Barry The Best Bet in Galway Hurdle

With racing at Galway switching to a day meeting on Thursday the action will come thick and fast between Ballybrit and Glorious Goodwood but there is value at both venues.

Aidan Putting Them To The Sword
Aidan O’Brien’s The Gurkha got up to claim victory in a thrilling Sussex Stakes and is now 4/1 to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile with BoyleSports and tomorrow Ireland’s champion trainer has a real interesting contender in the Group 2 Goodwood Cup as Sword Fighter takes his place in the line up.

Tough and battle hardened horses are so often the way forward in these staying races and the 4/1 market leader Big Orange is certainly that, but possibly one with the ability to buck that trend is Aidan O’Brien’s Sword Fighter.

You have to go all the way back to Lucky Moon in 1990 to find a three-year-old winner of the Goodwood Cup and maybe the task will prove too big for the Curragh Cup winner, Sword Fighter, but he shouldn’t be a 6/1 shot with three places being paid.

Order Of St George turned into being the top stayer around last season and while Sword Fighter might not be in his league, with a 17lbs allowance, he might not have to be to trouble the judge here.

I’d be amazed if he is not in the first three at least.

All Going To Plan For Slattery
Back at Galway and fresh from taking the top honours with Creggs Pipes on Tuesday, Andy Slattery can add the listed Corrib Fillies Stakes with Planchart.

The three-year-old ran a real nice race at Naas last time having won at the same track previously and while her ability to handle Galway is an unknown, this looks ideal placing by Slattery who is operating at a 25% strike rate at the moment.

Ben’ To Tell All!
The Galway Hurdle is Ireland’s richest jump race and County Hurdle winner Superb Story heads the betting at 9/2.

Dan Skelton’s charge continued his progression by winning the County Hurdle after a pretty luckless passage through the race and that was a fair performance but whether he is just well enough handicapped to win a Galway Hurdle remains to be seen.

Yesterday’s weather was good and dry at Galway but with the risk of showers overnight, Bentelimar is an interesting contender for Shay Barry.

Shay won the race as a jockey back in 1998 for John Kiely and now he is training a 20/1 shot that has a real good shout.

The seven-year-old can be keen in his races but they won’t be hanging around and connections have also fitted a hood for the first time which shouldn’t do any harm. At that price, he has a solid each-way chance and any rain that arrives will boost his chances.

The 7/1 shot Clondaw Warrior is looking to give Ruby Walsh a first win in the Galway Hurdle which is hard to believe and he certainly has the class to do it as he has been a right consistent sort both on the flat and over hurdles. Of those near the head of the betting he looks to have the best chance and I’d be taking him over Superb Story.

*Prices correct at time of publication

Recommended Bets:
Sword Fighter (6/1) – 3:10 Goodwood
Planchart – (3/1) 3:30 Galway
Clondaw Warrior WIN (7/1) – 4:45 Galway
Bentelimar EACH-WAY (20/1) – 4:45 Galway