Inchacooley is selected to recoup losses and land what looks to be a wide-open McDonagh Handicap on the second evening of the Galway festival. Although the Golden Pages Handicap winner Graduated doesn't appear, tonight's contest reads like a virtual re-run of that Leopardstown event 10 days ago where Inchacooley carried this column's cash into third place.
The second, Flaunt, the fourth, Wray, and the fifth, Toast The Spreece, all oppose each other again along with some of the also rans that day, including Yavanna's Pace, Elida, Vivo and Meglio Che Posso.
It would be unwise to ignore any of their claims as, in these tightly contested handicaps, the winning and losing can often come down to who gets the smoothest run through the race. Nevertheless, Inchacooley is recommended to reverse the short head he finished behind Flaunt at Leopardstown.
Martin Brassil's mare seemed to be caught out by the injection of pace that was produced on the turn in at Leopardstown, but was finishing as fast as anything in the closing stages. Tonight's race is likely to be run a fast and furious pace all the way, which will suit her, and Pat Shanahan should be able to deliver her for a storming finish up the final hill.
One of the most interesting races of the evening will be the McDonagh Fillies Maiden where some decent juveniles from the Aidan O'Brien, Jim Bolger and Dermot Weld stables clash. Preference is for Weld's Screen Idol, who shaped with a lot of promise on her debut behind Saratoga Springs and Absoluta at Gowran Park 17 days ago and looks the typical sort that Weld likes to win with at the festival.
The Rosewell House trainer can also take the opening Albatross Maiden Hurdle with the smart flat handicapper Munif, who is sure to have been well schooled for his jumping debut. Runner-up in the Ulster Harp Derby last time, Munif will have the assistance of Richard Dunwoody and is impossible to oppose against today's opponents.
The Albatross Supergrass Handicap looks terribly tricky, but if My Lorraine lasts the seven furlongs she should at least go close, and Kephren could have too much of a finishing kick for his field in the McDonagh Timber Handicap.
