SHANNING HOPE 4.45
Massey backs top mare to make the big step up today
SHANNING puts her unbeaten record on the line in the feature event on the penultimate day of the Galway Festival.
A winner on the Flat in France, the daughter of Spanish Moon has won each of her two starts over hurdles since joining Willie Mullins, but has not been seen in competitive action since scoring at Galway in October.
The Supreme Horse Racing Club-owned mare is one of eight runners for the champion trainer in the 100,000 euro Galway Shopping Centre Handicap Hurdle and, interestingly, stable jockey Ruby Walsh has sided with her over Monday’s Connacht Hotel (Q. R.) Handicap winner, Uradel.
Steve Massey, racing manager for Shanning’s owners, said: “She’s a mare we think quite a bit of, but she’s still very inexperienced and it is her first run in quite a while.
‘It’s a tough race, as you would expect when it’s worth 100,000 euro.
‘It’s a big step up in trip for Shanning, but if she stays and gets a bit of luck in running hopefully she’ll run well.’
Paul Townend comes in for the ride on Uradel as he bids for his second victory of the week.
The Closutton octet is completed by Meri Devie (Niall Kelly), Bargy Lady (David Mullins), Low Sun (Katie O’Farrell), Timi Roli (Danny Mullins), Court Artist (Brian Hayes) and Lareena (Mark Enright).
Other contenders in a maximum field of 20 include Harry Fry’s British raider Minella Awards, the Harry Rogers-trained Benkei, Noel Meade’s Art Of Security and Supreme Vinnie from Denise O’Shea’s yard.
Meanwhile, Limini had to make do with minor honours for the second time at this year’s Galway Festival as stable companion Nessun Dorma claimed victory in yesterday’s Guinness Handicap.
A former Cheltenham Festival winner for Willie Mullins, Limini was all the rage to go one better just four days later in another 100,000 contest, but try as she might, she could never quite get on terms with the leaders under Kevin Manning and this time passed the post third.
While, fresh from a first win on the Flat at Ballinrobe last month, 14-1 shot Nessun Dorma set out to make all the running in the hands of Billy Lee to emerge victorious by a neck.