Gavin Cromwell
Gavin Cromwell’s William Hill blog: Galway Festival Days 1, 2 & 3 preview
William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell previews his runners across the first three days of the Galway Festival.
Galway, Monday
We start our week with Westoftignes in the two-mile handicap hurdle (17:40). We haven’t had him for too long but he is an interesting horse. His work has been good and conditions should suit nicely here. I’m hoping he’ll run well.
Our other two runners on Monday both go in the Flat handicap over a mile and a half (19:50). Sir Benji he’s stepping up quite a bit in trip here but I don’t think he’ll have a problem staying. That said, you never know until you try and it is stiff around Galway.
He is a big price but I fancy him to go well and he’s capable of running into a place. Conditions should suit and I’m confident he’ll stay.
We also run Misty Cove, who just might find things difficult at this grade. She ran an okay race over hurdles the last day but she’ll have to put in a career best to be getting involved here.
Galway, Tuesday
The first of our two runners on Tuesday is Robbies Rock in the 2m2f beginners chase (17:10). He had a bit of time off with an injury and was off the track for nearly a year before returning in April this season. To be honest I’ve been disappointed with him so far this season and he seems to have takin a bit of time to get going.
He is jumping well and schooling well at home, so we’re hopeful of a nice run on his chase debut. He’s not necessarily always been a horse that we’ve seen as a chaser so we are taking a chance with him, but he’s plenty of size and scope so we’ll give it a shot and hopefully he puts in a good run.
Won over hurdles, won on the Flat and now goes chasing. Only 5yo, so just a case of waiting for him to be ready? Always seen him as a chase?
Then we have Crescent Moon in the 2m2f handicap chase (17:45). She’s the top weight here but Eoin Staples is claiming five pounds off her on his return from a broken arm.
We’re trying to give her every chance to get her head in front and she’s back down in grade. She jumps well and I don’t think the ground or track will be an issue. She’s been working well at home and we’ve been happy with her, but she was well beaten on her last start so I’m just hoping she can run a better race here.
Galway, Wednesday
The big race on Wednesday is the Grade 3 Galway Plate (18:40) and we have two runners in there this year. Will The Wise capped off a good season with his win in the Topham at Aintree and this has always been the plan for him since then. We gave him a break and freshened him up and he’s been working well at home.
He is off a career-high mark here and life doesn’t get any easier after you win a big handicap. This is a very competitive race and it won’t be easy, but he’s won around the track before and if he gets a good start he should be competitive.
It’s hard to call whether he’ll have improved enough from Aintree to back it up and that was a career-best performance. I do think the race will suit him, but you’re always vulnerable to something that’s better handicapped. I still think he should run well.
Perceval Legallois was second in the Midlands National in Kilbeggan on his last start, but I’m not getting overly excited about that run because the race sort of fell apart around him and he passed some tired horses to finish second. That said, it was great to see him show some bit of form because he hadn’t shown anything for a while.
I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that he can back that up and keep going in the right direction.
Then we’re back on the Flat with Mergus Serrator in the 1m4f maiden (19:25). I think he was a bit unlucky the last day in Down Royal. Gary [Carroll] opted to switch out on him and the eventual winner went inside and got a lovely run. I think that decided the race.
He comes into this in good form but it’s a competitive race. If things go better for him in-running then he should be up to running well.
We finish off on Wednesday with Black Heather in the two-mile flat handicap (20:20). It wasn’t a bad run the last day – he definitely improved on his efforts before that. He’s stepping up in trip here which should suit him and he’ll like the ground. Hopefully he can take another step forward here.
