GORDON Elliott has successfully masterminded wins in five of the last 10 editions of the Tote Galway Plate, and his challenge to retain the prize has been considerably strengthened by a new addition to his Ballybrit team for later this month.
Grade 1-placed chaser Nowwhatdoyouthink, last seen finishing third in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase behind Western Fold at the Punchestown Festival for trainer Ray Hackett, has been acquired by the Cullentra handler in a private deal ahead of the western showpiece event.
He is set to race in the colours of American-based owners Leamington Racing - the group who enjoyed success with Elliott at Percy Warner Park in May when Famous Figure won a $60,000 maiden on the Grade 1 Iroquois Stakes undercard.
Nowwhatdoyouthink has been highly progressive for his former yard in Co Tipperary. He was a decisive winner of a three-runner Grade 3 chase at Cork over Easter and will head to Galway off a chase rating of 142. That could turn out to leave him on an attractive weight if the top-rated, multiple Grade 1-winning Solness (rated 164) is given the green light to tackle the €270,000 chasing feature.
Speaking after initial entries were published for the Tote Galway Plate and Guinness Galway Hurdle on Thursday, Elliott told The Irish Field: “I hope he’s the type of horse who could suit the Galway Plate. He looks a nice horse; he’s got some good runs behind him. He’s been bought for American owners and I think he’s the type who could end up racing in America sooner rather than later too.”
Entries for the two National Hunt highlights at Galway were not enormous, with 32 in the mix for the Plate (maximum field of 22 allowed) and just 24 in the Hurdle (limit of 20 runners). Still, there are a number of intriguing candidates, including Willie Mullins’ impressive Punchestown Festival handicap chase winner Funiculi Funicula - potentially dangerous in the Plate off a mark of 149.
Mullins options
The champion trainer has eight other Plate entries and a total of six in the reckoning for the Hurdle, including Grade 1 winner Murcia, who is due to run on Thursday evening at Killarney, and Supreme Novices’ Hurdle sixth Too Bossy For Us. Downpatrick winner Roc Dino looks like another lively candidate for Mullins.
Elliott has a total of six in the Plate, which he captured last year with Western Fold, while last year’s Guinness Galway Hurdle hero Ndaawi remains in contention for a repeat as part of a six-strong Cullentra entry. The Easyfix-owned campaigner could do battle again with his old sparring partner Helvic Dream, first past the post here 12 months ago only to be demoted in the stewards’ room.
El Cairos, held in high regard by connections but yet to produce the goods at the top level, is also a fascinating option for Elliott off a handicap rating of 143.
Noel Meade’s fantastic veteran Jesse Evans is in line to return to Ballybrit for the fifth year running. The 10-year-old finished second in the Plate last year and filled the same spot in the Hurdle in 2022 and 2023.
Will The Wise brings robust form for Gavin Cromwell as the winner of the Topham Chase at Aintree in the spring, following his runner-up position at the Cheltenham Festival just weeks earlier. He also has winning form at Galway.
Ol Man Dingle, trained in Kilkenny by Eoin Griffin, has had this race on his agenda since winning the Mongey Communications Galway Plate Trial when carrying top weight at Kilbeggan in June.
As for the Hurdle, Puturhandstogether - the well-beaten 4/1 favourite after a slow start in the same race 12 months ago for Joseph O’Brien - could be back for another tilt, while Tony Martin has the option of saddling recent Bellewstown winner Putapoundinthejar in his bid for his fifth victory in the Guinness-backed prize since 2014.
On Solness, who holds entries in both the Hurdle and Plate, O'Brien told The Irish Field: "He's in good shape. We haven't finalised his plans yet, but he's intended to run at Galway somewhere [during the Festival]."
According to an update from the track on Wednesday morning, the ground at Galway is currently good. Watering is ongoing and “will continue as required”.
Click here for the link to entries to the Tote Galway Plate.
Click here for the link to entries to the Guinness Galway Hurdle.