The weights were released today for next week’s Guinness Galway Hurdle and thetote.com Galway Plate.

Kitten Rock, last seen when sixth of eight behind Champion Hurdler Faugheen at Cheltenham tops the hurdle weights on 11st 10lb.

The tote.com Galway Plate entries are headed by dual Grade 1-winning chaser Boston Bob (11st 10lb).

Former Rebel Fitz, a former winner of the Galway Hurdle, could make a surprise return to action at Ballybrit, according to his trainer, Michael Winters.

The 10-year-old has been sidelined due to injury since last October.

He holds entries in both the Guinness Galway Hurdle and Tote.com Galway Plate.

“He is well over three quarters ready and we just have to push on now and see if he is up to being in the money - he won’t run just for the sake of it. He is in top form and is a horse with no mileage up. He is fine and strong and good in himself,” he said.

Boston Bob is one of 11 horses that Willie Mullins has engaged in the Plate with seven in the Guinness Galway Hurdle including Diakali, (11st 56lb) Thousand Stars (11st 5lb), Wicklow Brave (11st 5lb) and Northumberland Plate runner-up Max Dynamite (10st 2lb). Clondaw Warrior - number 38 in the entries looks unlikely to get a run with only 20 runners permitted.

Mouse Morris expects to be well represented and he said “I’ll run whatever gets in. Baily Green, Rule The World and Rathlin will all run and if Horendus Hulabaloo sneaks in, he’ll run as well”.

Jessica Harrington could be treble handed in The Guinness Galway Hurdle and she said “Macnicholson will run and I also hope to run Modem. Rae’s Creek is in as well at the bottom of the weights”.

Last year’s Guinness Galway Hurdle winner Thomas Edison has just 10st 10lbs on his back and trainer Tony Martin who is also responsible for the ante-post favourite Quick Jack. Martin has also entered Ted Veale, Pyromaniac, The Plan Man and Savello.

Hidden Cyclone, fresh from a runaway success in a flat maiden at Leopardstown, will race off a mark of 137, some 20lbs lower than his chase mark. “He has come out of Leopardstown in super form and he has a lovely weight (10st 1lb) on his back in the Guinness Galway Hurdle. Mrs Mee (owner) loves Galway and it is great for her to be going there with a contender. Brian Hayes will ride him.” stated his trainer John ‘Shark ‘Hanlon.

Bayan and The Game Changer will both run according to trainer Gordon Elliott who said “They are in very good form. They would like a bit of nice ground and we’ll just keep them ticking over now. They were second and third in the race last year so we know they like the track and that is a big plus”.

Possible British challengers for the Plate include David Pipe’s Dell Arca, Ketiht Reveley’s Saturday Market Rasen winner Brave Spartacus and the J.P. McManus-owned It’s A Gimme, Vulcanite and Cantlow.

John Ferguson has five entries in the Hurdle headed by Sea Lord and Commissioned. Hammersley Lake and Snake Eyes are Nicky Henderson’s entries.

Senior National Hunt Handicapper, Noel O’Brien said “They are both unbelievably strong races. When you consider that you need a horse rated 135 to get into one of the good handicap hurdles and/or chases at Cheltenham, it is extraordinary, that as matters stand, the lowest rated horses getting into the Guiness Galway Hurdle and the Tote.com Plate respectively are 138 and 141. You have to remember these races are being run during the summer and while a few will drop out between now and race time, I’d have to say the entries for both races are as good as I can remember.”

Guinness Galway Hurdle betting:

6/1 Quick Jack; 10/1 Hidden Cyclone, Savello, Western Boy; 12/1 Clondaw Warrior, Diakali; 14/1 Hisaabaat, Katie T, Snake Eyes, Thomas Edison, 16/1 Arnaud, Buckwheat, Modem

Tote.com Galway Plate betting:

10/1 Alelchi Inois, Ted Veale; 14/1 Devils Bride, Rule The World; 16/1 Art Of Logistics, Dell Arca, Jacksonslady, Ravished, Rebel Fitz, Shanpallas, Spring Heeled,Vulcanite; 20/1 Akorakor, Balnaslow, Boston Bob, Byerley Babe, Cantlow, Gold Bullet, Its A Gimme