The jumps action takes centre stage for the next two days
and the first of the showcase races is the www.thetote.com Galway Plate
Handicap Chase over the 2m6f trip.
A field of 22 are declared and the weights are headed by Follow The Plan. He is a difficult
horse to get a handle on, beaten at Gowran Park by 27 lengths before going on
to win the Betfred Bowl at Aintree in convincing fashion.
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| Out Now (27) finishing 2nd in the Irish Grand National (photo: Meath Chronicle) |
He is a three time winner at the highest level over fences
and has had many the fellow Grade1 winners in his trail. Even though he is a
high class horse in the spring and preferably on good ground he has never won a
handicap of any description from seven attempts.
It would be ludicrous to write him off and there would be
worse bets at 20/1 but he will do well to concede almost a stone all round and
is passed over.
Last year’s runner up Wise
Old Owl has not been seen since and that has to be a negative in a race of
this nature. He gets the assistance of Tony McCoy whose last winner at Galway
was in this very race in 2010.
The horse is a model of consistency and his only run outside
of the first two home came on his racecourse debut. He has avoided soft ground
in his career so far so whether or not he will handle it is a question mark.
Willie Mullins gained his first victory in the race last
year with Blazing Tempo and this time around Blackstairmountain, a Grade1 winning novice at Leopardstown at
Christmas and a good record on soft or heavy going as is anticipated in this
race he is a worthy favourite and looks sure to be in the frame.
The only doubt is whether he stays 2m6f. He has finished second
on two occasions at 2m4f, despite them being against very good rivals he did
shut down completely in the final 100 yards on both of them when apparently
having the race won. I imagine he will be ridden patiently and his is a solid
one for each way insurance.
One who has been well support since Monday is Out Now, he was available at 16/1 just
last Saturday and now is half that price. He was second in the Irish Grand
National when not getting home over near a mile further than this.
Barry Geraghty will be wasting to make the 10 stone two
pound weight and that must be taken as a sign of confidence. He is versatile
regarding ground, distance and racing position so he looks a solid prospect and
getting weight from all his main rivals he could be the one to give Edward
O’Grady victory here.
The trainer also has one time Champion Hurdle second Osana who ran well to come second at
Kilbeggan 12 days ago. He has much less weight on his back this time and with
David Casey who seems to pop up on big handicap winners with a degree of
regularity he must be respected.However, no horse older than 10 has won the Plate in the
past decade.
JP Mc Manus shoots six bullets at the €120,400 first prize. Other
than Wise Old Owl and Osana he has Bob
Lingo, Alpine Eagle, Shot From The Hip and last and by no means least Harolds Cross.
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| JP McManus: Mob Handed in Plate |
With JP McManus horses you never quite know which one will
have his day but there can only be one winner. If the last reserve Harold’s
Cross gets in he is a very interesting contender. Rewind 12 months and he would
have come here a strongly fancied contender after winning three in a row by
wide margins and he is just the kind of sleeper that so often wins these for JP.
Fellow leading Irish owner and business man Michael O’Leary has
the ‘meagre’ three entries in comparison. Carlito
Brigante ran horribly last time and I think he lacks the experience over
fences. Campbonnais is a consistent
performer in contests of a similar nature and the ground will pose no problems
under a useful jockey claiming five pounds but he may lack the class to win.
His Excellency is
the last of his trio and despite his tail swishing antics he is by no means the
50/1 shot he is priced as. However being only a four year old it would be a
sensational performance to win this for a horse of his age.
Noel Meade has a poor record in this race but his
representative Cross Appeal has the
form to win this. Before the turn of 2012 he won the big handicap at
Leopardstown, the Paddy Power Chase. His only run since was pulled up in the
Irish Grand National.
Like many in the line up he cannot be ruled out completely
but his trainer having not won a Galway steeplechase in the last five years is
a major negative. Meade has three runners but while all are useful there are
better options.
Oliver McKeirnan has Whodoyouthink
as well as Follow The Plan. He could hardly have been more impressive at
Punchestown at the end of May. The trainer said afterwards that good ground is
important to him but it is far from that here. He destroyed respectable rivals
that day and if he could repeat that on this testing ground he would surely be
the strongest of contenders.
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| Deal Done: could run well at a big price (photo: The Sun) |
Daffern Seal is a
non runner on account of the ground so Dermot Weld is represented by Prince Erik, and frankly barring divine
intervention has slim chance of victory. No matter what distance he races at he
appears to need further and is a frustrating sort.
Front runners generally do very well in this race and Deal Done is one who could run well at
a big price. He has been aimed at some similar contests before over further and
not stayed but I think the track and distance could suit him ideally.
He goes on any ground and although he is unlikely to be good
enough to win, on testing ground where many may not get into it, he will be up
front and can hold out for a place.
Following much deliberation it is probably best to stick
with the horses who have proven form in higher class races and for win purposes
it looks to lie between OUT NOW and Blackstairmountain with preference for
the first named given he is proven over longer distances.
Verdict: Out Now –
Blackstairmountain – Deal Done
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