The blue riband event of this week’s Galway Festival is the Galway Plate.
Traditionally, the summer months sees the stars of the National Hunt season retire to eating grass in fields.
However, to every rule there are exceptions and to this one the biggest exception is the Galway Plate. A Grade 3 Handicap chase run at the Galway festival in Ireland, the race has been run since 1869 with over €150,000 going to the winner.
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Galway Plate Entries
Percival Legallois
In the last four years, JP McManus has had the 4th, 2nd, 3rd and 1st placed horses in this race and this year he has the ante-post favourite in Perceval Legallois.
It's easy to see why, too, with Gavin Cromwell's gelding having a promising season. In fact, he won his debut start over fences at Galway with Ultima 3rd Meetingofthewaters back in 4th.
After that, he fell at Cork in a Grade 3 novice chase won by Letsbeclearaboutit. He was still in touch with the leaders and going well when falling three out.
A poor run over Christmas was followed up by a promising one back at Leopardstown at February's Dublin Racing Festival. He had won at the meeting the year before and was challenging for the lead when falling at the last. It was too soon to tell if he would have won but he would have gone extremely close.
After a few months off, he finished 2nd in a novice handicap chase at Punchestown in May, presumably to keep himself fit and give him a clear round of jumping.
Back at a track he's finished 1st and 2nd at, and over a further distance, he has a massive chance if his jumping holds out.
In Excelsis Deo
Another JP McManus contender is 2nd favourite In Excelsis Deo for Harry Fry. This son of Saddex has had a remarkably consistence season having form figures at Cheltenham of 3251. The 5th was out of 21 at the Cheltenham Festival when only beaten four lengths.
As mentioned, all those performances have gone at Cheltenham so it will be interesting if this six year old can perform equally well at the polar opposite Galway, a sharp right handed track.
One would be hopeful, however, given In Excelsis Deo's performance at Sandown in February. Although he unseated, he had joined the leader when coming down at the last so he clearly can race away from Prestbury Park. The only negative may be his handicap mark.
Whilst Percival Legallois’ falls have saved his handicap mark, In Excelsis Deo's consistent performances have ruined his as he's shot up 12lb's in the ratings since the beginning of the season. He will have to show he can fire from a new top on Wednesday.
Let's go Champ
Next up in the betting is Henry de Bromhead's Lets go Champ for the Brookhouses. Still technically a novice over fences, this son of Jeremy only shed his maiden tag over fences last time out at Punchestown.
However, given that was on the 1st May, he still retains his novice status. That was in a Grade 3 Handicap chase, a race very similar to this one, with horses like Seddon, Adamantly Chosen, Jetoile and James Du Berlais all in behind.
It was the first time he had encountered good ground all season, something which bodes well for this July race. He shot up 9lb's in the ratings for that, but he is very lightly raced, having only raced eight times over hurdles and fences in his career.
He has some smart form behind Embassy Gardens, Nick Rockett and Fact to File, all whom are 150+ horses, so there's reason to believe he can improve again. If he turns up again in similar form, he should be very hard to beat.
Amirite
Another Henry de Bromhead contender is the admirably consistent Amirite. This son of Sholokhov turned up in some of the most competitive handicaps last year finishing 5th both in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown over Christmas as well as the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown at the end of the season.
He was most recently seen finishing 2nd in the Midlands National at Kilbeggan only a few weeks ago behind Idas Boy. He was rallying there over 3m 1f and both Sandown and Leopardstown were over 3m. That conspires to cause a worry over the drop back to 2m 6f on a sharp track like Galway.
Nevertheless, his mark is only 2lb higher than it was in October, and he they can make the most use of his stamina, than this race fit eight year old has a big chance.
Galway Plate Date
The Galway Plate takes place at 7.10pm on Wednesday 31st July at Galway racecourse. The race will be broadcast live on RTE and Racing TV.
Galway Plate Tips
Of the market leaders Perceval Legallois and Lets Go Champ stand out. Gavin Cromwell's course winner is particularly interesting with his falls saving his handicap mark. He looks like he can land a big pot one day over fences.
Nevertheless, Gordon Elliot's Zanahiyr ran a very promising race in the Turners at Cheltenham behind Grey Dawning and Ginny's Destiny and races here off a 5lb lower chase mark.
His two wins last season were both around right handed tracks and he has won three of his last four starts after 100+ day breaks. At 10/1 he looks the value play with conditions in his favour.
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