First run in 1913, the Galway Hurdle is one of my favourite races of the summer and in recent times has become an extremely classy affair. The now 163 rated Aramon won the last renewal in 2020, whilst dual Champion Hurdle runner up Sharjah landed the spoils in 2018. Looking at a few of the key trends, 17 of the last 18 winners were trained in Ireland and 16 of them had won 2-4 races over hurdles and had at least 7 starts over hurdles.
This year’s entries are topped by Grade 1 winner Saldier who should be nice and fit from recent runs on the flat. On the pick of his form, he would have a big chance off a tumbling mark of 155 but he has become a risky proposition and his recent exploits on the jumps are enough to put me off. Stablemate Ciel De Neige has threatened to win a big handicap on a couple of occasions, finishing second in the 2020 Betfair Hurdle and again runner up on his most recent start in a big handicap at the Punchestown Festival. He looks dangerous off a 4lb higher mark with conditions set to suit.
English Raider Milkwood loves these quick conditions and finished last season in excellent form. A fine third in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival was backed up by a success in the Scottish Champion Hurdle off just a 5lb lower mark. As touched upon before, English raiders have a poor success rate but there is only a small sample size to gauge from. JP Mcmanus is often mob handed in these valuable races and he has a few interesting contenders. Being a full brother to Abacadabras, Magic Tricks has shown glimpses of high-class form and could be extremely dangerous off a mark of 137. He was just half a length behind Hearts Are Trumps back in April and that rival is another horse dangerously well handicapped, sitting on a mark 1lb higher than his runner up effort in this race last year.
At the current prices there are two who interest me from a punting perspective. The first of those is Belfast Banter 9/1 for the Peter Fahey team. He was some what of a revelation towards the back end of last season, winning the County Hurdle at Cheltenham before Grade 1 glory at Aintree. Those end of season races at Aintree can often throw up a few surprise results but there’s no doubting Belfast Banter was miles the best horse on the day. He travelled all over his rivals coming up the straight and won in decisive fashion. The form of that race is hard to assess for a number of reasons, but he destroyed some extremely well-regarded types and his subsequent handicap mark of 144 for a Grade 1 winner could look an absolute gift. We know he handles the hustle and bustle of a big field handicap, and he has winning course and distance form to his name. Throw in his liking for good ground, a lenient looking handicap mark, and his trainers current 29% strike rate, and there is a lot to like about this 9/1 shot!
I do like the angle of a Graded horse in a handicap and as a result I’ve also decided to highlight Skyace 16/1 for John Joseph Hanlon. Like Belfast Banter, she was a revelation last season and Mr Hanlon has been quite bullish about her chances in this. She ran a super race at Cheltenham to finish fourth in the Mares Novices before claiming Grade 1 Glory at Fairyhouse. She beat Gauloise that day who majorly franked the form at Punchestown when bolting up by 10 lengths in the Mares Novice there. Her handicap mark of 140 could well underestimate her ability and I get the feeling if she were trained and owned by flashier connections, she might be half the price. Like Belfast Banter she’s a Grade 1 winner in a handicap and I think she’s on an attractive mark. If I have one concern it would be the trip. I just get the feeling she may want a tad further so I will be hoping they go a proper gallop from start to finish.
By Sam Rideout
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