GAVIN CROMWELL BLOG: BETDAQ Brand Ambassador Gavin Cromwell previews his runners over the final few days of The Galway Races, and is hoping Bentham can cap the week off in style.
It was great to get our first winner of the week with Ilikedwayurthinkin on Wednesday. We’d given him a break since Naas and were stepping him up trip too, but he saw it out really well and he might even run again on Sunday under a penalty.
Thursday
We think a mile around Galway will suit Ciao in the 3.10pm handicap. She ran a big race over 1m3f at Killarney the last day, but back down to this trip, we’re hopeful she’ll go well. She’s got a nice draw too and although it’s a very competitive handicap, the race should play to her strengths.
Both Ejayteekay and Ming Dynasty run in the Galway Hurdle (4.55pm) and given the prize money on offer and the competitiveness of the race, it’s great to have two runners in with a chance.
If I had a preference, it would marginally be for Ming Dynasty who is in really good form at home and still looks to have a nice racing weight. Both our horses will need the gaps to appear but they deserve their place in the line-up and hopefully will go well.
Band Of Outlaws looks the obvious one based on his four-year-old allowance and Fred Winter win.
Tashman runs for the first time on the Flat (5.30pm) having run over hurdles since we got him from Dermot Weld last year. He hasn’t quite done what we thought he would do over hurdles, so we’re trying him back on the Flat. It’s hard to know where a mark of 65 leaves us, but we’ll give it a go and Gavin Ryan’s 5lb claim will obviously make his life easier.
Friday
Lever Du Soleil runs in the handicap hurdle (5.10pm) having completed a four-timer on the Flat in just over two weeks last month. He’s been brilliant for the yard and again he should be competitive here with both the four-year-old allowance and Conor McNamara’s claim being very handy indeed.
We’ve been targeting this race (6.15pm) for a while with Mac N Cheese. He’s back over fences, but he’s got a lower mark over the bigger obstacles and hopefully he can be competitive. We think the race should suit him well and it would be great to see him involved, particularly given the big pot on offer.
While this is a big step up in class from his two previous wins, Top Of The Charts gets in off bottom-weight in the handicap chase (6.15pm). It’s obviously a much harder race than at Wexford and Perth, but he’s entitled to take his chance as he seeks a hat-trick.
Tritonix was fifth the last day in a Listed race at Down Royal and we’re running her back in a handicap (6.50pm) this time. It’s one of the most competitive handicaps of the season with huge prize money on offer, so it’s great to have a runner in the race. She should run a nice enough race, but it’s hard to see her quite having the ability to win it.
Saturday
We’ve given Spades Are Trumps a nice break since Punchestown and he takes his chance in the Grade B Handicap Hurdle (2.30pm). He hasn’t got many miles on the clock and has got a nice racing weight of 10st5lbs, so hopefully he can run a decent race. It’s another incredibly competitive Galway handicap and he’ll need plenty of luck in running, but he’s fit and well and comes into the race in good form.
Call Me Dolly was a good second on her debut for the yard at Tipperary. She runs in the maiden (3.35pm) and although it’s never easy pitching a filly of her experience in at a big festival like Galway, we’d like to think she could pick up some prize money.
Blue Heather has been second on a number of occasions this season and hopefully this time she can finally get her head in front the mares bumper (5.55pm). She’s been very consistent for us all season and really deserves to get herself in the winner’s enclosure. With any luck that day will be on Saturday!
Sunday
We’re looking forward to running Bentham in Sunday’s bumper (6.00pm), the final race of the festival. He’s in great form at home and we’re expecting a bold bid. He ran well at Bellewstown the last day and if he can repeat that run here, he should go close.
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