Galway Plate Preview: More to come from Drum

The Galway Plate is usually one of the fiercest handicaps run in Ireland all season, and this year’s renewal looks no different, with bookmakers going 8/1 the field at the time of writing. As usual, the field is largely made up of more-experienced, top-end performers, but there are several unexposed types, who remain open to progress, too.

The Harry Fry-trained Drumcliff falls into the latter category, having had only five starts over fences so far, winning three times. He well and truly got back on track when scoring over two and a half miles at Uttoxeter at the end of May, winning with more in hand than the one-length margin suggests, and leaving the impression he is still not the finished article. Given connections, he has likely been saved with a big handicap pot like this in mind, and odds of around 14/1 look fair for a horse who will be suited by this step up in trip, and remains open to improvement.

Owner J. P. McManus is also represented by Rock The World, Kitten Rock, and Slowmotion. Barry Geraghty has seemingly chose to ride Slowmotion, who finished third in this race 12 months ago from the same mark. He ran creditably over hurdles after 10 weeks off at Tipperary a month ago, and that run ought to have put him spot on for this. Kitten Rock could prove a more interesting runner, though. He hasn’t been seen since finishing a good second in a Grade 3 hurdle event at Tipperary a year ago, and looks very interesting back over fences on his return. Kitten Rock has only run four times in this sphere, but has shown plenty ability, and his record fresh also bodes well.

Henry de Bromhead has won two of the last three renewals of the race and is responsible for five runners this time around. Perhaps the most interesting of the quintet is Conrad Hastings, who was strong in the betting on his first start for nine weeks when finishing third at Kilbeggan last time. That was his best effort over fences for some time, and he should remain competitive from just a 1 lb higher mark.

As you would expect, Gordon Elliott is also well represented, bidding to record his second win in the race. Jury Duty looks the best chance on form of his four runners, having ran respectably when third in the Grade 1 Champion Novices' Chase at Punchestown last time. He typically travelled strongly, but again left the impression he was stretched by the trip, and could be seen in a better light now dropped back two furlongs. Jury Duty is only 4 lb higher in the weights than when finishing third in the Pertemps at Cheltenham in 2017 and can clearly be competitive off this mark over fences.

Willie Mullins last won this race in 2011 with Blazing Tempo and Patricks Park would be very interesting if getting a run (he is currently the first reserve). The lightly-raced seven-year-old has showed much improved form since switched to Mullins, winning two of his four starts, and he appeals as the type that will go on progressing. Ruby Walsh has chosen the relatively unexposed Saturnas, who was again let down by his jumping when a well-beaten last of six to Footpad in the Ryanair Novices' Chase at Punchestown last time. The competitive nature of this race and big field will represent an altogether different test for him, and there are too many risks attached to make him a betting proposition here.

Tully East hasn’t won since taking the Close Brothers at the Cheltenham Festival in 2017, but he is another who isn’t fully exposed over fences, and shaped well on his recent return over hurdles at Tipperary. The subsequent rain which fell on Tuesday morning is a concern for him, as all his best form has come on a sound surface, but this has likely been a target for a while now and he commands maximum respect for shrewd connections.

Conclusion

A wide-open race is in prospect, but the one who makes most appeal at the prices in Drumcliff. He won with a bit in hand at Uttoxeter under this rider and, given he is owned by J. P. McManus, this race has likely been on the agenda ever since. This lightly-raced seven-year-old has the scope to improve further over fences, likely to prove much better than his current mark in time, and he is well equipped to handle the demands of which this big-field, competitive handicap will present.

Recommended bet:

Back Drumcliff each way at 14/1 for the Galway Plate on Wednesday