Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: In Excelsis Deo hasn’t hit his high note yet

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty looks over the best bits of days three and four from the Galway Festival, including the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle.

Galway, Wednesday

In the Mares Handicap Hurdle (6:00pm), SHE’S A FINE WINE caught my eye. Henry de Bromhead’s mare was a good winner in Ballinrobe in the back end of May, which was her first run since the end of December. I’d expect her to improve again from that run. She was third in a Grade 3 Novice Hurdle in November, so I’d be inclined to say she is better than her current mark suggests. I think there is improvement in her too, and the stiffer track at Ballybrit is going to play to her strengths.

The feature race of the day is the Galway Plate (7:10pm). Which looks to be very competitive with lots holding chances. Perceval Legallois who was second in Punchestown in May, looks like he’ll be favourite. My pick here though happens to be one I put forward at last season’s Cheltenham festival, IN EXCELSIS DEO. His jumping let him down at Cheltenham having finished four-lengths behind Shakem Up’arry in the Plate. However, he does wear first-time cheekpieces here, and I think that’s going to help sharpen up his jumping. He did win well at Cheltenham since, but I still think he is a horse we haven’t seen the best of him yet and he could just be a step ahead of the handicapper.

Galway. Thursday

On the Thursday there is a tricky little Grade 3 Novice Chase (2:45pm). On the books Saylavee would be the one to beat, having been very impressive in Killarney, but she jumped badly left at Punchestown on her next start. A repeat of that would not work well for her around Galway, so the one I would lean towards is REVEREND HUBERT. He’s won two of his three chases, having unseated his rider last time when he would’ve been second in behind Solitary Man in Killarney. I think the stiffer track over two-mile-two-furlongs here will suit him well.

The Galway Hurdle (5:05pm) is the big race of the day and there has been a lot of money already for Under Control, who beat Iberico Lord at Sandown in April 2023. Iberico Lord has since won the Greatwood and the Betfair Hurdle, so that is the strongest piece of form in the race. However, Under Control did disappoint on her next start, but following a wind operation she was then second to Ashroe Diamond on her most recent start at Doncaster in January. We haven’t seen much of her since her Sandown win, but that is the form that sets her apart from these. The one I think is good value is NURBURGRING, who has some great form from last season that ties in with Kala Conti and Kargese. He was well beaten on the heavy ground in the Triumph at Cheltenham but was only two-lengths behind Kargese at Punchestown on soft ground following that. He stays well and I think the pace that they will go will really suit him. The value is there for an each-way bet on his handicap debut.