Galway is a place where you need a lot of luck in running but I really fancy the chances of Dalton Highway in the 6.45 race today.
It’s a bit of a quirky track in Ballybrit as you are always turning the whole time.
You need horses to carry you down into the bottom of the dip. And if you end up out of position you can be going nowhere then going up the hill.
So you tend to need a strong travelling horse who can nip in and out of gaps.
In that sense, having a horse with experience in big handicaps can be a big asset.
I won a big handicap on Dalton Highway at Leopardstown a few years ago and he comes here off a nice win on the flat in the Curragh.
Obviously Dermot Weld is the right man to have on your side at this track, and I’d give him a big chance.
The feature race is the Tote Galway Plate and I ride a classy horse in Battleoverdoyen for Denise Foster and Gigginstown.
If I’m honest he is a horse we thought a lot of, but he has disappointed us in recent seasons.
He was a very good novice hurdler and we thought he would make a lovely chaser, but it just hasn’t worked out for him.
He has been an in and out sort of horse who you can’t always rely on. I can’t really put my finger on why he runs badly at times and he probably has a bit to do to defy his mark here.
I obviously hope I’m completely wrong, but I fear there could be a few better off than him.
Denise also runs Samcro and he is a similar horse to Battleoverdoyen in ways.
He is also in and out but a very classy horse on his day. If the best version of Samcro turned up he would have a chance.
But the one I wouldn’t mind being on is The Shunter. He is probably the horse that is improving the most and is the one to beat.
I don’t know a lot about True Faith – who I ride in a maiden hurdle (5.45).
He looked a free-going type when second at Kilbeggan in a maiden hurdle and might need to settle a bit better here.
I am quite keen on Off Your Rocco, though, in the listed novice hurdle at 5.10.
I was impressed with his first run over hurdles at Killarney. He will obviously have to improve from that, but I think he has the
potential to do so.
Willie Mullins’ horse Dark Voyager and Annie G from the Henry de Bromhead yard look nice types, but I wouldn’t put anyone off my lad.
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