51 Entered For GPT Amateur Handicap At Galway On Monday

The ?75,000 GPT Galway (QR) Handicap, which takes centre stage on the opening evening of next week's Galway Festival, has attracted an initial entry of 51 of whom four are trained by Dermot Weld.

Among the Rosewell House team for the two mile contest is last year's runner-up Le Leopard. Racing off what will be a three pound higher mark than when he took second behind Rockstown Boy, the five-year-old will be having his first start since running in the 2004 Irish Cesarewitch.

Athy Spirit in 1990 was the last horse to win this race and the Galway Hurdle in the same year and among those chasing the ?50,000 on offer to any horse that can win both races is the Tony Mullins-trained Emmpat. A two time winner over hurdles last month, he has previously run well in several bumpers at this meeting and is expected to go well. However his participation in the Hurdle depends on whether or not Accordion Etoile takes his chance.

Often the most intriguing race on the first day can be the GPT Access Equipment EBF Maiden, which has witnessed horses the calibre of Grey Swallow make a successful start to their careers, and the possibles for the seven furlong race include Marsam. Another Weld inmate, he made a highly encouraging start to his career when chasing home Heliostatic at the Curragh on Sunday.

The opening GPT Sligo Novice Hurdle has attracted a number of interesting sorts and among these is the Edward O'Grady-trained Akilana. Now owned by J P McManus she is a maiden on the flat but indicated that she could be a force to be reckoned with over jumps when second to Back In Front in a maiden at Navan last October.

Elsewhere, the betting for ?200,000 Hewlett-Packard Galway Plate is headed by the Eoin Griffin-trained Mirpour (7/1), who will be having his first run over fences since defeating fellow Plate hopeful Kickham at Tipperary last October. The six-year-old finished third in both the GPT Handicap and the Hurdle last year and was most recently placed on the flat at the Curragh on Derby weekend.

He is currently shading favouritism over Michael O'Brien's Banasan. The Marju gelding finished sixth last year but went on to win the Kerry National and warmed up for this with a comfortable success over hurdles at Fairyhouse. The 2004 winner, Ansar, holds engagements in both the Plate and Hurdle but Dermot Weld's charge has yet to be committed to either race.

The top weight Colca Canyon is far from certain to line-up, having been cast in his box earlier in the month, but in the event of his defection there will only be a three pound rise in the weights with Willie Mullins' Davenport Milenium looking likely to take his chance.

Steady support since the unveiling of the weights has seen Cloone River shorten into 5/2 favouritism in his bid for a repeat success in the Guinness Galway Hurdle.

The nine-year-old recently returned to action with a stylish victory in a mile and a half handicap at the Curragh and will carry the same weight (10st 7lbs) as last year if his stablemate Accordion Etoile takes part under the welter burden of 12st 4lbs. Only 12 horses are currently in the handicap proper and trainer Paul Nolan will leave a decision on the top weight's participation until next week.

Meanwhile Noel Meade's bid for a third victory in the race received a boost when Definate Spectacle (10/1), who heads his eight acceptors, defeated Tropical Lady to win a Premier handicap at Leopardstown last week.

Martin Pipe's Say What You See is reported by his owners, the Sharp Minds Betfair syndicate, to be on course in his bid to become the first English-trained winner since Sagaman prevailed in 1991. He hasn't run since finishing second to Definate Spectacle at Aintree.

Racegoers are being asked to allow plenty of time for their journey to the racecourse and to also arrive early. Gates open at 2.30 p.m. for the evening meetings, while entrance can be gained from 11 am for the afternoon fixtures.