Galway Races Ladies Day tips: Robbie Power's selections for Thursday
The five-year-old was second to Kargese when last seen in action in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and that is very good form.
Puturhandstogether also comes into the race with good form, having landed the Fred Winter at Cheltenham, and Joseph O'Brien won this race last year with another four-year-old.
I'd say this has been the target since he won in the Cotswolds, but I'm going to oppose him with Ndaawi, whose form looks stronger.
He also knows his way around here, having finished second to Nurburgring in last year's renewal.
The Galway Hurdle is a race Gordon has never won and he'd love Ndaawi to add it to his CV.
Today's opening contest, a Grade 3 novice chase over 2m2f at 2.10, is a very strong renewal.
Pied Piper comes into it in good form, having won his last three, but dropping back in trip is a big question mark for him.
The one I'm going to take a chance with here is Westport Cove for the powerful connections of Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. Paul Townend and Willie Mullins (Image: ©INPHO/Tom Maher)
He had a good win at Ballinrobe back in May and he's in receipt of seven pounds off Pied Piper.
That still leaves him three pounds wrong on ratings, but I think this could be Westport Cove's ideal trip.
We go on to the flat for the second contest, a handicap over 1m½f at 2.45.
David Loughnane has already been in the winners enclosure at Galway this week and Bravo Zulu could give him another success.
He arrives here on the back of two wins at Doncaster and Windsor, with Declan McDonogh booked to ride this time, and he could be very hard to beat.
In the seven-furlong listed Fillies and Mares race at 3.20, Fingerpaint is the one that stands out for Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes.
A winner over this trip on debut at the Curragh, her form got a boost on Tuesday when Collecting Coin, second to Fingerpaint previously, impressively won for Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley. Chris Hayes after winning with Fingerpaint (Image: ©INPHO/Tom Maher)
Gavin Cromwell's Fiery Lucy could be the danger to Fingerpaint under Robert Whearty.
She's rated 103 and obviously has more experience than Fingerpaint, but preference is for the Kingman filly, who could be a class act.
Jessica Harrington has had winners over jumps and on the flat at Galway this week and Glamazon is fancied to give her another on the level in the seven-furlong nursery at 3.55.
She was third when beaten two lengths by the winner at Roscommon at the start of July, Keithen Kennedy takes off a valuable five pounds and I'll give her the nod in the race before the Galway Hurdle.
A novice hurdle over 2m4½f follows the big race at 5.05 and it is an absolutely cracking contest.
It's great to see these novice races at Galway with such strength and depth.
You could make a case for a number of the runners, but I'm going to side with I Am River for Willie Mullins, JP McManus and Mark Walsh.
He could just be a step above the rest, having won in Kilbeggan at the beginning of June.
Glenroyal is then fancied to go close for Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle in the 1m4f handicap at 5.40.
And Wartime Leader for Willie and Patrick Mullins is the pick for the bumper over 2m2f at 6.10, which concludes today's card.
He was second to Shuttle Diplomacy at Naas back in January, with Thomas Cooper's horse going on to finish third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.
That is rock solid form and whatever beats him will win the last.
Bet of the day - Ndaawi - 6.10
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