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Irish Mirror

Sport

Peter O'Hehir

Galway Races day 1 tips as the action gets under way at Ballybrit

Galway Ballybrit Galway Races Curragh (Facility) Jessica Harrington

So unlucky in the race last year, Lynwood Gold has solid each-way claims in today’s opening day Galway feature, the Connacht Hotel (Amateur) Handicap.

Just 3lb higher than when registering his only flat win, over two years ago, when trained by Jessica Harrington, this grey gelding has run creditably in his three starts since joining Henry de Bromhead.

And with talented teenager John Gleeson claiming a valuable 7lb, Lynwood Gold should be capable of figuring prominently.

Twelve months ago, the selection blew his chance at the start, literally walking out of the stalls and being tailed off early before making significant late headway to finish a close fifth to Dermot Weld’s Coltor, who is in the field again today.

Later last year, having changed stable, he finished fifth to Line Out in the Irish Cesarewitch and seventh behind Yaxeni in the Naas November Handicap.

In addition to his effort in this race last year, Lynwood Gold finished third to subsequent Group 1 winner Princess Zoe in a premier handicap here in 2020.

Back after a near nine-month absence, Lynwood Gold ran a cracker when a close 6th to stable-companion Harry’s Legacy at Killarney recently, a run which should leave him spot-on for this test.

Willie Mullins won this race on board Pargan in 1985, but had to wait until 2017 to win it as a trainer – he duly completed a hat-trick with Whiskey Sour (runs again today), Uradel and Great White Shark.

And the champion jumps trainer will saddle six of the 20 runners today, including the fascinating 2021 Swedish St Leger winner Lot Of Joy, making his Irish debut off 92 and with Barry O’Neill on board.

History-maker Patrick Mullins is still seeking his first win in the race and will make his 15th bid for amateur glory on board Grade 1-winning hurdler Echoes In Rain.

Runner-up to Honeysuckle in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle in April, this mare finished runner-up to Dame Rapide at the Curragh last time.

And, if she can overcome her wide draw and settles, Echoes In Rain should have every chance in a Closutton challenge which also
includes Farout, the mount of 2019 heroine Jody Townend (inset), Maze Runner (up 8lb for a Curragh win) and the Derek O’Connor-ridden Foveros.

Ante-post support suggests big things are expected from lone British challenger Winterwatch, to be ridden for Harry Fry by Aine O’Connor.

Finny Maguire, bidding for a hat-trick in the race, will be on board Coltor again, the Rosewell House runner coming into the race on the back of a hurdle win at Downpatrick in March.

Another contender with solid course form is the Emmet Mullins-trained Crowns Major, now 20lb higher than when landing the Galway Shopping Centre (Premier) Handicap here last year.

Meanwhile, Hms Seahorse should get favourite-backers off to a flying start at the Galway Festival.

Paul Nolan’s gelding, fourth to Brazil in the Boodles at Cheltenham and third to Vauban in a Grade 1 at Punchestown, has been prepared for the Guinness Galway Hurdle but is likely to be ballotted out of Thursday’s showpiece.

Rated 132, he produced a spectacular performance last time, bolting-up in a Curragh handicap, for which he went up 19lb to a flat mark of 101.

Today, back over hurdles, he looks a cut above his rivals and is a confident choice for the opener, the Galmont & Galwaybayhotel. com 4-Y-0 Novice Hurdle.

Dermot Weld, who has enjoyed a tremendous record in the Claregalwayhotel.ie 2-Y-0 Maiden over recent decades, might land today’s renewal with the once-raced Expert Eye colt Tiverton, a promising second to Proud And Legal on his recent debut at the Curragh.

That form has been boosted by the winner’s success in the Group 3 Tyros at Leopardstown and the win of fourth-placed Alder in a Killarney maiden.

If he copes with today’s yielding ground, Tiverton might have the edge over Jessica Harrington’s Pivotal Trigger, a close third behind La Dolce Vita and subsequent winner Hans Andersen in Tipperary on his second start.

And the Joseph O’Brien-trained Common Practice, up 8lb for his win in the Apprentice Derby at the Curragh four weeks ago, beating Alma Libre and Tudor City, is napped to follow-up in the Eventus Handicap.

The Gleneagles gelding had never run beyond seven furlongs until striking in that Curragh handicap over today’s trip of a mile and a half.

Open to improvement and back against his three-year-old peers, Dylan Browne McMonagle’s mount will take plenty of beating in a race his trainer and owner J P McManus won with Flying Scotsman two years ago.

Peter O’Hehir's tips:

5.10.Hms Seahorse

5.40.Golf Marin

6.10.Tiverton

6.40.Lynwood Gold

7.15.Band Width

7.50.Common Practice (Nap)

8.20.The Twelve Pins

Next Best

5.10.Razdan

5.40.Delightfantastic

6.10.Pivotal Trigger