Galway Festival: day four

In Ireland the Galway Festival goes into its fourth day with maximum fields in almost every race. As we predicted on Monday, Dermot Weld has been the trainer to follow at the meeting and has already won 8 races. He has more good chances today, in particular with Prince Erik (Robbie Power) in the opening beginners chase at 14.50 CET, top-weight Hallie´s Comet (Pat Smullen) in the fillies handicap at 16.35 and Force of Habit (Smullen), who won over hurdles on Monday, in the 1 1/2 mile handicap at 18.30. Weld´s runner in the main event, the Guinness Galway Hurdle, a 2 mile handicap, is New Phase (Andrew McNamara) but this is a red hot race with 250,000 euros in added money. Bahrain Storm (Pat Flynn/ Shay Barry) won this last year and was a recent winner at Tipperary, but is up in the weights; Overturn (Donald McCain/ Graham Lee) is having a fantastic run, winning the Northumberland Plate on the flat last time and had great hurdles form beforehand, but has also been severely puni shed by the handicapper. Dirar (Gordon Elliott/ Barry Geraghty) is also in good form in both codes and looks greatly improved, while Christy Roche´s Lethal Weapon represents yesterday´s winning Galway Plate team of owner JP McManus and jockey Tony McCoy.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Prince Erik - Chicago Grey - Bronte Bay
2. Race: Beau Michael - Adajal - Tribes And Banner
3. Race: Luttrell Lady - Home Secretary - Designated Decoy
4. Race: Miss Eze - Intapeace - Smart Striking
5. Race: Cooper`S Crest - Bacher Boy - St Devote
6. Race: Overturn - Dirar - Bahrain Storm
7. Race: Force Of Habit - Strandfield Lady - Dusty Trail
8. Race: Johny`S Lantern - Total Pleasure - The Bishop`S Day