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Preview galway 29th Jul

Tue 28th Jul 2009, 17:50

The biggest race of the Galway Festival takes place on day three, with a full field of 22 going for the William Hill Galway Plate.

Tony Martin has Royal County Star, Northern Alliance and Green Mile as he bids for his first win in the race, but head of the home challenge could be Noel Meade's Jaamid.

However, Paul Nicholls sent Oslot over from Ditcheat to scoop the prize last year and he has another likely candidate this term in Roby De Cimbre.

Though his win in a Newton Abbot novice chase is a world away from this contest, he is open to any amount of improvement and looks on a handy weight.

The meeting kicks off at 2pm with the William Hill In Ireland Novice Hurdle, in which both Grangeclare Gold and Tawaagg go in search of a hat-trick.

The former has had to work hard for her two wins over timber, so Willie Mullins' Tawaagg, who stayed on really well at Downpatrick last time, may just have the edge.

Mullins has claims of Flat success in the William Hill 1800 333 555 Handicap with Havetoavit, but the master of the Galway Festival, Dermot Weld, has entered Teach Nua

Third on four successive occasions on the level, he had two spins over hurdles before winning Tuesday's opener over the jumps and will again sport blinkers.

Weld just missed out on victory at Leopardstown with Precious Gem, who looks the one to be on in the williamhill.com-vegas Maiden.

Beaten a neck and a short head last time, the Sadler's Wells filly could have the measure of Curragh fourth Maurice Utrillo and the more experienced Karma Lina.

Takeover Bid is interesting on his return to turf after a fruitful spell on the all-weather in the William Hill Irish Sports Book 2009 Handicap, while the williamhill.com-poker Handicap could be between last-time-out winners Steig and Young Lochinvar.