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- Galway Day 4: Key Trainer, Owner and Jockey To Watch Today
Galway Day 4: Key Trainer, Owner and Jockey To Watch Today
© Healy Racing Photos
The Galway Festival continues on Thursday and the feature race of the day is the Galway Hurdle, which has a very substantial €270,000 prize pot.
We have eight races to look forward to and the main event is well supported by a Grade 3 novice chase, a Listed 7f race and some thoroughly competitive handicap action.
Willie Mullins is represented by a large team and you would imagine winners could be on the agenda, whilst Jack Kennedy looks like the jockey to follow. Isaac Souede and Simon Munir have some excellent chances, especially in the Galway Hurdle, so keep an eye out for them.
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Owner - Isaac Souede and Simon Munir
Isaac Souede and Simon Munir’s double green silks are familiar to most racing fans nowadays and they certainly have a reputation as being very shrewd operators. They’re set to have four runners across two races on Thursday.
The opening race is a very competitive Grade 3 novice chase over 2m2f and Intellotto is the pick of retained rider JJ Slevin. He was an impressive winner on chase debut at Limerick in May and there should be more to come from him.
Willie Mullins’ Runcok won a chase at Tipperary earlier this month but probably has a bit to find on that form.
Mr Percy is a very lively contender in the Galway Hurdle, having won a Grade 2 novice over further when last seen in this sphere. Further progress seems likely and 140 looks like a workable mark.
Batman Girac is useful on his day, winning well at Killarney in May, and he is certainly capable of running well even if he can be a little inconsistent.
Trainer - Willie Mullins
© Healy Racing Photos
Willie Mullins is certainly letting loose at Galway, with 14 runners across the card. Six of those are running in the Galway Hurdle and Jalila Moriviere gets the nod from Paul Townend. Sean O’Keefe’s mount Gaucher is shorter in the betting however and he finished fourth in both handicap starts to date.
It’s interesting that Harry Cobden comes over to ride Tounsivator, although his recent form figures leave him with plenty to find.
Mullins runs four in the Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase and last time out winner Westport Cove is the first string. Runcok, Gold Dancer and Fine Margin all have some sort of chance and are capable of progressing over fences.
Patrick Mullins rides Wartime Leader in the bumper and he could be one to watch in the future.
Jockey - Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy has had a really tough time with injuries in recent seasons and some Galway winners would certainly be a welcome boost. Gordon Elliott is giving him three plum rides on Thursday.
Pied Piper is unbeaten in three starts over fences and arrives in excellent form.He beat his two rivals very comfortably at Roscommon last month and connections have no choice but to step him back up in grade. This son of New Approach was a very talented juvenile hurdler back in the day and should be making his presence felt in this company in the opener.
Ndaawi is prominent in the betting for the Galway Hurdle and it’s easy to see why. Runner-up in this race last year, the five-year-old can make the frame once again.
Cinammon Roll is two-from-two over hurdles and won’t give up his unbeaten record without a fight in the Guinness Novice Hurdle.
