Backa Fahey’s local Queen to cause a major maiden shock
SIDE with Tandem in the €115,000 Topaz Mile which tops the bill at Galway today. This fellow’s undoubted class may enable him to overcome a stiff weight burden and land the spoils in the feature. The Dermot Weld-trained son of Dansili, who is out of a Sadler’s Wells mare, left a marked impression when winning his maiden by a street over course and distance just under a year ago.
Next time out he was impressive again when clearing away to take a one-mile conditions race at Killarney.
His subsequent unplaced runs in a listed race at Listowel last term, and in this year’s Irish Lincolnshire, are probably best ignored. Both of these races were run in very heavy ground which the four-yearold does not appear to be in love with. Credence was given to this view when he bounced back last time out, taking full advantage of fast underfoot conditions at Leopardstown just 12 days ago.
His victory that day, when carrying 9st 3lbs in a one-mile, two-furlong handicap, was typical of what the Prince Khalid Abdullah-owned gelding can do when conditions are right for him.
Admittedly, he has an unattractive 9st 10lbs to hump tonight, but he possesses class in abundance and may edge this if able to produce that renowned finishing speed of his.
Connections of the nominated big danger, Global Village, will be praying for rain.
The Briton, who is trained by Brian Ellison, is seen at his best in the soft and the eight-year-old is reported to be in splendid form and spot on for today.
Global Village may be getting on a bit, but he has several great lines of form, including a victory in last year’s Victoria Cup at Ascot and a short-head second place to Levitate in this year’s Lincoln at Doncaster.
Chris Hayes’ mount is better drawn in stall 13 than Tandem is in stall eight.
With 18 runners due to line up, the betting will be widely spread and just about everyone here will have their own fancies. Apart from Tandem and Global Village, I like Kevin Ryan’s Pintura, runner-up in this 12 months ago, who just four days following that run confirmed his liking for Galway by landing a valuable seven-furlong handicap at the track.
Pintura has also had about six weeks off since running poorly in a race at York where he had struck on his previous start.
Last year’s winner Vastonea will also be bidding to bounce back to form after an unplaced effort at Leopardstown last time.
Kevin Prendergast’s runner is given an outside chance, as is Ansgar who is heavily penalised by the handicapper for a solid winning effort at a one-mile hand- icap at the Curragh last time out.
Other possible outsiders worth a second look are Campanology, whose fourth placing in a handicap won by Fiesolana at the Curragh in May is a recommendation in itself, and Beyond Thankful, who is on handicap debut having been last seen out in the heady heights of the French Derby.
In the two-year- old fillies’ maiden, a chance is taken with the locally- owned Ballybacka Queen who almost pulled off a 501 shock result on her recent debut at the Curragh.
As it was, the Pat Fahey-trained daughter of Hurricane Run finished a most encouraging second,
failing short by just a neck to the winner Avenue Gabriel.
Weld’s Tarfasha, the likely favourite, and Aidan O’Brien’s Terrific, are obvious big dangers to the selection, but Ballybacka Queen may be good enough to cause a mild surprise.
The Latin Quarter Chase has that ‘bound for export’ look as Paul Nicholls’ Woolcombe Folly, the mount of Ruby Walsh, is very well in on the ratings. Woolcombe Folly is preferred to both Rathlin and Hidden Cyclone.
Joe Murphy’s Sister Slew is a tentative form choice for the seven furlong maiden for threeyear-olds, but a check on the market is a must. Weld’s newcomer Pirate Cove and Jim Bolger’s Fulminata, both owned by the Ballylinch Stud, are other likely big players in this race.
Tony Martin’s Busted Tycoon may be one to keep on the right side of in the two-mile handicap. The four-year-old hasn’t been seen at this level since finishing third to El Salvador at Dundalk in February.
But the filly’s latest three runs over hurdles — she has won all three races — point to the progress she has made since her outing at Dundalk. She looks quite well in here at the weights makes for some appeal in what is a most trappy race.