The seven-day Ballybrit Fiesta start on Monday and things are hotting up for the week’s feature races on Wednesday and Thurdsay.
GALWAY PLATE : Wednesday 18:45
Meath magician Gordon Elliott’s Galvin has been the best backed horse in the Galway Plate and could start favourite, having previously shared joint favouritism with Easy Game.
A close look at his form tells why as after finding only Salsaretta too powerful in a novice chase at Punchestown last November, he filled the same runner-up position when a furiously-backed joint-favourite in the Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
That form has a very solid look to it as he was beaten by Imperial Aura and the way he kept on over 2m 4f at Prestbury Park is encouraging for this 2m 6f test.
Canny Elliott gave his fancy a lovely pipe-opener recently in a chase at Killarney, where he was a very easy scorer and the six-year-old looks a worthy market leader.
*Prices quoted for the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle are Antepost odds (see bet widget) and these & intended running plans can change at final declarations. If your selection isn’t declared for the race, you lose your stake under Antepost rules.
GALWAY PLATE : Wednesday 18:45
However, we’ve also seen support for Early Doors and Joseph O’Brien’s charge is well-backed in the colours of legendary owner and gambler JP McManus.
This Soldier Of Fortune gelding is looking for compensation after finishing a beaten favourite in a beginners’ chase at the Galway Festival last year, when two and a half lengths adrift of Dandy Mag.
On three more runs over the bigger obstacles, he’s finished second twice more and it could be that his shrewd connections believe that he’s well handicapped off a mark of 139 as his reappearance came over timber, when well beaten in the Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary last month.
Galway Hurdle: Thursday 18:45
As far as the Galway Hurdle goes, the best-backed is Willie Mullins’ Mt Leinster who is well fancied.
He was an easy winner of a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, before a number of jumping errors put paid to his chance in a Grade 1 race at the same venue two months’ later when third to stable companion Asterion Forlonge.
He was last seen in action when fourth to Jason The Militant in the Grade 2 Paddy Power Betting Shop Novice Hurdle at Naas later in February, when only beaten four and a half lengths and, albeit already beaten, he made another slight mistake at the final flight.
Meticulous Mullins will have worked on his jumping at home and the cash indicates a big run is expected by the Roaringwater Syndicate.
Galway Hurdle: Thursday 18:45
Mullins has another intriguing Hurdle candidate in Shanning, who has been well punted but hasn’t been seen in public since finishing a beaten joint-favourite in this event last year.
She could only muster seventh that day, but she wasn’t fluent three out which wouldn’t have helped and she wasn’t beaten far, just over five lengths behind Tudor City.
Paul Townend opted to ride her then, but could have partnered Riven Light who was a wafer-thin second at the Punchestown Festival in 2017 on his previous appearance over hurdles.
A year out of action is far from ideal for Shanning, but she’s a consistent mare who has won or been placed in six of her eight outings over hurdles and she was a comfortable five and a half length scorer in a mares’ hurdle at Killarney before Galway last season.
*Prices quoted for the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle are Antepost odds (see bet widget) and these & intended running plans can change at final declarations. If your selection isn’t declared for the race, you lose your stake under Antepost rules.
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