Galway Plate and Hurdle Ante-Post Betting Preview

Henry De Bromhead is one of the best target trainers around and having won the Galway Blazers with ON FIDDLERS GREEN (best price 10-1) at last year’s meeting, one would assume that the Knockeen handler has had this valuable prize on his mind for his charge ever since.

On only his fourth start from his Co Waterford base, the son of Stowaway managed to claim his most notable success so far to date, and given the way he jumped and travelled before powering up the hill that day, he’s clearly struck up an early affinity with the unique slopes of Ballybrit. Disappointing on his next start after a break a Limerick, the seven-year-old bounced back to his very best form on his latest outing when accounting for a strong field in the Connacht National at Roscommon and although the Lenebane venue is a fairly tight track, he did at least prove that he stays three miles well under testing conditions. Indeed, most of the previous winners of the Galway Plate have proven themselves over further than 2m 4f and as the West coast of Ireland can also be a magnet for rain at this time of year, he won’t have too much to fear if the ground rides on the testing side come 5.35 next Wednesday. Usually ridden by Davy Russell, the participation of top-weight Ballycasey will have a huge bearing on whether the crack Irish pilot will take the ride (10st 7lb usually lowest riding weight nowadays) and if that does turn out to be the case (also needs seven to drop out to make the cut), the continued association between the pair will count for plenty when space is at a premium and eying up a stride is so important around this helter-skelter track.

All in all, the lightly-raced bay gelding arrives here at the peak of his powers, representing a stable that won this race two years ago, with solid form at the track and potentially a jockey in the plate that is pound for pound one of the best big-race pilots around. Impervious to all ground conditions, he looks sure to run a big race barring accidents and he makes plenty of each-way appeal at his early double-figure quotes.

If the main selection doesn’t get in, then De Bromhead still has a solid alternative in the shape of Balko Des Flos. In-keeping with the profile of the last three winners of this race, the son of Balko is a second-season novice who has form in Graded races over fences and his latest effort when a creditable third in a hugely competitive novices’ handicap at the Punchestown Festival suggests the handicapper hasn’t got his measure just yet.

Without question, Joseph O’Brien is the hottest trainer in Ireland at present and he looks to have a very strong hand in this year’s renewal of this prestigious prize in the shape of TIGRIS RIVER (best price 8-1) and Plinth.

Winner of a maiden hurdle over the C&D back in 2015, connections clearly laid out the former for last season’s big race as he was one of the best backed horses in the ante-post lists. Sent off 8-1 on the day, the six-year-old looked like justifying the money in his direction when coming with what looked to be a potent threat rounding the home turn, but in the end, he couldn’t quite match the finishing burst of several that swept by him on the run-in and he eventually had to settle for an honourable fifth. Judged by his lack of activity subsequently, the J.P McManus-owned gelding appears to have been saved especially for the 300.000euro pot once again, but unlike twelve months ago, he seems to be arriving here bang on top of his game. An easy winner of a competitive race on the Flat at the Curragh two starts ago, he proved his wellbeing by sauntering to victory in a conditions race over 2m 4f over hurdles at Bellewstown last time out, interestingly, running the last circuit two seconds quicker than the 2m handicap won by Timiyan, who is also prominent in the ante-post lists for this race. On each occasion, he exhibited a higher cruising speed than he’s done previously and if you add that weapon together with his yard form and ability to handle the track, and it’s easy to make a strong case for the son of Montjeu finally landing the big pot he’s always threatened to capture. The booking of the returning Barry Geraghty – who has a choice between Tigris River and 2014 winner Thomas Edison – would put the icing on the cake.