ONE COOL POET returns to the scene of his most famous successes for the first time since landing his 2019 Galway Festival hat-trick when tackling today’s Galway Shopping Centre Handicap (4.20).
Matthew Smith’s nine-year-old has been out of form, however, and may struggle to be in the mix despite his love for Ballybrit in an ultra-competitive €100,000 affair which was won by subsequent Group One winner Princess Zoe 12 months ago.
Aidan O’Brien’s Iowa is of interest as the Galileo colt is 6lbs well-in on the back of his Listed fourth at Down Royal last week, but preference is for Camorra, which is Ger Lyons’ first runner of the week at Galway.
His third to Stratum at Gowran Park on his last start in April hasn’t worked out badly with the winner since strolling home in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot while the Zoffany gelding should love conditions.
His two career wins have come with yielding or soft in the going description while he has plenty of big-field experience having been just touched off in last year’s November Handicap at Naas so Colin Keane’s mount will be a tough nut to crack.
The Irish Independent On Saturday Maiden (1.25) is also of real intrigue with O’Brien winning two of the last three renewals – including in 2019 with dual Group Three winner Lancaster House – and saddling five-race maiden Handel this time around.
Dermot Weld used to farm this maiden and runs Sherkin Island – which ran with distinction when third on debut at the Curragh in May and has live claims with champion jockey Keane in the plate – but Arctician is selected to return in style.
Paddy Twomey’s charge is nearly a year off the track, but has some scintillating form to his name from his four starts as a juvenile, with a third in last year’s Group Two Railway Stakes, while he was also just touched off in the Group Three Marble Hill Stakes prior to that.
Rated 99, the son of Dark Angel sets the standard and can get off the mark under Billy Lee while Ado McGuinness has his eyes on more Galway glory in tomorrow’s €100,000 Ahonoora Handicap (3.15).
The Dublin trainer landed a Colm Quinn Mile hat-trick on Tuesday through Sirjack Thomas and the six-year-old is back for more once again under Mikey Sheehy, although a 7lb penalty may be tough to overcome.
He also saddles last year’s winner Current Option, Laugh A Minute and Spanish Tenor in a contest where UK raiders have excelled in winning six of the last nine renewals. Archie Watson saddles Haydock winner Stone Soldier while David Barron sends over On A Session, but this prize can stay at home with Quizical ready to finally get his head in front again.
It’s 21 months since Sheila Lavery’s charge, fifth in this race last year off 3lbs higher, last visited the winners’ enclosure but the six-year-old knocked on the door when second to Sirjack Thomas earlier this week and makes serious each-way appeal at rewarding odds.
Elsewhere, Li Mu Bai was just touched off on Monday but compensation may await for Gavin Cromwell’s three-year-old in the Ardilaun Hotel Handicap (2.45) with Gary Carroll’s mount set to oblige.