3rd-Aug-2017

I am backing two of the JP McManus horses in the Galway Hurdle, Timiyan and Tigris River.

It is easy to see the case for Max Dynamite.  He finished second in the race in 2015 off a mark of 136, he is racing off a mark of just 141 today, and he has won a Lonsdale Cup and finished second in a Melbourne Cup in the interim.  Also, he is trained by Willie Mullins, the vibes about him are strong, and Ruby Walsh has chosen to ride him.  It is a strong case.  You just worry about his absence, and he may be a better horse on the flat than over hurdles, and he is short …

Barry Geraghty rides Tigris River.  Winner of his maiden hurdle at the 2015 Galway Festival and fifth in the Galway Hurdle last year off a mark of 135, he ran out a nice winner of a two-mile handicap on the flat at The Curragh in June.  He did well to win as easily as he did, given that he was hampered at the two-furlong pole.

Back over hurdles last time at Bellewstown, he ran out a nice winner of a five-horse race.  The handicapper gave him 2lb for that, but it should have put him spot on for today.  He is 5lb higher than he was last year, but he was only five last year (no five-year-old has won the Galway Hurdle in the last decade), he should be better equipped for a Galway Hurdle this year as a six-year-old (six of the last 10 winners were six), and he is still progressive.  He could run a big race.

TIGRIS RIVER WON (ADV 7/1, SP 5/1)