Lizzie Twigg can get punters off to good start on day two of Galway races
Lizzie Twigg and Josh Williamson win for trainer Gordon Elliott recently. Pic:Healy Racing.
Lizzie Twigg can ensure day two of the Galway festival gets off to the best possible start for punters by winning the Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy.
Victorious on debut at Down Royal on St Patrick’s Day, the five-year-old daughter of Poet’s Word could only manage fifth in another mares’ bumper at Fairyhouse next time out.
However, she got back to winning ways when bolting up in a 24-runner maiden hurdle at Punchestown last month and backed up that success when scoring at Roscommon earlier this month.
This assignment will demand more but she can rise to the challenge.
Stablemate Porcupine Bank is also on a hat-trick but the fact Kennedy has opted to partner Lizzie Twigg tilts the balance in favour of the mare.
Gomez Addams, victorious on hurdling debut at Listowel in late May, should also be in the mix for the Henry de Bromhead team.
Elliott and Kennedy can complete an early day two double by taking the Latin Quarter Beginners Chase courtesy of Bowensonfire.
The six-year-old excelled over hurdles for much of last season, most notably backing up a victory at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting by following up back at the Foxrock venue at the Dublin Racing Festival.
On the back of a break, he was a little disappointing when fourth of five runners in the Grade Three Grimes Hurdle at Limerick last time out but he should be sharper for that run and can make race fitness count against Closutton contender My Great Mate who comes here having not run for 323 days.
It’s rare a raceday passes without Joseph O’Brien training a winner and his best chance on Tuesday looks to be Starborn Legend in the Caulfield Industrial Irish EBF Maiden.
The Starspangledbanner colt shaped well when sixth of 18 on debut at the Curragh in June before finding only Suspicious Mindz too good back at the same venue last time out.
He can make it third time lucky here.
The feature, the Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap, looks fiendishly competitive but Genuine Article appeals as a decent each-way option.
The Gerard Keane-trained six-year-old ticks the track box having won over course and distance at this meeting last year before finishing a close second in Irish Cambridgeshire at the Curragh next time out.
His form since wouldn’t inspire confidence but there were signs of encouragement in his most run, when fifth of 12 over an inadequate trip at Cork in May, and the reapplication cheekpieces and tongue tie here might help him build on that effort.
Recent Curragh victor Pierre Royal, the sole Ado McGuinness representative, is another that warrants shortlist consideration, as does the Stephen Thorne-trained Jagged Edge, the horse who got the better of Genuine Article in the Irish Cambridgeshire when in the care of Dermot Weld.
4.40 Lizzie Twigg (Nap)
5.10 Bowensonfire
5.45 Giant Haystacks
6.15 Madam Secretary
6.45 Genuine Article
7.15 Zaraahmando
7.45 Starborn Legend (NB)
8.15 Liberate
4.40 Gomez Addams
5.10 My Great Mate
5.45 Fort Randall
6.15 The Good Wife
6.45 Pierre Royal
7.15 Shoot To Kill
7.45 Sindagan
8.15 Bay Of Dreams.
