Excuzio Joe looks the pick for Matthew Smith in competitive Galway handicap

Saturday: 4.45 Galway
Ardilaun Hotel Handicap | 7f | 3yo+ (50-75) | RTV/TG4

Runners who reappear in this 7f handicap having raced earlier in the week have a good record of being competitive in this wide-open contest.

Imposing Supreme (2021), Make A Challenge (2019) and Truffles (2018) all completed Galway festival doubles by following up in this race, while Darkened took the honours in 2020 after finishing second in a handicap earlier in the week, so it often pays to look for competitors having their second or perhaps third outing of the week.

Matthew Smith can often prepare one for more than just a single appearance at the festival, as we saw in 2019 with One Cool Poet, and Excuzio Joe will be looking to go three places better than her run here on Tuesday.

The five-year-old was very short of room on the approach to the straight and did well in the circumstances to finish just a length and three-quarters adrift of Dunum in fourth. She merits plenty of respect given her trainer’s recent run of form as well as his own course record.

Inchiquin Star ran a cracker in a handicap on Wednesday evening when just outstayed close to home over 1m½f, so the slight step back to 7f looks a good move by David Marnane.

My Minervina comes here at the top of her game and bids for a hat-trick after wins in a Bellewstown claimer and a Killarney handicap. The Jessica Harrington-trained filly won in good style at the Kerry venue and a 6lb higher mark seems fair enough.

Cailin Cliste is another filly in the line-up enjoying a successful campaign with two wins from four appearances this season. She shapes as though she will be suited by a step up to this trip as John O’Donoghue goes in search of his first Galway festival winner.

Billy Lee and Andrew Kinirons have teamed up ten times this season for three winners and the pair have a decent chance again with Mary Salome.

Lee finished second on her at Limerick before a win at Bellewstown, and she is sure to be thereabouts again off a mark of 75.

Denis Hogan has won this three times since 2016 and runs Eloquent Arthur and Peerless. However, both will have to improve on what they have shown this term if they are to play a big part.

Tom Mullins landed a big pot on Thursday evening with 40-1 shot Star Image under Jake Coen, and he has called upon the services of the talented claimer again for the ride on San Aer.

What they say

Andrew Kinirons, trainer of Mary Salome
We’re very happy with her. The draw in stall ten isn’t too bad and she’s in great form. She’s a lot stronger this year so it should be no problem to her carrying that weight. There should be plenty of pace which will suit and she’s bouncing since her win at Bellewstown.

Declan McDonagh, rider of Excuzio Joe
She’s got a good chance. She was unlucky during the week but she has a good draw in stall two so hopefully she’ll go well.

Tom Mullins, trainer of San Aer
He’s in great form. We’re hoping there’s a bit of an ease in the ground and if there is he should go very close. He needs that bit of juice in the ground. He’s got a bad draw in stall 19, but it might work in his favour.

Michael Mulvaney, trainer of The Blue Panther
He’s in good form. We’d be hopeful he can get a clear run, he doesn't have a bad draw in stall seven. He’ll handle a bit of give in the ground so I’m hoping for a good showing.

John O’Donoghue, trainer of Cailin Cliste
We know how she needs to be ridden. We’re not drawn very well in stall 17, but hopefully if she’s ridden the way we know she has to be on her first try over this trip she should have a decent chance. She seems to relax in her races quite well. If we can get into a good position from the wide draw I’m sure she’ll stay the seven furlongs well.

David Marnane, trainer of Inchiquin Star
It was a good race she ran on Wednesday. She was maybe outstayed by some stronger horses but she ran really well. It was probably a career-best run. She’s placed numerous times, but we were delighted with her run and hopefully she’ll go well again.

Dave Loughnane, trainer of He seems to have settled into life in Britain and does everything he needs to do for us at home. I think he's got a nice weight and rating off 71 and I'm hopeful of a good run.

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