The Galway Hurdle

This is one of my favourite races as I've had some serious touches over the years, notably with More Rainbows in 2005. It's a great trends race and there's a serious bias against the topweights- you need to be looking at a horse likely to carry 10-11 or less. As the admirable Luska Lad and last year's winner Bahrain Storm are both intended runners the weights won't go up. The first one that leapt out at me this year was Dirar, for the on-fire Gordon Elliott. He's only small but continues to improve at a rate of knots and recently won a Flat race at Ayr to show he's in good form. He has a massive chance but is put in as favourite. His price, as well as niggly doubts if the ground softened and a lack of form right-handed mean he is reluctantly overlooked at this stage. It might be fate, but as I was studying this race last night I had half an eye on the action from Killarney and saw a taking performance from Jessie Harrington's Alpine Eagle, who beat a 100 rated rival in a 1m6f Flat race there. His hurdles form in the Spring was solid, with a fair run in the Pierse Hurdle and a slightly unlucky second at Punchestown. He's a previous course winner at Galway on the Flat and the 20-1 available looks big. I'll risk 2 points win and 1 point place.
Alpine Eagle is only third reserve. Have 2 pts win 1 pt place Slieveardagh at the general 14-1 instead, preferably with a firm paying 5 places. He showed a good turn of foot and attitude in his recent Killarney win and has a handy 9-12, with his capable rider taking off a further 5lbs.
Alpine Eagle balloted out 0
Slieveardagh 4th 8/1 +1.3 pts (Rule 4)