Big Generator pictured on his way to victory over hurdles at Tipperary last month© Photo Healy Racing
The Live The Dream With Tote Galway Plate Trial Handicap Steeplechase over two and a half miles is the feature on Sunday at Tipperary and gives trainers a chance to get their stayers into Ballybrit's lucrative big race.
Paul Nolan 's Big Generator is in terrific form after banking a handicap hurdle at this track and a handicap chase at Wexford on his last two appearances. He Is now on a career-high chasing mark of 113, but lurks towards the bottom of the weights on 10st 8lb in this competitive affair.
Nolan said: "He's an absolute star and we are very pleased with his last two efforts. He just wasn't right last year, he wasn't 100 per cent and it affected his jumping. His owner Jim Mernagh has been patient with him and got a lot of work done on his back and it has paid off.
"I think he could be a bit better going left-handed. Any time he has won he has been all out so you would have to wonder if he can win beyond his mark of 113. I'm hoping he'll run a big race. 'Puppy' (Robert) Power gave him a great ride the last two days.
"It's unfortunate he is suspended, but Paul Townend is a top-class jockey." Rohan's Pride has been a tremendous asset for trainer Robert Honner, who only took out his licence in March.
He won the Bishopscourt Cup at Punchestown before following up in Downpatrick. A runner-up finish in Limerick's Galway Plate Trial appears to have left him spot on for Sunday's task.
Honner said: "We were in at the deep end in Limerick and we are in deeper again on Sunday.
"Wouldn't it be a dream to have a horse to go to Galway with? I had seen this race for him and Andrew McNamara rang me about it and backed me up. He seemed very positive about it and thought that going left-handed and two and a half miles might suit him better.
"There were very few options for him when he was rated 123 after Downpatrick. If you want to have a shot at the Galway Plate then you have to run here. You have to earn your right to go there. It's a very competitive race on Sunday, but we'll be trying our best. If he wins that and we get in the Galway Plate we'd go there.
"He has come out of his Limerick race fresh. It didn't take too much out of him. Andrew gave him a clever ride. A horse carrying a lighter weight (On The Way Out) caught him out after the last. I'm not concerned that the run will be too soon after Limerick as he's an older mature horse who is becoming a seasoned campaigner and Limerick didn't take a lot out of him."
Dundalk specialist Shake The Bucket is pitched into this company after scoring in a novice chase at Wexford last month over two-miles-three. He has been awarded a rating of 116 and his handler Niall Madden said: "I'm hoping he is well handicapped. He won a point-to-point as a four-year-old. He gets two and a half miles really well and should get three miles no bother. He loves quick ground and has a sporting chance."
John Kiely has booked Johnny Burke to take 5lb off On The Way Out who beat Rohan's Pride in Limerick. Slieveardagh who won this race last year for Edward O'Grady and Barry Geraghty, comes back for more but has top-weight of 11st 10lb to overcome.
Noel Meade and Dessie Hughes are represented by Westhaven and Sugar Bullet respectively. They both have a mark of 104 and are at the foot of the weights.
