Galway October Meeting: Key jockeys to follow The season is coming to an end at Galway, with just three days of racing left at the Ballybrit venue across the October Bank Holiday weekend. There's action from Galway on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with something to cater for all tastes. Indeed, Monday's seasonal finale already sees the 'sold out' signs up at the western outpost, with the Student Raceday once more proving incredibly popular. We're taking a look at some jockeys that could be worth following as the season-ending meeting at Galway takes place. Darragh O'Keeffe Lots of eyes will be on Darragh O'Keeffe this season as he is now the stable jockey at Henry De Bromhead's powerful yard in Waterford following the news that Rachael Blackmore was retiring from race-riding in May. O'Keefe was already a significant part of the jigsaw at Knockeen, but now has the pressure of being top rider. It doesn't appear to be weighing too heavily and he's enjoyed a productive summer, already going through the half-century of winners for the season and opening a lead of more than 20 on the likes of Jack Kennedy and Paul Townend in the Irish jockeys' championship with some €720,500 banked in prizemoney. Maintaining a lead on those illustrious rivals will be troublesome once Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullis begin to flex their muscles, but O'Keefe can be more than satisfied with his early-season work. Mark Walsh Retained rider for JP McManus in Ireland, Mark Walsh has been on the sidelines since the start of August due to a damaged vertebra. Last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey is slated to make his return at Galway on Saturday with a couple of rides on Centreofattention for Enda Bolger and Waterford Whispers for De Bromhead, while there could be more to come on Sunday. Walsh gained seven Grade 1 success last season, including Puturhandstogether, Fact To File and Dinoblue at the Cheltenham Festival alongside that memorable Gold Cup moment when the Gavin Cromwell-trained Inothewayurthinkin denied Galopin Des Champs his Blue Riband hat-trick. He had been targeting a November return, but has recovered quicker than anticipated and will head for Galway this weekend. Dylan Browne McMonagle Champion-elect Dylan Browne McMonagle retains command of the jockeys' championship heading into the weekend with a lead of seven over six-time reigning and defending champion Colin Keane. Their battle could go to the wire at the Curragh next Sunday and chances are starting to run out. Browne McMonagle has chances to stretch his lead at Dundalk on Friday evening, but Monday's eight-race Flat card at Galway could be huge in their title duel. Browne McMonagle's boss Joseph O'Brien holds a raft of entries on the card and the Donegal-born rider will be hoping he can build an unassailable lead before they land at Headquarters for the final day of the season on November 2nd.
