The £50,000 McDonogh Handicap is traditionally one of the most competitive races at Galway and while many will rely on Leopardstown's Golden Pages Handicap as a formline, it could pay to side with a colt who has an eighth at Down Royal next to his name as a latest form figure.
Balla Sola is the name and don't be put off by that ominous eight. It came, after all, in the £50,000 Ulster Harp Derby and in circumstances which were hardly ideal for Willie Mullins' horse.
A doubt about him over the 12 furlongs seemed to be confirmed as he struggled behind Dragon Triumph and it could be that the ground was faster than he liked, too. Instead examine what Balla Sola did on softer ground when runner-up to the progressive Golden Rule at the Curragh last month and think what he can do on similar going, and a more suitable nine furlongs.
It was only inside the distance that he gave way to Golden Rule but he finished well clear of the rest and Balla Sola's style of racing near the pace will suit Galway. A good draw for such tactics is no hindrance either.
Hasanat has a 5lb penalty for winning the Golden Pages by a short head from Pasternak but although Fairy Ridge was third, it's the fourth Playacting who may attract the most support. John Oxx's colt has a touch of class and was running on well but is hardly the same class of representative as Oxx's previous McDonogh winner, Timarida in 1995.
Playacting could end up a short price as could Lord Huntingdon's English raider, the Goodwood winner Sweet Wilhelmina. Nevertheless, the ground will not be a problem to Sweet Wilhelmina and she is proposed as the main danger to a back-to-form Balla Sola.
Jim Bolger's string confirmed their return to form with a treble at the Curragh on Saturday and St Clair Ridge and Husun look to have the potential to notch up another brace for the Coolcullen trainer.
The form of St Clair Ridge's debut third to Takariya at the Curragh was boosted when the runner-up Antinnaz won smoothly at the weekend. The Indian Ridge filly has the Caerleon half sister to French Ballerina, Sunspangled, and La Serina to beat in the maiden but looks up to it.
Husun was well backed at Naas last week and only just missed out to the McDonogh candidate Golden Rule. Compensation in the seven furlong handicap looks likely.
Another horse who ran promisingly at Naas that day was Rashay who was the only one to give the hotpot Mempari a semblance of a race over five furlongs. Noel Meade's charge is raised two furlongs for the sixth race and should now be hitting her best, a best that could be good enough to beat Maya.
Dermot Weld can have his almost daily Galway winner when Musical Mayhem takes in the concluding handicap while if Moscow Express's jumping has tightened up from Killarney, he will be hard to beat in the Albatros Chase.
