Nurburgring seeking a place in Galway Festival history

Last year’s Guinness Galway Hurdle winner Nurburgring could bid to become the first horse since Ansar to complete the big Galway Festival double as the Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding is among 32 entries for the €270,000 Tote Galway Plate on Wednesday, July 30.

Nurburgring drew clear at the last to beat Ndaawi by seven lengths in the Guinness Galway Hurdle 12 months ago and the five-year-old was last seen going down by just a neck in the 2m4f Ascot Stakes last month.

Dermot Weld’s Ansar won the Hurdle in 2001 and the Plate in both 2004 and 2005.

O'Brien has also entered Common Practice while others to catch the eye include Cheltenham Festival winner Jazzy Matty and Galway Festival regular Jesse Evans, who has filled the runner-up spot twice in the Hurdle.

Numerically, Gordon Elliott leads the way with ten entries including last year’s second and third, Duffle Coat and Zanahiyr, plus the McHale Mayo National Handicap Chase winner Western Fold.

Arctic Fly, Blood Destiny and Olympic Man are three of Willie Mullins’ seven entries, while Henry de Bromhead has entered his Kilmurray's Homevalue Hardware Mullingar Midlands National winner Amirite, with Cheltenham Festival runners-up Anyway and Thecompanysergeant there for Ken Budds and Gavin Cromwell respectively.

Ndaawi could bid to go one better than last year as he is among 30 entries for the Guinness Galway Hurdle which again carries total prizemoney of €270,000 on Thursday, July 31.

The Elliott-trained gelding again filled the runner-up spot last time in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival while the Cullentra team are also represented by Relieved Of Duties and recent winners Casheldale Lad and Bowensonfire.

Mullins’ seven entries include Tounsivator, Blue Lemons and Gaucher while Cheltenham Festival winner Puturhandstogether is one to keep in mind for Joseph O’Brien.

Three trainers have made two entries each. Jessie Evans, twice a runner-up in the race, and the Group 1 Flat scorer Helvic Dream have been entered by Noel Meade, while Cromwell’s hopefuls are the Grade 1 Dublin Racing Festival scorer Hello Neighbour and Addragoole. Royal Hollow, a winner at the Killarney July Festival, and Sunchart are Andy Slattery’s pair.

There are two entries from across the Irish Sea with Fergal O’Brien’s six-time winner Dysart Enos and the Jonjo and AJ O’Neill-trained Wilful, a runner-up at the Punchestown Festival, both engaged. Harry Rogers’ admirable veteran Lord Erskine and the Barry Connell-trained Enniskerry also make appeal.