Kinlay Hostel Chase can bring best out of Zanahiyr
Zanahiyr and Jack Kennedy win the Paddy Power Hurdle. Pic: Healy Racing
The action continues in Galway and Willie Mullins looks set for a bumper afternoon in Ballybrit.
The champion trainer can make the perfect start by taking the BoyleSports Maiden Hurdle with stable newcomer Night Moon. A runaway winner on the Flat on his final start for David Marnane, he looks made for this game and should get up and running quickly.
Last Kingdom can get back to winning ways by taking the second race, the BoyleSports Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle. A winner at Fairyhouse’s Easter festival, he has been beaten twice since, but remains open to plenty of improvement and will take beating.
Alpha Capture can complete a great day for the Mullins team by taking the McDonogh Capital Investments Handicap. While he was second behind Oriole in this race last year, he looks a shade stronger this time and with the benefit of two recent good runs, he can gain an overdue return to winning ways.
Mullins’ Maughreen also has claims on her handicap debut in the third race, but this is fiercely competitive and the likes of Reverend Hubert and So Scottish must also be well respected.
The nap goes to Reidh, who won over course and distance at this meeting in 2024.
That was off a mark of 78 and while his handicap mark has slipped to 69, he posted an encouraging effort last time out and that should have put him spot-on for the return to this venue.
It is also encouraging that his trainer, Richard Fahey, was amongst the winners here earlier in the week, when Tropical Island won the listed race.
The hat-trick seeking Zaraahmando should appreciate this track and is respected, while Loingseoir was a shade unlucky here earlier in the week and should go well, though the drop in trip is not ideal.
On Sunday’s card, the nap goes to Zanahiyr, in the Kinlay Hostel Chase. A close third in last year’s Galway Plate, he didn’t fare as well this time around but certainly didn’t run too badly to finish ninth behind Western Fold.
His record over fences isn’t inspiring, with just one win from nine starts, but some of the form is strong and this race should bring out the very best in him.
With the small field there won’t be much pressure on his jumping and he can follow likely favourite Blood Destiny around before picking him off close home.
Pallatine Hills makes plenty of each-way appeal in the Village Salthill Handicap. Eddie and Patrick Harty’s three-year-old ran well in defeat last time, in a one-mile race at the Curragh, and while he has run over ten and 12 furlongs, this race, which is over just seven furlongs, promises to suit.
Likely to be ridden prominently, it will be no surprise if Dylan Browne McMonagle tries to make a test of it from before the turn for home, and he can get the job done at the expense of Tilani, who also appeals as a potential improver.
2:02 Night Moon
2:37 Last Kingdom (nb)
3:12 Maughreen
3:52 Barra Rua
4:27 Action
5:00 Moon Reign
5:35 Reidh (nap)
6:05 Alpha Capture
2:02 Astelia
2:37 Toll Stone
3:12 Reverend Hubert
3:52 Some Pretender
4:27 Winday
5:00 Staywithherjohnny
5:35 Zaraahmando
6:05 Impero
1:50 Aurea Fortuna
2:20 Chance Another One
2:55 Zanahiyr (nap)
3:30 The Dasher Conway
4:00 Gleneagle Bay
4:30 Duke Of Cumberland
5:00 Pallatine Hills (nb)
5:30 Al Arrivee
1:50 Ragmans Corner
2:20 Howdoyalikeherhome
2:55 Blood Destiny
3:30 Aeros luck
4:00 Princess Child
4:30 Bang Bang
5:00 Tilani
5:30 Doctor Steinberg
