Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle preview There will not be a dry eye in the house if Sweet My Lord can deliver a poignant victory for the late Colm Murray in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Galway tomorrow. One of Ireland's best-known racing broadcasters, Murray passed away earlier this week at the age of 61 following a three-year battle against motor neurone disease. Galway racegoers observed a minute's silence before the start of the Galway Festival on Monday and now the Willie Mullins-trained Sweet My Lord, a horse part-owned by Murray, goes for victory in the feature on day six. Sweet My Lord is one of four runners in the race for the champion trainer, with Security Breach, Balnaslow and Call Me Bubbles also in the line-up. Some of the other contenders are detailed below. John O'Shea (Novarov) "The rain has come in time for him anyway and he's in there with a nice racing weight (10st 10Ib) with the top one (Carlito Brigante) staying in. "There are probably plenty of them under him in the handicap that still look well-in. "He is a course winner and though he'd like a little bit further but the rain that has come will be a big help and he's in good form." Gillian Callaghan (Ongenstown Lad) "He's in good form but I'd suppose the ground really isn't ideal for him. Having said that he won on soft ground at Gowran Park. "He's coming back to himself. He got a bad fall in Gowran Park over fences. That set his confidence his back. "The first-time tongue-strap should help as well especially on that ground. "I'd be optimistic for a nice run. You need plenty of luck down there with the big fields and everything. "If he gets back to close to the form that he had three years ago over hurdles he should run well." Michael McElhone (Dooney Rock) "He has blinkers on for the first time as he's very laid-back. I didn't want to put them on him the other day (4th behind Victrix Gale here on Wednesday) because I had a slight doubt about him getting three miles on that ground. "He's back to his winning distance now so we've put them on. He's certainly more enthusiastic with them at home. "I keep asking the jockeys and none of them say he's un-genuine but he's just lazy. "He's as hard as nails but he's absolutely been persecuted with niggly little injuries all along and he should have scored a lot more than the two goals that he's scored. He's just had heaps of stuff to overcome. "Hopefully conditions will be in his favour but obviously it's a better race. "We walked him in the water this morning and he was fine. He splashed about, came back and has eaten up since he came home so we're looking forward to it." Jim Culloty (Cry For The Moon) "He was unlucky in running on Monday (6th in the amateur handicap). He seems very well and hopefully the ground will dry out a small bit." Rodger Sweeney (Shamiran and Fiery Oscar) "Shamiran is not here that long. He needed the run that he had for us (6th on the all-weather) before he attempted to go to Galway. "We thought we might get into the amateur handicap on Monday evening but we didn't – we were second reserve. "He has to take his chance tomorrow where the ground and trip will suit him. He's a very very tough horse. I'd hope he'll put in a big run. "Fiery Oscar has come on in leaps and bounds. Where else am I to go with him – he's rated 127 now and over hurdles anyway there isn't too many more places he can go. "Hopefully they'll both run well as they both like a stamina test."
