Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Galway Festival Best Bets

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan is back with her best bets across Wednesday and Thursday at the Galway Festival.

Wednesday, Galway

The two miles and six furlongs handicap hurdle (5:35pm) has thrown up my first fancy: Affinity Rock, for Cian Collins. She’s a pace angle, likes the track and trip, and to me, she looks very unexposed on her first run in a handicap — there’s every chance she’s ahead of her mark.

The mares’ handicap hurdle (6:05pm) looks an intriguing contest. I like Enfranchise — she appears very well handicapped off her hurdles mark of 121. She holds a rating of 102 on the Flat and even finished second in a Group Two race in Germany. She’s already won a maiden here and, while she’s a better flat mare, I think she can get her head in front over obstacles.

The Galway Plate (6:40pm) is always fiercely competitive, but with Emmet Mullins already on the board in a feature race, I’m siding with Sea Music. I think he has every chance — he’s a dual winner over fences and, although he received a nine-pound rise for his win at the Punchestown Festival in May, he’ll appreciate the ground and has no issues with the trip. Donagh Meyler takes the ride, which is an asset, and the Mee family love targeting this meeting. I can see him running a big race.

Thursday, Galway

The Grade Three novice chase (2:10pm) is another race where I have an interest. Special Cadeau beat Westport Cove when they met in a beginners’ chase at Thurles; he was then second to Nurburgring in a novice, and I think he’ll take all the beating under Darragh O’Keeffe.

The seven furlongs Listed race (3:20pm) is an interesting affair, for which I like Fiery Lucy. She was nabbed by Red Letter over a mile last time out, and the drop back to seven furlongs should suit. She’s in great form, despite not getting her head in front for a while now. Gavin Cromwell’s team couldn’t be in much better form, and I think she’ll go one better now she’s dropped back in trip.

Puturhandstogether won the Fred Winter off a mark of 130; he runs in the Galway Hurdle (4:30pm) here off a mark 11 pounds higher, but with that experience under his belt and the fact that he has since contested Grade One races, I think he is very well weighted to go well. Joseph O’Brien has a tremendous record in the race and is bidding to go back-to-back after Nurburgring’s victory last year. I was there last time at Tipperary — to me, he looked like he would come on for the run. With that under his belt, I think he’ll take all the beating in the Galway Hurdle.