Tigris River can flow to victory in high class edition of Galway Guinness Hurdle

By George McDonagh

THIS year’s editions of the Galway Plate and Guinness Hurdle both boast a superb quality entry as the main powerhouses of Irish racing target success in the twin features of the marathon seven-day festival.

Top weight and 2014 victor Road To Riches will become the highest rated horse ever to run in the Wednesday feature as he shoulders his 11st 10lbs burden, a full stone above his 2014 winning mark. He is worthy of his 163 rating having been placed in both the Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase at the last two Cheltenham Festivals, but comes here after a crashing fall in the Punchestown Gold Cup when in with every chance at the second last.

The ante post market for the third year in succession has seen support for the Charles Byrnes trained Shanpallas which finished fifth last year from a pound higher mark. He has shown a preference for a decent surface, but I think the hill will find his out again.

Last year’s hero Shanahans Turn is back again and along with Saddlers Risk, third 12 months ago, and Home Farm, they give Henry De Bromhead a strong hand in his bid for back-to-back victories. Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins are both well represented too. Chasing a second success in the Plate, Mullins’ best bet could be course winner and last year’s fourth Aleichi Inois which also needs to prove he can last the 22 furlong trip.

The Elliot entry in numerically strong with Clarcam his highest rated challenger, but the interesting one is Killer Crow, a four time winner, including a good ground Limerick bumper, which ran quite well in the Irish Grand National until his stamina gave way four out. Athough Killer Crow needs at least ten to come out to be certain of a run, he will come into the argument off bottom weight even if a couple of pounds wrong.

Mouse Morris has had a great year with Rogue Angel and Rule The World and in the veteran First Lieutenant, he has a horse which will feel let loose with just 10st 9lbs on his back. He can run into a place for his popular trainer at a huge price and is certainly worth a few quid each-way

Wexford’s Colin Bowe is a trainer who can ready one for the festival and chases his biggest career success with Shantou Flyer, a fine second in the Down Royal Plate trial and he can go well.

But it’s back to the king of Ballybrit, Dermot Weld, I go for to solve the Plate puzzle in the shape of course maiden winner (2012) Three Kingdoms. A seven-time winner in all, of which six were for the John Ferguson yard – three of these over fences – Weld went to 56,000 stg to buy the son of Street Cry back at the Bloomfields Dispersal Sale for Dr Ronan Lambe.

This 149 rated animal has not run over fences since April 2015 but his last three runs were in Grade 1s and his recent effort on the flat at the Curragh was ‘eye catching’ to say the least and with 10st 11lbs on his back, Three Kingdoms gets a narrow vote over Killer Crow and Shantou Flyer.

The Hurdle sees the Tony Martin trained 2015 winner Quick Jack saddled with joint top weight of 11st.10lbs, along with the Willie Mullins trained Bamoko Moriviere, as he attempts to become the first dual winner since Pinch Hitter in 1983.

His task is a huge one from a 12 pound higher mark on his first outing over hurdles since, but is a course specialist and this has been his target all year. Of course, lots has been said and written about the Tony Martin trained Pyromaniac’s run at Killarney recently for which penaltiers were dished out across the board, but if the appeal succeeds he will take all the beating on 10st 11lbs if permitted to take part.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.