Selections for Thursday 1st of August 2024
1.50 Goodwood
1 point each way Palace Green (5/1 Bet365, 4 places or else 9/2 Generally, 4 places)
Oisin Murphy keeps the faith with Palace Green after running into all sorts of trouble on his last run at Royal Ascot. He finished in mid division on that occasion but was consistently short of room and still looks better than a handicap mark of 90. On his penultimate start at York he went from last to first with a furlong to go but didn’t see out the final furlong over 1m4f and had to settle for third. Now back at 1m 2f he has no excuses and should go well on a track that will suit.
2.10 Galway
1 point each way Pink In The Park (9/2 Generally, 3 places)
Pink In The Park is worth an each way bet here carrying 11-5. She hasn’t won in a while but conditions are very much in her favour here and she has reportedly schooled well over the larger obstacles. Ground and trip look ideal for her and on hurdle ratings she is entitled to go close. Willie Mullins has a good record in this race having won three of the last six renewals.
3.20 Galway
1 point each way Genuine Article (7/1 888 Sports, 5 places or else 13/2 Bet365, 5 places)
Genuine Article is first reserve in this but ran well here over course and distance last year for his past trainer Dermot Weld. That was off a mark of 90 and he has dropped to a mark of 82 for new trainer Gerard Keane. The first sign of him coming back to form was on his last run when he finished third of ten at Leopardstown over 1m 1f on ground that was good. Now back on yielding ground from a good draw in stall 8 Genuine Article has every chance of hitting the frame. Champion jockey Colin Keane is onboard.
3.55 Galway
1 point each way Letherfly (13/2 Skybet, 4 places or else 6/1 Generally, 4 places)
Letherfly is the unexposed horse in this field for trainer Noel Meade and jockey Colin Keane. He is drawn wide in stall 14 which is unfortunate but she can be dropped in and ridden to finish. She won on debut at the Curragh in a maiden on soft ground and caught the eye in her latest run at Naas in a Listed race over 6 furlongs when staying on strongly to finish third. She shaped as though this extra furlong would suit her and hopefully she can pick up strongly up the hill to challenge late on.
1 point each way Curvature (11/1 Skybet, 4 places or else 10/1 Generally, 4 places)
Curvature is another horse who should relish this stiff finish. She has a much better draw in stall 6 and has form over further so if she can hold her position through the early parts of the race she should have no problem seeing out this trip. Ideally she would like conditions softer but there are patches of rain forecast and that should keep the ground on the softer side of good. Last month’s Group 3 run where she disappointed would have been a pipe opener for this and hopefully she goes well.
5.05 Galway
1 point each way Fascile Mode (10/1 Skybet, 7 places or else 11/1 William Hill, 6 places)
Fascile Mode runs here off a lovely low weight of 10-7 for trainer Tom Mullins and jockey Jack Foley. Tom has his string in great form and has two winners so far at the meeting this week. Fascile Mode looked good when beating the short priced favourite Ash Tree Meadow by 5 ½ lengths on his latest run. He was conceding almost a stone on that occasion and that’s without taking into consideration the jockeys 7 lbs allowance. He had some very good Bumper form early on in his career and I was surprised the handicapper didn’t put him up a few pounds for that latest run. He will enjoy this ground and is classy enough to go well in this competitive handicap.
1 point each way Risk Belle (16/1 William Hill, 6 places or else 14/1 Generally, 6 places)
Risk Belle is another who will relish this better ground and she too runs off a nice weight of 10-7. JP McManus’s main jockey Mark Walsh is onboard her with Nicky de Boinville riding the favourite wearing the first string colours for their legendary owner. She is a Grade 3 winner who has gained plenty of experience in the big Spring handicaps. They were all on soft or heavy ground and the last time she had yielding ground she won a big handicap at Fairyhouse off a mark of 127.
5.40 Galway
1 point each way Son Of Hypnos (7/1 888 Sports, 5 places or else 13/2 Skybet, 6 places)
Galway is renowned for horses winning on multiple days throughout the week and Son Of Hypnos could be one of those types. He won well here on Monday and was a course and distance winner here four years ago. The blinkers are replacing the cheek pieces and he is 9 lbs lower than his last winning mark. Jockey Wesley Joyce takes off a further 5 lbs and he is well handicapped.
**Date & Time of next Selections Friday 2nd of August at 11am..