Galway tips: Templegate’s runner-by-runner guide and big pick for the Guinness Handicap on Friday
TEMPLEGATE takes on the Guinness Handicap at Galway confident of finding the winner.
Read on for his runner-by-runner guide and back a horse by clicking their odds.
Galway Guinness Handicap runner-by-runner guide
LAELAPS 4
LAP land. Good second over 1m1f at Ballinrobe after a sound effort at The Curragh. Shapes like a stayer and chance despite giving weight away.
MERROIR 4
MERRY Merroir. Improved to score in minor company last time and a 5lb rise in the weights is fair. Stays well and likes the track so one to consider.
SIONNACH EILE 3
SIONN the money. Enjoyed this trip when winning easily at Ballinrobe 11 days ago. A 12lb rise in the weights for that looks a little harsh but can’t be discounted.
BABY ZEUS 4
YEAH Baby. Decent fourth in this last year and 2lb lower in the weights today. Not run yet this season but will be primed by Willie Mullins.
DAME RAPIDE 3
GAME Dame. Solid form before a modest run at The Curragh last time under this rider. Still 13lb above last win so improvement needed.
SHARK BAY 4
BAY a hope. Couple of little wins has boosted confidence this month and gets weight from the older horse as a three-year-old. Should have more to come.
STILL STANDING 1
STILL life. Has dropped below his last winning mark but has largely struggled this season. Needs his best to figure.
TIGER VOICE 3
FULL Voice. Fair chaser who wasn’t disgraced on Flat debut at Roscommon latest. Interesting with Rachael Blackmore on board.
CASK MATE 5
BEST Mate. Good fifth here on Monday and 1lb lower today. Drop in trip should help and big player again.
ATAVIQUE 2
MAD Ata. Won a handicap over 1m2f last month but has come up short a couple of times since. Longer trip a concern.
DANCILA 2
DESPERATE Dan. Won nicely over this trip at Down Royal last month before not getting two miles at The Curragh last time. Looks on a fair weight but needs to improve.
ONE COOL POET 1
COLD on Cool. Won an amazing three times at this meeting in 2019 but has not shown a lot since. Ran over a mile here yesterday.
YAFORDADOE 2
DOE not. Not shown much form this season and best efforts have come over shorter trips. Coming down weights but needs best.
DHA LEITH 3
DHA star. In cracking form over shorter and won nicely at Roscommon last time. Goes up in class from a higher mark here but should go well again.
ZILEO 1
ZIL-ch. Has been out of sorts since returning to the Flat this season. Hard to fancy in his current form.
SAN MARTINO 2
SAN can. Bits and pieces of form over this trip but couldn’t land a blow in a softer race at Killarney last time out. Looks high in the handicap for what he’s achieved but jockey and trainer are respected.
NATIONAL BALLET 3
BALLET high. Was fourth in a similar race to this at last year’s meeting but hasn’t shown a lot since. Needed his comeback run at Killarney last time and will be fitter now. Down the weights and could do better.
RULER LEGEND 4
RULER straight. Not disgraced in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot last time over 1m6f and this trip is likely to suit better. Is lightly raced and should be capable of a fair bit more.
Reserves
GOLDEN TWILIGHT 3
GOLDEN shot. Improved third at The Curragh last time and off the same mark here. Won’t be far away.
FASCINATING SHADOW 2
SHADOW in dark. Fair effort when fourth at Leopardstown over this trip last month but this look a bit tougher.
INSANE BOLT 2
BOLT from blue. Good third over hurdles here on Monday and interesting switched to the level.
Templegate’s tip
CASK MATE looks a punters’ pal.
He ran a cracker when fifth in the Connacht Hotel Handicap over 2m here on Monday when not quite getting home. This shorter trip can pay dividends.
Merroir goes well here last time and should go close again, while Willie Mullins farms this race and has a big chance with Baby Zeus.
Eamonn Hames tips
5.00 Zoffanien
5.30 Keep In Touch
6.00 Batcio (nb)
6.35 Yafordadoe (NAP)
7.10 White Caviar
7.40 Grappa Nonino
8.10 M C Muldoon
8.40 Indigo Desert
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