Speckled Wood© Photo Healy Racing
The best the JP McManus seven could manage in the Galway Plate on Wednesday was 10th place but the champion owner could land a consolation prize in Friday's Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase.
Three riders will don the famous the green and gold in the 22-runner, two-and-three-quarter-mile affair and as their mounts all arrive off absences, it looks like this long-standing contest has been targeted.
The 2012 Plate hero Bob Lingo is 12 now and may struggle, whilst Tom Horn s recent form figures aren't altogether inspiring.
As a daughter of that brilliant racemare Like-A-Butterfly, Speckled Wood has always garnered plenty of attention. The McManus-owned six-year-old is talented in her own right and she holds strong claims to take the prize for trainer Christy Roche and rider Alan Crowe.
English raiders Rockiteer and Me And Ben (for Galway owner Michael Fahy) obviously need respecting, as does Balbriggan on his first start for Gordon Elliott.
Two course specialists, namely Diplomat and Moon Dice are amongst a competitive looking field that will line up for the opening Guinness Handicap Hurdle. The former is preferred for Dermot Weld and Davy Russell.
Despite a wide draw in 12, the Weld representative in the Guinness 17:59 EBF Median Auction Maiden, Bleu Ciel Et Rouge is eyecatching. She was just touched off on her debut at Bellewstown four weeks ago and can go a place better now under Pat Smullen.
Meanwhile, there won't be many racegoers leaving before the concluding Guinness Race as it affords the public a second chance to see the very exciting Forgotten Rules clash with the 111-rated Festive Cheer and Shu Lewis (officially assessed as a 100-rated performer).
Like the aforementioned Bleu Ciel Et Rouge, Punchestown Festival bumper winner Forgotten Rules will represent Moyglare Stud Farm, Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen. He can now perhaps take the next step on the ladder to bigger things.
