Saw the entries last week for both races and studied them over the weekend. The weights announcement didn’t change any Irish ratings, it confirmed or slightly amended the UK entries, usually down by 1 to 3 lbs based on their UK rating.
The shortlist I got to was
Galway Plate
Poker Party - improving in good class Handicap chases over mid-distances and the trainer has won the race twice in the last 3 years. The horse likes to track the pace near the head of big fields which should be useful in this big field Handicap.
Ravenhill - another improver, this time a lightly raced horse that has only recently switched to Chases and struck up a sequence of good results, again close up to the front and with Davy Russell in the saddle. May have to put up a bit of overweight if Davy is to stay in the saddle off only 10st 2lbs. Gordon Elliott is the other recent winning trainer in the race two out of the last four winners.
Others I like are:
Borice - recent recruit from french racing, move by Souede/Munir, Elliott’s had him romping to 30 length Novice Hurdle wins to freshen him up
Azzuri - Dan Skeltons horse ran an amazing race bolting up at Ayr on his first run after a wind op. 12lbs higher here, but I don’t think that would stop a good run, but maybe the trip is on the long side for him. I like him but prefer his Galway Hurdle Entry over the 2M trip better.
Galway Hurdle
Fiesole. - For me the first one that stood out, and today the Irish handicapper has reduced his rating for this race by 2lb from UK rating. Ex-Irish horse with bits of good form. Went to UK to Olly Murphy and really took off at the end of the season with a smooth success by 9lengths in a a Handicap Hurdle followed by a closing fast 2&1/4 length 4th to Le Patriote in the Swinton Hurdle. The hold-up tactics adopted in the latter race were exaggerated too much and hampered his chance of victory. He could be a big improver and interesting that his new trainer has aimed him here.
Band Of Outlaws - Joseph OBriens brilliant placement to win the big field Fred Winter was a joy to watch, bumped approaching the last hurdle but still staying on up the hill really well. He looks to me to be capable at Graded level already though he disappointed through his Grade 1 Aintree run post-Chelters.
His prep run for this was perfect, no rating increase from 145 and giving 6lb or 7lb weight for age to Thomas Hobson in a small field and finishing 2nd to him on a bob Of heads.
Big field will help, if this race works out for him it could be the launchpad for a Champion Hurdle campaign.
Azzuri - his romp to victory in a Listed 2M Handicap Chase by 9 lengths after a wind-op was frighteningly good. Raised from 132 to 144 over fences seems a minimum on that win.
Not sure 2m6&1/2 of the Plate suits him as much as 2M, so my preference would be this race over 2 miles off an Irish Hurdle rating of 137(139 in UK). If he finds the big improvement he did over fences after the wind-op on his 2nd start then he could be a real blot on the handicap. I will back him if he runs here, and most probably I would back him if he ran in the Plate, trusting the trainer to get the target right.
Be interested in the forums thoughts on the entries for these races.
