Galway Festival: third day

The Galway card today is in the afternoon and jumps racing takes centre stage. The first 3 races are over hurdles, while the main event is the Galway Plate, a valuable handicap chase over 2 3/4 miles at 18.30 CET. This is always one of the most fiercely contested races of the year and with 22 runners looks wide open. Leading owner JP McManus always launches a major challenge here and has no fewer than 7 runners (plus one reserve). His main jocley AP McCoy rides Tom Mullins´Alderwood and he will probably start favourite. But we also like Quantitiveeasing (Enda Bolger/ Barry Geraghty), who was runner-up last year, while our Irish colleague advises Road to Riches (Noel Meade/ SA Shortall), who runs in colours of McManus´ great rival Gigginstown Stud (Michael O´Leary).
Dermot Weld could be in for another good day. He can take the opening maiden hurdle with Tandem /Robbie McNamara) and on the flat he has good chances with Moonbi Creek at 19.05, Sarafiyla at 19.40 and Brooch half an hour later, all partnered by stable jockey Pat Smullen, and in the amateur riders race with Whitey O´Gwuan (F. Maguire) at 17,45.


Betting forecast:
1. Race: Tandem - Most Peculiar - Tawseef
2. Race: Beach Of Falesa - Ballychorus - Queen Alphabet
3. Race: Greatness - The Black Russian - Golden Ticket
4. Race: Little King Robin - Thomas Wedgwood - Break My Mind
5. Race: Alderwood - Art Of Logistics - Burn And Turn
6. Race: Badger Daly - Moonbi Creek - Beau Satchel
7. Race: Sarafiyla - Spring Focus - Kings Ryker
8. Race: Brooch - Duchess Andorra - Gradatim