Man On The Spot has a guide and a selection for every race on the final day of the Galway Festival.
Sunday
2.00 Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle
Teed Up ran a superb race in the opener over the track and trip on Friday and had plenty in hand of Nibiru, who started favourite but found nothing from the last. Denis Hogan has three entries and though Darkened was beaten on the Flat here on Thursday he'd completed a double over timber earlier when just outbattling Listentillitellya. They meet on the same terms and are difficult to separate though UNANSWERED, another beaten on the Flat during the week, still looks very well treated over timber and looks the one to be on. The consistent A Mere Bagatelle would have to be considered if getting a run with his stable on a high after winning the Plate. Old Chap was engaged in the 2.00 yesterday.
2.30 Kenny Galway Handicap Hurdle
Macgiloney won this last year and also scored over a shorter trip on the track in September, both under Denis Hogan, who puts up a smart 7lb claimer here. He rides Ballyadam Destiny this time though he's 9lb higher than when scoring over the trip at Thurles. LOUDEST WHISPER (NAP) won the opening race on today's card two years ago but stays this longer trip well. She'll get the stamina test she requires in this and the in-demand Jordan Gainford can steer her home. Rebellious Gale looked a potentially decent staying handicap hurdler when scoring over 2m6f at Limerick so it was a surprise when he made his debut over fences at Tipperary where he found 2m1f much too short. Peter Fahey's horses are in top form so Quaker Island could outrun his likely SP while Not So Simple looked on good terms with himself over 3m2f at Sligo where he led at this trip.
3.05 Eileen Kelly Memorial Chase
BATTLEOVERDOYEN won this last year having been well beaten in the Plate earlier in the week. This time he arrives after a fine run in the meeting's feature and providing he's none the worse looks the one to be on. He's 6lb clear of second-top rated Doctor Duffy, who has been alternating between hurdles and fences without showing much. Agusta Gold, a Grade 3 winner in January last year, generally runs in all the big handicaps but hasn't shown much subsequently so Politesse looks more of a threat. Lorna Fowler's mare has only had four runs over fences and made most of the running to land a tough Roscommon handicap with a bit to spare last month.
3.40 Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Chase
Sil Ver Klass ran a fine race when placed over hurdles here on Friday and is at the right end of the handicap back over fences. Henry De Bromhead has a strong hand here with three entries. Rachael was on board when Cornerkova was left clear for a facile victory at Tipperary but Conor Brassil rode him when he beat Ferdia comfortably enough at Clonmel earlier. The latter ran over timber here on Friday and will be better back over the bigger obstacles. Zarkareva chased home today's rival Epsion De Chenet at Punchestown in May but that was her first start since December and she can take her revenge. RUSSIAN DIAMOND has had a few issues with his jumping but had a spin over timber at Ballinrobe and led for a long way in the 2m6f Galway Blazers on Friday so gets the nod. Robinia has fallen twice in two of her last five over fences but could be on a very nice mark for her handicap debut.
4.10 Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Ahonoora' Handicap
Ado McGuinness has six entries including first reserve Laugh A Minute and has won it for the past two years with Current Option. The latter had little to spare over the unlucky in-running On A Session a year ago and though the UK challenger arrives in top form the weights favour the winner. He did well to finish fourth behind Magic Chegaga here on Tuesday when Casanova finished runner-up and looks certain to make a bold bid to go one better. Pierre Lapin, Sirjack Thomas and SALTONSTALL, all trained by McGuinness, were behind with the latter getting no sort of run. Colin Keane takes over and the dual track winner is a sporting selection in a very competitive heat. Lexington Dash was having only his second start for John McConnell when scoring at Fairyhouse and there's more to come.
4.40 Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden
KARAOKE was the subject of glowing reports before her debut at Gowran last weekend and started odds-on but found one too good. She'll have undoubtedly improved for the experience and will be difficult to beat. Her stablemate Rattle And Hum was cheaply bought at £30,000 considering her dam has produced winners with all four offspring to race. Wild Rover's second to Kodi Red at Navan was boosted when the winner went in again at Cork while She's Local showed marked improvement from her debut when stepped up to this trip at Leopardstown. Red Letter Bray led for a long way at Naas and that will have put him straight for this.
5.10 Ireland West Airport Knock Handicap
The Pargey Bee, Ten Coins and Princess Azure were all beaten here on Friday with the former doing best. Three Laws has improved with each run and should be winning soon from this sort of mark. Sovereignty is 0-12 but has gone close the last twice and can't get much lower in the ratings though like Pessoa he's just out of the handicap. At the other end of the weights EIGHTY EIGHT has to be of interest despite shooting up the ratings for last month's victory at Gowran when he had plenty to spare over Lady Arwen, who had beaten him on the same track earlier.
5.40 Fr. Breen Memorial (Pro/Am) Flat Race
Six winners here including the Willie Mullins pair No Risk No Fun and Spread Boss Ted. Patrick chooses the former, who may not have had much to beat at Wexford but did it impressively. Marine Nationale also looked very smart at Punchestown while Mon Coeur looked much-improved when storming home at Killarney. Emmet Mullins has won two of the last three and four-year-olds have a fair record in the race so THIS SONGISFORYOU, who showed speed and stamina to beat his own age group here on Monday, is taken to see off older rivals here.rek O'Connor's presence enhances the claims of point-to-pointer Our Girl Sal.
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