As expected Overturn has been taken out of the Guinness Galway Hurdle leaving Bahrain Storm to head the weights on 11st10lb after a maximum field of 20 runners were declared this morning.
Bahrain Storm, winner of the €260,000 showpiece in 2009, is favourite for today's www.thetote.com Galway Plate and will presumably only line up if something goes wrong early on in the "Plate".
The Real Article, officially 18lb well-in following a highly promising if also controversial short-head second to Captain Cee Bee at Tipperary recently, is sure to go off favourite with Paddy Mangan again in the saddle.
Other leading fancies Dirar, Hidden Universe, Fosters Cross and Plan A are also declared, while first reserve Princeton Plains (successful here on Tuesday) would get in if Bahrain Storm fails to run.
Captain Cee Bee represents owner J P McManus along with Silverhand, Alderwood and Princeton Plains, and his racing manager Frank Berry said, "We're hoping Captain Cee Bee is a bit better treated over hurdles than fences."
"In an ideal world, Overturn would have come over, but he's not and we've ended up with top weight. But he's in good form and he has come out of the Tipperary race very well. He should come on a bit from that and should give a good account of himself, but it's a tough task with that weight.
"Alderwood won nicely at Killarney the other day and the penalty just gets him in. He's in good old form and this is a big step up in class for him, but you never know."
Tom Mullins trains Alderwood as well as the interesting Fosters Cross, an impressive winner of the feature Amateur Riders Flat handicap here on Monday night.
"Fosters Cross has come out of the race on Monday absolutely fine and he'll take his chance again tomorrow," said the trainer.
"He must have a good shout if he can carry that form back to hurdling. He obviously likes the track as he's won there a couple of times.
"He was running well in this two years ago when he fell at the last under a big weight. Everything seems positive, he carries a nice weight, and the ground suits.
"Alderwood creeps in nicely and has got some experience. I'm surprised he's such a big price. I suppose the ground might be a tad quick for him, but he's in rare old form and there is some rain forecast."
As well as winning the Ebor, Dirar finished third behind Overturn in this race last summer. Trainer Gordon Elliott is confident of bold shows from him and Plan A.
"This has been the plan for Dirar all year and he's in good form. Barry Geraghty rides him and we're looking forward to it," said Elliott.
"He was third last year and has had a couple of runs on the Flat this season. If he can go one place better, we'd be delighted.
"Plan A is probably not that well handicapped but he's in good form and will love the ground. With a bit of luck he could run into a bit of prize-money."
Jessica Harrington is equally optimistic about the chances of recent Curragh winner Gimli's Rock as he returns to hurdling.
"I'm very happy with him. He seems to be in good form and he'll love the ground," said Harrington.
"He won very well at the Curragh and this has been the aim ever since. He's a hardened campaigner and has won around Galway before, which is always a help."
Alan Magee
