Connections to follow at Galway this weekend: Joey Sheridan is the one to watch

It has been a brilliant season for jockey Joey Sheridan, who has ridden with plenty of confidence. This confidence, along with the backing of the likes of Denis Hogan and Joseph O'Brien, has allowed him to ride some great horses, and it landed him a first Royal Ascot winner.

He's ridden two Galway Races winners this week and taking a look at the weekend, it looks like Joey will have plenty of opportunities again, and he's a man to keep on side. One of his greatest attributes is the way he can navigate horses through the tough Galway track.

His ride aboard Seven Nation Army was particularly good. For a two-year-old nursery, it's hard to get these slightly immature horses to settle, and the jockey managed to get the son of Counterattack to settle beautifully and held him together before delivering a fine late flurry to convincingly win.

In this sport, we are often quick to criticise and not quick enough to praise. Riding favourites in any race isn't easy, but around Galway it's even harder, and he delivered well.

Looking to the weekend, he has plenty of nice opportunities, beginning with the Joseph O'Brien-trained Zarak Pasha in the 16:27 on Saturday. The son of Zarak will be looking to build on a good debut in Killarney in what looks a deep race with the likes of City Of Dubai and Oklahoma.

In the 17:00, he rides favourite Gliondar who flew home on debut to be narrowly denied by the progressive Loughrea, who looks to be a useful asset going forward for Team Slattery.

In the 18:05 on Saturday, he rides Fratas for Joseph O'Brien, who ran well when second behind the impressive Venusienne over hurdles. He is again at the top of the market and looks to have a good chance on paper.

Moving to Sunday, Joey will ride the Ado McGuinness-trained Dark Ace in the 16:00 Ahonoora Premier Handicap, and he has every chance with it being trained by Ado McGuinness, whose horses are primed for the week in Ballybrit.

They are Joey Sheridan's rides for the weekend. As we have two cross-card meetings on the final two days, it looks like he will be adding to the two winners he currently has with some nice rides.

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Trainer to Watch Out for — Denis Hogan

Denis Hogan has enjoyed success this week with Frankie John, and his progressive filly Meriden was second in the Listed race yesterday.

Hogan's horses are running well, and he looks to have plenty of chances over the weekend.

On Saturday, he runs Tyson Fury in the 14:02 Maiden Hurdle, who looks to have a good each-way chance. He was second behind a potentially nice Willie Mullins horse in Early Dawning, and if backing up that performance, he will be competitive.

In the 14:37, he has Autumn Twist in the Handicap Hurdle. He was second behind Galway Hurdle winner Putapoundinthejar and with a run on the Flat this week already, he's sure to be competitive.

In the 15:52 on Saturday, he runs a filly called She Was The One who is currently priced at 20/1, and in the finale on Saturday, he has three darts at the race with Concert Party, Ephesus and Hexagonal with Hexagonal being a reserve but one that looks to have the best chance on paper.

On Sunday, he has one runner, Tassarolo, in the 13:50 with Liam McKenna riding. He has been competitive recently on the Flat and looks one that can improve, and he'll certainly have an each-way chance.

Owner to Follow — JP McManus

The legend that is JP McManus has enjoyed some success this season and with a nice bunch of horses to run over the weekend, he could add to that tally.

Starting on Saturday, he has the exciting Young Rebel in the Maiden Hurdle, who was a winner of a point-to-point and has since joined Emmet Mullins.

In the 15:12 on Saturday, he has Comfort Zone who was victorious this week already in the Connacht Hotel QR Race, and he looks to have an outstanding chance of making it a Galway double this week.

On Sunday, in the 14:55, his sole representative is the Gavin Cromwell-trained Journey So Far, who looked like fences were his forte with an extremely impressive display of jumping in Tipperary when victorious. He will definitely be competitive.