Galway Plate
Last year’s Galway Hurdle winner is where I will start with a look at this year’s Plate. This progressive five-year-old has been campaigned well since last year’s success with a good mix of flat and chase runs. Two of those runs stand out to me as to why Joseph O’Brien’s charge will be hard beaten in this year’s Plate. His run back in Cheltenham, finishing fourth behind high-class novice Caldwell Potter, suggests there is a big future ahead. The winner was six lengths ahead of the second that day, but O’Brien’s runner was just a further two lengths behind that and considering Nurburgring is a full two years younger than most of the runners that day suggests the potential in this horse is only being tapped into, and a race like the plate should be well within reach. The other run was during Royal Ascot and the long-distance handicap, where he finished an unlucky second, eating up the ground on the run-in, suggesting the horse is in fine fettle, enjoying his racing and will be happy back in Ballybrit.
One interesting potential runner for Gordon Elliott this year is the mare Shecouldbeanything, who finished third in Cheltenham off a similar mark of 140. Sam Ewing tends to get a good tune out of this frontrunner, and if on board this year, could be one to watch.
Selections: Nap Nurburgring likely SP of 4/1 and NB Shecouldbeanything (EW ) likely SP of 25/1.
Galway Hurdle
This year’s Galway Hurdle Race is the most competitive it has been in years, with a whole host of talented top-rated handicappers in the mix. Last year’s second and current favourite Ndaawi will do well to finish in a similar vein off a 9lb higher mark of 145 in my opinion, and the Elliott yard could have a better chance in Bowensonfire off a mark of 131. He won the QuinnBet Handicap hurdle in Bellewstown recently with a bit to spare, but it remains to be seen if it will get in on its current mark; but it will be popular if it does. Jesse Evans won a grade three in Tipperary recently and runs off 2lb lower than last year and will fancy a big run, as will the third that day, Sunchart. Has held some very good company the last couple of years on the flat, has been a revelation over hurdles this year and with the Slattery’s having a great summer, a big run is on the cards.
Selections: Nap Sunchart likely SP of 20/1 and NB Bowensonfire likely SP of 8/1.
