*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Hewick heads the weights in his bid to secure back-to-back victories of the Galway Plate on the day three of the Summer Festival.
A bumper field of 22 horses go to post at 18:40 for the summer highlight and Willie Mullins is responsible for five including Kilcruit, who has to deal with a 12lbs rise in the handicap following a comprehensive victory at the Punchestown Festival in April.
Fury Road spearheads Gordon Elliott’s six-strong squad, the Gavin Cromwell-trained Final Orders boasts a prolific record over fences, while Barry Connell hopes to saddle another big winner this year in the form of Enniskerry.
The latest Galway Plate odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Galway Plate tips
Timeform: Ultra-competitive but KILCRUIT looked an ideal type for this when scoring at the Punchestown Festival in impressive fashion, so earns the vote. Enniskerry and Hollow Games are unexposed chasers who surely have more to offer, while Fury Road is on a good mark on the pick of his form in Grade 1s.
Galway Plate runners
Hewick
Trainer: John Joseph Hanlon Jockey: B. S. Hughes Age: 8 Weight: 11st 12lbs
Top-class chaser who won the bet365 Gold Cup in 2022. Even better form last season, winning this race (off 12 lb lower), Grade 1 hurdle in the US and Grade 2 chase at Sandown. Shaped as if still in good form when fourth in Group 1 hurdle at Auteuil in May. Must be respected.
****
Kilcruit
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 8 Weight: 11st 5lbs
Posted a borderline high-class effort when making a winning handicap debut on only his fourth chase start in valuable event at the Punchestown Festival in April. Failed to stay back over hurdles in Group 1 at Auteuil (25f) following month. Big run expected.
*****
Easy Game
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Mr P. W. Mullins Age: 9 Weight: 11st 4lbs
Superbly placed to win 8 of his last 9 starts. Badly hampered when tenth in this last year. Shortlisted.
****
Fury Road
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: J. W. Kennedy Age: 9 Weight: 11st 0lbs
Grade 2 winner at Down Royal last season and also placed in a couple of Grade 1s. On a good mark on those efforts back in a handicap.
****
Lifetime Ambition
Trainer: Mrs J. Harrington Jockey: S. F. O’Keeffe Age: 8 Weight: 11st 0lbs
Grade 3 winner as a novice. Failed to win last season but was third in the John Durkin and was jumping superbly up with the pace in the Grand National only for luck to desert him (loose horse veered right into his path approaching first Valentine’s). Shortlisted.
****
Andy Dufresne
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: A. P. Kelly Age: 9 Weight: 10st 9lbs
Potentially on a good mark but arrives on the back of a disappointing campaign. Leap of faith required.
**
Final Orders
Trainer: Gavin Patrick Cromwell Jockey: Sean Flanagan Age: 7 Weight: 10st 8lbs
Has been nothing short of a revelation for these connections and completed a 5-timer over fences in valuable 2m handicap at Leopardstown. Shaped as if still in form in the Grand Annual before taking a heavy fall in the Topham at Aintree. Proved his well-being when scoring back on Flat last month.
***
Enniskerry
Trainer: Barry Connell Jockey: M. J. M. O’Sullivan Age: 9 Weight: 10st 7lbs
Smart chaser. Career best when winning 7-runner Gr 3 chase at Roscommon (16.1f, good, 5/2) in September. Failed to give his running in Grade 1 at Fairyhouse in December but confirmed well-being when making a winning Flat debut 6 weeks ago, creating a very good impression. Remains unexposed.
****
Visionarian
Trainer: Peter Fahey Jockey: Denis O’Regan Age: 8 Weight: 10st 7lbs
Excellent first season over fences, winning a Grade 3 and placed in a couple of Grade 1s. Probably needed the run back over hurdles last month and opening mark in this sphere looks a fair one.
****
Ciel De Neige
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: M. P. Walsh Age: 8 Weight: 10st 6lbs
Progressive as a novice chaser, winning 3 on the spin. Failed to hit the target last season but hinted at a revival before unseated rider 2 out in Topham Chase at Aintree when last seen. Not taken lightly.
***
Foxy Jacks
Trainer: M. F. Morris Jockey: Gavin Peter Brouder Age: 9 Weight: 10st 6lbs
Patchy record over fences and has plenty of miles on the clock but at least arrives on the back of a career-best win at Kilbeggan (25f, soft) 19 days ago.
***
Authorized Art
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: D. E. Mullins Age: 8 Weight: 10st 5lbs
Completed hat-trick over fences in Grade 3 at Tipperary in October. Just the one decent effort since, however, Headgear refitted.
**
The Goffer
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Donagh Meyler Age: 6 Weight: 10st 5lbs
Much improved switched to fences last term, winning valuable event at Leopardstown in February and excellent fourth in the Ultima at Cheltenham. Pulled up in Irish National at Fairyhouse but back on track when fourth in bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown. Still only a 6-y-o so may have more to offer still.
****
Ash Tree Meadow
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: D. J. Gilligan Age: 7 Weight: 10st 4lbs
Developed into a useful chaser last season, winning 3 times before good fourth in this off a similar mark (rider dropped whip early in straight). Couple of recent spins (over hurdles/on the Flat) should put him spot on for this.
***
A Wave Of The Sea
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: S. D. Torrens Age: 7 Weight: 10st 2lbs
Useful chaser. Failed to win last season but finished an honourable ninth in the Grand National. Shaped encouragingly back over hurdles last month.
***
Gabbys Cross
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: Rachael Blackmore Age: 8 Weight: 10st 2lbs
Won handicap over C&D at this meeting last summer off 6 lb lower and shaped up well in good races later in the season. Had little go right in the Grand National final start.
***
Fighter Allen
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: B. Hayes Age: 8 Weight: 10st 1lbs
Winning hurdler, one-time useful chaser. Out of sorts.
**
Hollow Games
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Sam Ewing Age: 7 Weight: 10st 1lbs
Useful hurdler who looked a natural when making a winning chase bow at Navan in November. Highly tried next 2 starts before back on track when fourth in handicap at the Punchestown Festival. Surely more to come from him in this sphere back up in trip.
****
Hurricane Georgie
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: C. P. McNamara Age: 6 Weight: 10st 0lbs
Three wins from 9 runs last season but just going through the motions of late, 19½ lengths fourth of 13 to Foxy Jacks in handicap chase at Kilbeggan (25f, soft) 19 days ago.
**
Lieutenant Command
Trainer: Noel Meade Jockey: C. M. Quirke Age: 9 Weight: 10st 0lbs
Won 9-runner handicap chase at Leopardstown (21.4f, good) in March but struggled off revised mark at Punchestown following month.
**
Upping The Anti
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: D. J. O’Keeffe Age: 7 Weight: 10st 0lbs
Useful chaser who ran creditably up in grade when 13 lengths second in Gr 3 chase (14/1) at Thurles (18f, soft) in March but jumping once again let him down when falling heavily in the Topham at Aintree the following month.
**
Born By The Sea
Trainer: Paul John Gilligan Jockey: Phillip Enright Age: 9 Weight: 10st 0lbs
Useful handicap chaser who seemed to excel himself from out of the weights when sixth in the Grand National at Aintree. Had a pipe opener back on the Flat last month.
***
Today’s Racing Tips
- Horse Racing Tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s Best Galway Plate Day Picks
- Horse Racing Tips: Paul Jacobs’ value plays at Goodwood & Galway
- Horse Racing Tips: Ruby Walsh’s best Wednesday picks on Galway Plate day
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