RACING:BLAZING TEMPO can secure one of the few remaining major domestic jumping prizes to have eluded Willie Mullins's grasp by landing this evening's www.thetote.com Galway Plate.
The original top weight Captain Cee Bee skips this race in favour of tomorrow’s Galway Hurdle but this still looks a quality renewal of the Plate where Mullins is also represented by the classy and consistent Scotsirish.
With just five runs over fences to her name Blazing Tempo is one of the least exposed members of the field and it is reasonable to assume that she is capable of improving on what she has shown so far. Her fifth to Noble Prince at Cheltenham on her penultimate start is quite a creditable run in the context of this race. However, it is her excellent second to Wishfull Thinking at Punchestown over two months ago which earns her the vote.
Blazing Tempo was receiving a stone and a half from that rival at Punchestown but still ran very well in defeat against a genuinely top-drawer novice chaser. It should also be pointed out that she was the only one to make a race of it with the winner that day.
The trip and ground will be fine for her and she has a light weight which will also aid her cause. Victory here would be the ideal way for Paul Townend to mark his first week back race riding since he broke his collarbone at Punchestown in May.
The Plate has attracted six JP McManus-owned hopefuls and the owner’s retained rider, Tony McCoy, sides with Dancing Tornado. On his last start over fences Michael Hourigan’s charge finished one place ahead of the Gold Cup hero Long Run at Cheltenham in November.
Another McManus runner with a real chance is Wise Old Owl who shaped up well in a Punchestown handicap two months ago. The 2009 Hurdle winner Bahrain Storm is another lively contender following a recent Killarney win.
It has the potential to be a very industrious evening for Dermot Weld whose Font Of Wisdom is hard to oppose in the concluding maiden. The twice-raced son of Marju made notable progress from his debut run to finish fourth to Flowers Of Spring in a well contested conditions event at Fairyhouse earlier this month.
Font Of Wisdom appears to face an easier assignment here and looks capable of containing Jolie Jioconde who hasn’t matched her juvenile form in two starts this year.
The Weld-trained Galileo’s Choice is taken to come out on top in the opening maiden hurdle, although he does have a lack of previous jumping experience. He is quite a useful sort on the flat and ran well on his most recent start at Tipperary to chase home the classy hurdler Pittoni in a race that contained some smart jumpers.
The Rosewell House handler fields another strong contender in Mutasharef who looks the answer to the amateur riders’ maiden.
On his only start to date this American-bred son of Arch was fourth to Quest For Peace in a 10-furlong maiden at Leopardstown in April. The form of that race is quite strong and Mutasharef represents a stable that has won this four times in the last seven years.
The dual Galway Hurdle-winning trainer Pat Kelly and his son Tony join forces with King Ali in the three-mile handicap hurdle. The nine-year-old didn’t run at all badly over fences last time and the former course and distance winner will attract interest on its first hurdles outing for 13 months.
Memories Of Milan has his share of weight in the other handicap hurdle but may still succeed, while the well-drawn Beauthea can win the seven-furlong handicap following several good runs here in recent seasons. Spirit Of Cuba is selected in the three-year-old only handicap following an unlucky run at Killarney.
Ryan's selections
3.00 Galileo’s Choice
3.35 Memories Of Milan
4.10 King Ali
4.45 Mutasharef
5.25 Blazing Tempo (Nap)
6.00 Beauthea
6.35 Spirit Of Cuba
7.10 Font Of Wisom (Dbl)
