Art Of Logistics, middle© Photo Healy Racing
Dessie Hughes is confident both Art Of Logistics and Golden Wonder are capable of making their presence felt in Wednesday's thetote.com Galway Plate.
Art Of Logistics heads ante-post lists following successive wins at Punchestown in May and June, but he has yet to win over further than two miles and two furlongs and he faces an extra half mile in the 200,000 euro feature.
Golden Wonder, on the other hand, is proven at the trip, having won over the course and distance in a beginners chase at last year's Galway Festival, but Hughes admits his Irish Grand National runner-up would prefer more testing conditions.
"The thing is I want good ground for Art Of Logistics and I want cut in the ground for the other horse. I'm sure they'll water overnight and the ground will be safe, so hopefully Golden Wonder will handle it all right. He does need some cut," said the trainer.
"Art Of Logistics goes there in good form and nothing he's been doing suggests he won't stay. He looked beaten four out at Punchestown the last day over two miles and two, but he ended up winning well. If he does get the trip he'd have to have a serious chance.
"Golden Wonder is a course and distance winner and he's the right horse for the job as long as the ground is all right."
JP McManus has won the race on six occasions, including the last two with Bob Lingo and Carlingford Lough, and this year the leading owner has seven runners in the field of 22, plus second reserve Jacksonslady
McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said: "It's great to have a few runners in the race and fingers crossed the ground is safe for them all. Kid Cassidy has top-weight with Jody McGarvey taking 5lb off. He has plenty of weight, but he's a decent horse on his day and it's the right race for him.
"Alderwood has had a bit of a stop-start season, but Tom Mullins is happy with him coming into the race and AP (McCoy) has chosen him, so hopefully he gives him a good spin.
"Vulcanite likes good ground and won his last race over fences in Market Rasen well, but I thought he got a big enough penalty. He'll like the ground, though, and hopefully he'll run well for Noel Fehily.
"Quantitativeeasing ran a cracker to finish second last year, Enda (Bolger) is very happy with him and hopefully he'll run a good race. Rum And Butter probably has his share of weight for what he's done, but hopefully he'll go well. It's A Gimme won the Summer Plate in Market Rasen well the other day. We'd probably prefer another week or two, but it's a big pot and it's worth a go.
"Wise Old Owl ran a cracker in this a few years ago, but he hasn't had much racing since. We're just keeping out fingers crossed for a good run. "
