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Starter's Orders

Mark your Card: Day two at Galway

Here’s our take on the runners and riders at Ballybrit today, including a nice each-way punt in the day’s feature.

DAY TWO IN Ballybrit presents a number of interesting contests, none more puzzling than the feature race, the Topaz Mile (18:45).

A mile-long handicap sprint on the flat, the potential to land a winner at generous odds is there — if you can manage to pick one out of the 21-strong field.

Michael Halford’s relatively unexposed three-year-old Defining Year heads the betting after an impressive start to the season. A definite improver, there are slight concerns about how the recent lack of rain out West will suit him, as he appeared to struggle slightly on the good-to-firm surface last time out at Gowran.

Lightening Stricks also has claims based on two convincing wins over the distance on the all-weather in Dundalk earlier this season. He’s likely to have been prepped with this race in mind and, off a generous mark of nine stone, could go close.

Tony Martin sends out Pires, a 7-year-old who has switched between the jumps and the flat regularly in recent years. Although he placed three times on the flat last season, this has already been a long season for him — today’s race will be his eighth since March.

Perhaps the one to beat is New Magic, formerly of Jessica Harrington’s stable but now under the watchful eye of Dermot McLoughlin. A winner at last year’s festival, she has given a good account of herself in testing conditions on her two outings already this season. 12/1 is a tempting price.

The day’s opening race, a two-mile novice hurdle (17:05), is unsurprisingly headed by a horse in the Dermot Weld colours. Sublime Talent has shown solid improvement on each his outings so far this season, culminating in victory at Ballinrobe at the end of May. He looked well out of his depth last time out at the Curragh but the class of opponent he faces today marks him out as the market leader.

Of the other contenders, Noel Meade will be hopeful that London Bridge can step up in class following back-to-back prep wins in Bellewstown and Downpatrick. A winner by 12 lengths last time, he is a proven performer on good ground and has every chance of springing an upset in the opener.

Another Weld horse, Prince Erik, leads the field in the 2m6f Latin Quarter Chase (17:35), although he carries seven pounds more than his nearest opponent. He has fallen short on a number of chase outings this season, most notably when well-backed in the Irish Grand National. Another disappointing Grand National contender, Dessie Hughes’ Sarteano, also goes in the race though there are few reasons to be positive about his chances.

JJ Hanlon’s veteran Truckers Delight is the one which all the early money has come for now that he looks likely to miss tomorrow’s Galway Plate. Expect himself and The Last Derby to tussle it out for supremacy.

Nap of the day

Dermot Weld’s Mahaazen (7/4) should be head and shoulders above the rest in the Fillies Maiden Stakes (19:15). She travelled excellently on her seasonal debut at Limerick and big things are expected of her by the yard.

Each-way

Lightning Stricks (14/1) looks to have been prepped with the Topaz Mile (18:45) in mind and has the quality to go close off a generous mark. Worth a look.

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