READY TO GAVAGO

Karl Hedley sees Flat up the pace as yards gear up for Galway Festival

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The Flat season is well and truly upon us and horses are gearing up towards the Galway Festival at the end of the month. The seven-day ex-travaganza on Ireland's west coast will be welcoming thousands of racegoers who make the trip year after year. I will take a run through those horses who have caught the eye over the last few weeks at tracks including The Curragh and Listowel to see who looks likely to be on an upward trajectory and who could possibly run at that summer festival.

Easy-to-back Gavoo made light of his draw stuck out in stall 12 to take the opening six furlong maiden at Listowel.

Quite a few of these struggled to get into the race, and the front four were in those positions from some way out.

David Marnane and Luke McAteer combined here in order to get Gavoo home by three parts of a length from well-backed favourite Fresh Fade. The front pair drew seven and a half lengths clear of the third, Yours Sincerely.

Marnne said: “He is a very nice 2yo, we've always liked him and we fancied him to run a big race on his debut at the Curragh, where he ran well. That race has worked out well and he has certainly improved. He is quite lazy, so I'd say there is plenty of improvement left in him.

“He has the size to be a 3yo and he isn't a horse to be getting lofty about yet, so we'll pick our spot with him now. He should improve a lot though, and I think he will end up being a very good horse. When he works at home, he works real well and he is the perfect model.”

Trainer Danny McLoughlin registered a first juvenile winner today as he landed the second division of the six furlong maiden. His well-backed Magny Cours (morning 25s, returned 15/2) landed the race by the narrowest of margins for Ben Coen.

The race featured runners from quite a few top yards, with the winning daughter of Awtaad breaking well and racing prominently before beating £125,000-breeze-up purchase Luna Mia by a head.