Galway Day 1 Tips: Three To Back On Monday

One of the most unique and iconic festivals in the Irish racing calendar begins today, it is of course Galway! The races come thick and fast over both disciplines at the Festival and on Monday's card Billy Grimshaw has found three worth supporting...

Race 2 - 17:25 Galway - Easyfix Handicap Hurdle

It's a long old week at Galway and with Glorious Goodwood taking place simultaneously this week the best tip anyone will dish out all week is to gamble responsibly. It is worth reducing your usual stakes with two big punting festivals running side by side, and as such I'm on the hunt for some value selections this week in my daily Galway tips. I couldn't find a reason to oppose the favourite in Race 1 but Race 2 looks much more like it and AHEAD OF THE POSSE for Gavin Cromwell in the JP silks gets my vote each-way.

The iconic owner loves to target Galway and get his horses cherry ripe for the occasion and there are few in the business better at that than Cromwell. Last time out he ran no real race and finished a disappointing seventh at Listowel, however with different ground conditions here and more importantly blinker refitted - a piece of headgear he has excelled in in the past - he can show something more akin to his best running.

He was a narrow second to another JP runner, and odds on favourite, in this race in 2023 and without such a strong rival to defeat here he has a great chance of going one place better. At the least I expect him in the frame.

Race 4 - 18:40 Galway - Clayton Hotel Galway Handicap

Another hugely competitive handicap to sift through here but one I was surprised to see so readily discarded by the odds compilers was SPORTINGSILVERMINE for Dennis Hogan. In my mind this should be one of the market leaders not a double figure poke and I do think closer to the off the price will contract, unless someone knows something the rest of us don't.

The Holy Roman Emperor gelding has a big weight to contend with but has been a consistent sort this season, with some decent runs and no reward along with a couple of second placed finishes. Last time out he ran his best race in some time to finish a close second to a potentially smart winner, with the pair pulling clear of the rest of the field. This race is tougher and he will have to be more alert as he drops down in trip, but if he repeats that effort or brings something similar he should be there or thereabouts and at 12/1 at the time of writing with BetMGM, he'll do for me.

Race 5 - 19:10 Galway - Connacht Hotel Handicap

Alphonse Le Grande was set to be my pick in here as he is clearly a horse in rude health, winning three of his four starts this season including the Northumberland Vase at Newcastle last time out. He may win, of course he may, but I am concerned about this horse on soft conditions and despite nice weather on Monday, Galway is still set to ride slow until midweek at the earliest.

With that in mind I went looking elsewhere for a bit of value and although I do fear course specialist Teed Up - the current favourite - and Lot Of Joy for Team Mullins - the second favourite - I am going to row in with the ten year old handicap debutant (not something you write every day!) ENNISKERRY.

Barry Connell's likeable old boy seems just the type who will relish this heavy step up in trip to me, and he has proven form on all types of ground including the soft he will encounter here. There is a massive field here but that will be no issue for our veteran pick and hopefully his rider can keep him prominent throughout and find the right gaps for glory to wrap up our first day of punting at Galway.