Galway Sunday: Don’t Kick Nor Bite Good Form Could Continue

Tyner chaser in rich vein of form, and can land handicap chase on strong Ballybrit card12:35 Gobus.ie Mares Maiden Hurdle 2m 11y 

This looks a decent race of its type with plenty of mare who will pay their way over the winter, but it’s still very hard to oppose Getaway Katie Mai, whose only defeat in bumpers came when second to subsequent Grade 1 Cheltenham winner Relegate. She followed that effort at Leopardstown with her own pattern-race win, taking the Grade 2 at Aintree from 19 rivals in April. She really caught the eye at Aintree, as she pulled very hard when held up in a falsely-run race, and that normally spells disaster, so to come through and win despite doing plenty wrong speaks volumes for her raw ability.  

Tip:

Getaway Katie Mai 

13:05 W.B. Gavin & Co. Irish European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase 2m 6f 111y 

Blow By Blow was an expensive failure on his hurdles bow last season, but proved his worth when ridden aggressively, going on to make all for an easy win in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, and as long as he utilises his galloping ability here, then his rivals should not get too close to him on his first try over fences. There is a chance that his Cheltenham form, when allowed to do his own thing, flatters him by some margin, but even the best of his efforts in defeat would suffice here. 

Tip:

Blow By Blow 

13:40 Marlin Hotels Group Handicap Chase 2m 6f 111y 

Don’t Kick Nor Bite looks the pick in this handicap chase, the gelding arriving here in good form, and with conditions expected to suit him better than most. Robert Tyner’s charge was third to a pair of subsequent winners at Listowel in September, and built on that when winning over 2m5f at Roscommon on his next outing. He ran at least as well over this trip at Punchestown last time, and given that solid series of efforts, he makes more appeal than Tout Est Permis, who starts out for Noel Meade having lost his form for Mouse Morris. He can go well fresh (won after a long break at Gowran last autumn), and is the type to benefit from a change of scenery, so looks the main danger.  

Tip: 

Don’t Kick Nor Bite  

14:50 Annesley Williams Rated Novice Hurdle 2m 4f 156y 

I can’t resist having a few shekels on likely outsider Randalls Ur Poet here, for all he’s more likely to finish second on balance. The Seamus Fahey-trained 4-y-o has a series of really solid runs to his name, with the clock backing up the merit of those performances, but he does tend to want company in the latter stages of races, and can idle when in front. He’ll still be overpriced, though, and the stiff finish is in his favour. 

Tip:

Randalls Ur Poet