Healthy increase in Galway Plate entries delights track Officials at Galway have expressed their delight at the quality of entries for next week’s TheTote.com Galway Plate. The total entry of 58 horses for the Wednesday feature is an increase of 11 on last year and up 18 on the 2016 figure, with the likes of Henry de Bromhead, Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins all looking to hold strong hands. There are five entries from Britain with Nigel Twiston-Davies, David Pipe, Harry Fry, Neil Mulholand and Dr Richard Newland all bidding to emulate Paul Nicholls who sent over Oslot to win in the hands of Ruby Walsh in 2008. Galway general manager Michael Moloney said: “We are very excited about the 149th running of TheTote.com Galway Plate in its new evening slot and we are thrilled with the number of entries received for this great race. “While we have strong teams entered from Irish trainers like Henry de Bromhead, Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, it is great to see the entries from across the Irish Sea. “It takes a lot of hard work to win a Galway Plate and no doubt it will be another great horse that will win the 2018 renewal.” Click Here to see Galway Plate Entries Successful 12 months ago with Balko Des Flos, De Bromhead is chasing his third Plate success in four years and has put together a formidable team of seven horses for the summer’s chasing highlight. A winner with Shanahan’s Turn three years ago, and subsequent Cheltenham Festival Ryanair Chase hero Balko Des Flos last year, the County Waterford trainer’s entry is headed by Sub Lieutenant on 11st 10lb and Valseur Lido in 11st 5lb. Calino D’airy, twice a winner at Galway in October of last year, has 10st 11lb, while Conrad Hastings has 10st 7lb. Elliott has put one more than De Bromhead into the race with his 2016 winner Lord Scoundrel (10st 10lb) among his eight possibles, which is double his entry of last year. With 11st 1lb, Jury Duty has the most weight of the Elliott brigade, while after a 10lb rise for his success in the Midlands National Handicap Chase at Kilbeggan on Friday night, Timiyan is on 9st 12lb. Mullins has 13 horses in the race with Alelchi Inios and Ballycasey, second and third to Lord Scoundrel two years ago, on 11st 1lb and 10st 13lb respectively. Patricks Park, a winner at the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival and at the Punchestown Festival, has 10st 7lb, some 2lb higher than stablemate Blazer. Both Jessica Harrington and Noel Meade have made five entries. Neverushacon was a winner on the final day of last year’s Galway Festival for Harrington and will carry 10st 11lb after his runaway victory at Limerick earlier this month. Road To Riches gave Meade his sole Galway Plate success when winning in 2014 and has 10st 6lb, while the classy Snow Falcon is on 11st. Last year’s third, Slowmotion (10st 8lb) is one of four entries for Joseph O’Brien. Supreme Vinnie (9st 13lb) could yet represent trainer Denise O’Shea after his success in the Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase at Limerick earlier this month.
