this trip for the first time. He was keeping on towards the finish when third in a 5f maiden at Naas last week and his previous effort behind Strike For Freedom and Moghamarah (a runner-up here on Tuesday) looks like a solid form. The slow ground could bring Sebastiano Ricci into contention as his better runs have come with some ease in the ground.

Selection: DEEP BREATH

Next best: Mount Wellington

4.50 ARDILAUN HOTEL HANDICAP (50-75) 7F

Beau Satchel has a poor draw, which is a huge concern, but his superb record at this track earns him a tentative vote. He has won at this meeting for the last three years and didn’t run at all badly here on Tuesday night when he was sixth to Knockmaole Boy. He was beaten just under 4l on that occasion and he is likely to encounter slower ground here which will help.

Dinky Inty won over this course and distance on Monday when she beat Twist Of Magic by a head and she has a decent draw to help. She won’t have any difficulty holding her own outside of three-year-old only company. Avalanche, who was a couple of places in front of Beau Satchel on Tuesday, is another to keep in mind

Selection: BEAU SATCHEL

Next best: Dinky Inty

5.25 TERRY CUNNINGHAM MEMORIAL HANDICAP (50-80) 1M 3F 180YDS

He has a poor draw to overcome and top weight to carry but Dalton Highway may yet score. He ran well over a mile at this meeting last year and went on to win over 1m2f at Navan which makes his comeback third to The Mcgregornator over 7f at Naas in June a meritorious one. He was beaten just over ½l that day and the application of a first time visor coupled with this longer trip could bring marked improvement.

Tudor City hasn’t been in the best of form lately but is a former winner at this meeting and he will enjoy the ground. He progressed well after winning a 1m3f handicap at Limerick last October and he is capable of far better than he showed last time. He too has a poor draw to overcome. The unexposed Guido Reni is interesting as is last week’s Ballinrobe scorer Detailed. Camlann would be a major contender on his second here on Thursday but he was also due to turn out again last night.

Selection: DALTON HIGHWAY

Next best: Tudor City

5.55 GALWAY SHOPPING CENTRE IRISH EBF MARES FLAT RACE 2M

True Self can make a successful start for Willie Mullins. This mare showed considerable ability on her only previous outing in a Warwick bumper when she was beaten a head by quite a smart mare.

Her distinct inexperience caught her out on that occasion. With the benefit of that debut run to aid her cause she should take beating. Mysloegin has several reasonable efforts to her name, the last of which saw her finish third to Bhutan in a maiden hurdle at Tipperary. She looks the biggest threat to True Self.

Selection: TRUE SELF

Next best: Mysloegin