Gary O’Brien Betway column
The horse racing broadcaster runs through his selections for the next two days at the Galway Festival and Glorious Goodwood.
The annual week-long extravaganza at Galway gets under way on Monday but in truth it looks a card to tread carefully with for punters. A plethora of big field handicaps and competitive maidens in the main means that picking your battles is crucial to have any hope of emerging in front come Sunday evening, and only one horse appeals as having ticks in enough boxes to be worth supporting on day one.
His name is AVATAR JET, and after opening his account at Killarney earlier this month it is difficult to see why the Belardo gelding won’t go close again in the seven furlong handicap at 6.40. Not for the first time, he was the subject of good market support when notching that comfortable breakthrough success a fortnight ago and with the runner-up having scored at Bellewstown on her previous outing a 6lb rise hardly seems excessive. Gary Carroll, whose brother Tim is a part-owner, enjoyed a dream passage up the rail from off the pace that day but will surely go forward this time after being handed the coveted stall one draw.
It’s a similar story on day two but Dermot Weld appears to have found a gilt-edged opportunity for YAXCHILIAN in the 7f maiden at 6.40. This is often one of the weakest races of the meeting and the 2024 edition is on the face of things no exception. This Mehmas gelding has clearly been a slow burner but made a promising belated start to his career when a never-nearer fourth on his recent debut at Navan and that experience is sure to stand to him now. Though he is drawn widest of all here, with just ten runners and plenty of dead wood among them Chris Hayes should be able to secure a reasonably good early position and it will be disappointing if his mount fails to deliver the goods.
The best bet of the day on Tuesday however may come at Goodwood, where Kyprios is the headline act as the Qatar Glorious Festival gets under way. Ballydoyle’s star stayer appears to face a straightforward task in his bid to capture the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup for a second time but is hardly worth backing at his price – unlike Lennox Stakes contender CHICAGO CRITIC.
Johnny Murtagh’s charge hasn’t looked back since being gelded earlier this year, beating subsequent impressive Curragh scorer Sharinay on his handicap debut at Naas before an excellent third in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. The first two home on that occasion, Haatem and Kikkuli, were always better positioned than Chicago Critic and while official figures suggest he has a bit to find against some of his elders on what will be his initial foray outside his own age group he could easily have a lot more to offer. It’s certainly difficult to see why he is such a big price in relation to English Oak, who is actually rated 1lb lower.
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