Johnny Ward's Ireland tips: Emperor can rule Galway
By Johnny Ward
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Galway will have some sober reflections on the week with the attendance figures set to leave food for thought.
The Plate meeting was moved to an evening offering for the purposes of the attendance, but the weather was so bad the jury is out as to whether or not a small fall in attendance was a letdown.
However, the Galway Hurdle crowd was quite markedly down and, even with the weather even worse on Thursday, that will be a disappointment to the executive.
What must be said is that the weather cannot be legislated for, but the quality of the racing just seems to get higher and higher in Ballybrit. A Grade One-quality hurdler in Sharjah won the Hurdle, while there have been some notable performances on the Flat too.
Saturday tips:
Johnny Ward
Finished: 11thSP: 7/1
Jessica Harrington has had a pretty quiet week but she may strike with Dance Emperor here.
He is really consistent, like so many by his stallion Holy Roman Emperor, and I like the fact that he handled bad ground so readily in two starts earlier this year.
His best trip is up for debate but I feel a strongly-run seven furlongs on soft ground is no excuse.
Moreover, he was horribly drawn when scratched earlier in the week but is much better in that regard now. Unlike Truffles, who is seeking a Galway double but probably is killed by the high draw.
Johnny Ward
Finished: 5thSP: 6/1
Suinda is Aubrey McMahon's first ride over hurdles but he knows her, having scored on her in a bumper in Clonmel nearly three weeks ago.
There is plenty of dead wood in this maiden hurdle, though it is reasonably competitive.
Given McMahon rides the Willie Mullins-trained runner, the bookmakers may take a chance, but she looks to have plenty of ability and she may get a soft lead as it would make little sense to hold her up given she will stay a good deal further.
Sunday's tips:
Johnny Ward
Finished: 14thSP: 20/1
Fuwairt’s connections, yours truly included, did not expect the horse to get into this race, having all but given up on Galway after he was deemed too high to get in to a race on Monday.
While essentially disappointing for Gavin Cromwell, a strongly-run 7f on easy ground looks right for him and the stable is in sensational form.
Somehow creeping in here off 82, he had smart form in Britain, to the extent that he was rated in the 90s, and he did not stay the mile at the Curragh last time.
Johnny Ward
Finished: 15thSP: 25/1
This always tends to be a fascinating handicap and this is no different.
Charles Byrnes has been out of luck so far, but Denham Sound takes the eye here off her relatively low mark.
She was hammered in the betting on her last run on the Flat at Limerick and just failed.
Perhaps a bit high in the weights over hurdles, she will appreciate this ground and looks dangerous off a mark in the mid-60s.
Johnny Ward's weekend tips:
Johnny Ward
Finished: 11thSP: 7/1
Johnny Ward
Finished: 5thSP: 6/1
Johnny Ward
Finished: 14thSP: 20/1
Johnny Ward
Finished: 15thSP: 25/1
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