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Galway Plate NAPs: 'I'm surprised that Darragh O'Keeffe picked Downmexicoway'
irishracing.com news
The Galway Plate may have been down on entries this year but it has shaped up to be a fascinating renewal nonetheless.
Galway specialist Jesse Evans is back for more, DownMexicoway is intriguing for the De Bromhead. Nowwhatdoyouthink makes his stable debutant for Gordon Elliott, a five-time winner of the race and two-horse trainer Vincent Halley saddles Senecia who has decent form in the book.
The Irish Angle team took a look ahead to Wednesday's feature race and gave their analysis. Watch last year's race above when Western Fold gave Elliott his fifth win in the race.
Johnny Ward
Rocky’s Diamond is my selection. Michael Kenneally has been booked for Declan Queally, which kind of renders his 143 even more attractive.
Michael is outstanding value for 5lb, and I’m going to tip him up anyway, I’d like it if the race were fought out by the smaller yards. It means so much to them.
With respect to Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins, the Galway Plate isn’t that big to them in the overall scheme of things.
They are winter trainers really, and as much as they’ll target this race, if the likes of Eoin Griffin were to win it, or Paul Gilligan, who has a horse with a squeak in Buddy One or even the likes of Charles Byrnes or Declan Queally, it would mean the world to them.
Paddy Flood
I’m surprised that Darragh O’Keeffe picked Downmexicoway but I’d say it was an absolute toss of a coin really. They’re pretty tight together in the market.
I like Gorgeous Tom rsquo;s profile. If you go back a couple of runs, he wasn’t beaten all that far in the Hennessy at Newbury and he kind of half missed the start that day, so I presume they’ll ride him much closer. Patrick O’Brien taking five off is no negative; that’s really good.
I couldn’t back the favourite at 4-1, just because of the style of racing and his lack of runs over fences.
A little horse I gave each-way was Three Card Brag he’s around 25/1. Kevin Healy is taking seven off him as well.
He is a nine-year-old, but he’s been around, and if you look at his run last year on the IrishRacing.com replays, you’ll see he got left at the start and got back into the race in spectacular fashion. He was virtually last.
He is a nine-year-old, but he’s been around, and if you look at his run last year on the IrishRacing.com replays, you’ll see he got left at the start and got back into the race in spectacular fashion. He was virtually last.
