Yesterday’s Review

0.5pt e/way Elemental Eye (98) – A slowly run race (107.98% race finish) where the first two throught finished first and second. The selection needed a stronger pace, and needs others to do the work for him, hence the minimum stake.

1pt win Power Of Destiny (102) – Another slowly run race (110% race finish) where the best horse finished second. Oisin Murphy’s positioning left a lot to be desired, and I felt that he threw this one away early on in the race taking a pull to go from the second wave of challengers to the third wave. As a result of that, he found trouble in running, and had too much ground to make up on the winner in the final two furlongs eventually coming up a head short in the finish.

3pts win Adrestia (105) – A coming together at the start resulted in the selection having to make her challenge from near last place. Thankfully, the pace was strong up front, and she was able to make headway over a furlong out. Despite not getting the clearest of runs through Callum Shepherd was able to find a gap inside the final furlong before powering clear at the finish. She looked a filly ahead of her handicap mark beforehand, and it will be interesting to see where her next engagement will be. Result 1st 2/1 adv…9/4F SP.

Today’s Advice

Soaring Monarch (8f 98y Hcap) – Trainer Alan McIntyre may be a new name to the training ranks but he has shown already that he can get the job done with a quirky horse like Brave Troop providing him with his first winner at Ballinrobe. His training skills will be tested even more in today’s (3.20) Galway with our selection, who returns to the track following a two hundred and seventy day break. There is no doubt he is well handicapped off a handicap mark of 84, racing two pounds below the mark he won off at Roscommon last season when returning from a two hundred and ninety six day break for ex-trainer Peter Fahey. A decent draw has been secured in stall six, and it will be interesting to see if his new trainer can have him ready first time out. He won this race two years ago from a pound higher mark, so he has a lot of the right boxes ticked.

Vidisha (12f Hcap) – This four-year-old filly looked a shade unlucky last time out at Down Royal over the extended twelve furlongs just failing to get up by a short head when selected by this column at 20/1. Jockey Rory Mulligan takes seven pounds off once again, and the handicapper has raised her just two pounds for today’s (5.40) Galway. There looks to be plenty of pace in the race with prominent racers Best Law, Lady Christa and Son Of Hypnos in opposition. I will be hoping for a position in behind the leaders, and with luck in running she should be in the mix for the win at the business end.

Duke Of Oxford (13f 219y Hcap) – The top-weight for tonight’s (8.15) Wolverhampton looks to hold a class advantage over the opposition both in handicap ratings and on the clock judging by his performance in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle recently. On that occasion he recorded a speed figure of (118) which would indicate that a two pound rise for that effort should be well within his compass. The bare form of the race looks strong too having overcome a wide draw in stall twenty, and hitting the front two furlongs out before weakening inside the final furlong to finish in third place. The thirteenth placed finisher Rathgar has come out and won since, and the fifth placed True Legend has put up an improved performance behind Tactician at Ascot recently. The selection has a seven and a half length victory over twelve furlongs at this track on his CV from last season which strengthen’s his case even more for tonight’s contest. Jockey Saffie Osborne will be hoping to secure a decent position from her wide draw in stall nine, and with luck in running should go very close tonight.

0.75pt e/way Soaring Monarch (11/2 General 5 places) 3.20 Galway

0.5pt e/way Vidisha (18/1 Unibet, 16/1 William Hill/Skybet 5 places) 5.40 Galway

1pt e/way Duke Of Oxford (4/1 General) 8.15 Wolverhampton