Galway's new Clerk of the Course once trained a winner at the festival: 'We will try to have the ground kind and fair'

Local Galway man and new Clerk of the Course at Ballybrit, Shane Ryder, is looking forward to overseeing his first Galway Festival.

The seven days of action are filled with mixed cards and famous races such as the Galway Plate, Galway Hurdle and the Colm Quinn BMW Mile.

Former trainer Shane, who once saddled a winner at the festival, talks about how he got into the role and his excitement for next week, along with what the ground looks set to be.

Trainer-turned-Clerk

"I'm delighted to be in this job. I suppose I was getting to a stage where I was looking at the future for a more secure role. I also got my degree in Limerick if I need that to fall back on, but I thoroughly enjoyed training horses.

"It's hard to find staff and numbers and this role came up. I was working with the IHRB in point-to-points and then when the Galway job came up they encouraged me to go for it and I got it, which was brilliant.

"I still do a bit of breaking and pre-training but I'm delighted with this job. I have more time now to go to matches and so on with my kids, which is a huge thing.

Welfare and safety paramount

"Looking to next week, it's exciting. Galway is its own machine. I must commend the ground staff, they are there all the time working tirelessly to get it right and they have done a great job. It's not a one-man role, I'm just a cog in the wheel.

"As a trainer I probably didn't appreciate the job the ground staff and IHRB do. I have huge admiration since. Galway is unique with the mixed cards but Lorcan and his team did great work and I don't plan on changing too much. We will try to have the ground kind and fair.

"My role as the Clerk of the Course is to ensure the welfare and safety of every horse and rider. Every decision has a huge amount of thought put into it.

'Watering away'

"Forecasts are looking dry and we have been watering away. I suppose with this month of weather it's been more difficult but, look, in hindsight everything is easier. Even Met Éireann can't predict it and sometimes you do need a crystal ball.

"In Ireland we have over 400 race meetings on 26 racecourses so it's important there's a true and fair racing surface every time, which does require good and proper management.

"If we were to race tomorrow the National Hunt track would read good and the Flat would read good to yielding. Look, we have to be mindful we could get rain earlier but it looks like it's being pushed back, so we just have to be ready for whatever happens.

"There's been months of planning done by the team here and they have done an amazing job. Technology is getting better, watering systems are getting better and, look, once again we want to ensure the safety of everyone participating and that's what we will do.

"I'm looking forward to next week."