OYSTER CATCHER: Only four meetings across both sides of the Irish Sea today but some good quality racing at Galway where the Listed Oyster Stakes is the feature. There are two likely very short priced favourites at this meeting that it could pay to take on as well as a handicap selection at Windsor.
NO SECOND STRING: DAQMAN’s NAP looks the Aidan O’Brien ‘second string’ on paper but he makes a good case for Tang Dynasty at Galway tonight.
COUNTING DOWN TO LADBROKES ST LEGER: The final Classic of the UK season is run at Doncaster on Saturday and DAQMAN will be looking at the big race later this week.
TAKE ON THESE SHORTIES AT BALLYBRIT
4.35 Galway Exemplar looks sure to be a red-hot favourite in the first after his debut second at the Curragh. This half-brother to 1,000 Guineas winner Blue Bunting stayed on stoutly in the closing stages that day which suggests that this step up to almost nine furlongs will be in his favour.
However, for the second time he has been declared in a tongue-tie indicating that he may have a breathing issue which will be tested by Galway’s punishing final climb on this rain softened ground. He also appeared to become unbalanced under pressure which could be an issue on such an undulating course. Although he is still the most likely winner, at the likely short-price there is enough there to take him on.
There is a temptation to nominate the well-bred Dermot Weld newcomer Simafar as the bet but this looks a tough assignment for a newcomer so preference instead is for apparent Ballydoyle “second string” Tang Dynasty. A very credible third at this course on his debut, he disappointed when odds-on for his second start. Despite being only a two-year-old, he can already be described as a dour stayer and a sharp track like Killarney on fast ground was clearly not his cup of tea. This should be much more like it for the son of Galileo and he can use his previous experience at the track to upset his stablemate.
6.35 Galway Oyster Stakes Last year’s second, Almela will be well fancied to go one better here and is currently available at 1.79 on the BETDAQ exchange. The form of that race has worked out very well with the winner Zhukova developing into a top class filly in the meantime. Almela was only having her second career start that day after demolishing a maiden field at the Festival previously and her rating of 108 leaves her well clear of her rivals today.
However, it must be a concern that she has run up a sequence of three second place finishes and that trainer Dermot Weld has reached for the cheek-pieces for the first time. They may have the desired effect, but he must feel that she is keeping a bit for herself which has to be a worry backing at odds-on.
Morga looks the one to take her on with, in the form of her life after bolting up in a Curragh handicap. She will love the conditions and the race should be run to suit this strong stayer. Her run behind subsequent Ebor winner Heartbreak City at the Festival shows her ability to handle the track well and she could surprise a few today.
GO WITH THE TIMES AT WINDSOR
2.50 Windsor This has the potential to be run at a break-neck speed with quite a few on these fond of blazing the trail so it could pay to side with something that will appreciate a strongly run race and Times Legacy fits the bill. A winner on heavy ground over 6 furlongs as a two-year-old this looks a bare minimum trip for him. He hasn’t shown much yet this season but was hampered early last time and could be capable of better now at an early show of 9.8.
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET 3pts win, 3pts place Times Legacy (2.50 Windsor)
BET 10pts win (nap) Tang Dynasty (4.35 Galway)
LAY 5pts win Exemplar (4.35 Galway)
BET 5pts win Morga (6.35 Galway)
LAY 5pts win Almela (6.35 Galway)
£25 IN FREE BETS
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