'I wish it was Galway tomorrow, he's in such good form' - Eoin McCarthy on Shadow Paddy

Trainer Eoin McCarthy is hopeful that Shadow Paddy will put his best foot forward in next week's Galway Festival in the Grade 3 Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Steeplechase.

He is two from two over fences and was an impressive winner in Killarney on his latest start when given a confident ride by jockey Gary Noonan, who let his market rivals go on in front before picking up the pack coming to the second last and jumping well at the last to secure victory by four lengths.

When Eoin McCarthy spoke to Niall Tierney of IrishRacing.com, he was keen to explain the importance of that run in Killarney with a view to Galway.

McCarthy praises Shadow Paddy's temperament

McCarthy said: "He's a horse we hold in high regard. We were in the Old Vic yesterday in the Curragh and you see the likes of Joseph O'Brien, Henry de Bromhead and Willie Mullins bringing the volume of horses they have. It's so competitive in Ireland and especially at the Galway Festival. It is so hard to win but we're looking forward to next week.

"When we brought him over to Aintree we genuinely thought we had a good chance of placing but it just didn't happen on the day, and that's the beauty of having patient owners. They just gave him a bit of time to fill his frame and he is starting to do that.

"The ground will suit, he likes that good ground. I suppose his temperament is his best attribute. Gary Noonan just says he is so relaxed and then when he needs him, he's always there. For a trainer it's hard to watch as you are always worried he's not travelling well at the start, but that's just him, he warms into it.

"I wish it was Galway tomorrow, he's in such good form. We'll have about six horses going down to Galway and look, we feel they'll all have chances, so I'm looking forward to it."