Ballybrit`s best

Brian O`Connor`s brief guide to Galway`s main events

Monday

The feature is the GPT Handicap for amateur riders, but for punters, Day One revolves around Dermot Weld`s pick for the seven furlong maiden. It is almost written in stone that Weld (pictured right) wins the race and his runner is usually backed to the exclusion of anything else.

Faadhil could be the pick this year after a reasonable debut fifth at the Curragh but bear in mind the standard of juvenile Aidan O`Brien has taken to running at Galway in recent years. Aristotle, Sunspangled and Hemingway all made their debut at Galway and won.

The GPT won`t look the same without Gamekeeper, who won the race for the last two years. However, his trainer Pat Hughes has entered the ex-English High Prospect, who won a pair of flat handicaps within six days in early June.

Tuesday

The McDonogh Handicap is the one black-type flat race of the entire week but that didn`t stop Sheer Tenby springing a 20 to 1 shock last year. He`s back for another crack and the top English trainer Mark Johnston is pondering whether or not to run the Group Three winner Gateman. Dermot Weld has won the race six times already and Maumee, a former 2,000 Guineas fourth, ran a nice warm up race last time.

Even if he is out of luck in the big race, Weld still looks the man to follow in the seven-furlong maiden, a race that can cut up. But even if it doesn`t, Perfect Touch ran a good second to La Pieta at Naas on her only start and the expected improvement from that will make her hard to beat.

Wednesday

The Plate is the most important steeplechase of the summer and one of the most competitive at any time. The bookies can get a screamer here: just think back to Dovaly (20-1) two years ago, The Gooser (25-1) 10 years ago and the 40-1 Master Player in 1984. Taking short prices is a risky business most of the time and the value in the ante-post gamble Torduff Boy is gone.

Rathbawn Prince has top weight again and Kilcash Castle, a rare chase runner for Aidan O`Brien who won the Plate twice with Life Of A Lord, has a low weight for a reason. One to keep on the right side of could be Hill Society, who ran a nice warm-up race on the flat under Mick Kinane recently.

Thursday

It looks as open a Galway Hurdle as there has been in a long time and it`s unlikely there will be a short-priced winner such as the 4-1 Camden Buzz or the 9-4 Athy Spirit in the 1990s.

Timber King won his warm-up at Tipperary and, with the names McManus and Roche next to his name, he will be a popular fancy. Balapour is still an under-rated horse despite an Ulster Derby win and a Grade One placing over hurdles. Given good ground, he may be a value option and his popular trainer Oliver Brady in full-cry would be the sight of the week.