Galway Plate: Runner-By-Runner Guide

By Timeform — published 28th July 2020

Get the Timeform verdict for each contender for the Galway Plate at the Galway Festival on Wednesday in our runner-by-runner guide.

1 - JETT Jessica Harrington/Robbie Power

Very smart chaser. Latest win in chase at Punchestown in October. Good 9½ lengths fourth of 8 to Delta Work in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown (24f, soft, 40/1) 178 days ago. Merits consideration.

2 - PEREGRINE RUN Peter Fahey/K. C. Sexton

Seventeen wins from 40 NH runs. Better than ever when winning Grade 3 at Killarney 3 weeks ago. Left poorly placed back over hurdles the following week. Fourth in this last year off a similar mark.

3 - THE STORYTELLER Gordon Elliott/S. F. O'Keeffe (5)

Seven wins from 26 NH runs. Very good second of 24 in handicap hurdle (11/2) at Cheltenham (24f, soft) 139 days ago, finishing clear of the rest. Back over fences now and has a good chance on form.

4 - EASY GAME Willie Mullins/Mr P. W. Mullins

Pushed Faugheen close in the Flogas before falling in the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase at Cheltenham (24.4f, soft, 10/1) 140 days ago won by Champ. Makes handicap chase debut. Looks competitive on form.

5 - ROBIN DES FORET Willie Mullins/M. P. Fogarty

Creditable 2¾ lengths second of 6 behind Peregrine Run in Gr 3 chase at Killarney (20.8f, good to soft) 22 days ago, outbattled. Can give a good account without posing a serious threat to principals.

6 - US AND THEM Joseph O'Brien/J. J. Slevin

Good third of 18 in the Grand Annual (10/1) at the Cheltenham Festival (16.3f, good to soft) 138 days ago, unable to sustain his effort. Has stamina to prove over this far.

7 - GALVIN Gordon Elliott/Davy Russell

NON-RUNNER

8 - SUB LIEUTENANT Henry de Bromhead/H. Morgan (7)

Sound jumper who was high class in his pomp. 17 lengths fourth of 6 to Acapella Bourgeois in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse (25f, heavy) 158 days ago. Can't rule out back in handicap company.

9 - MORTAL Joseph O'Brien/Oakley Brown (7)

Third of 5 in a minor event chase (12/1) at Clonmel (20f, soft) 127 days ago. Looks handicapped to the hilt having been highly tried during his novice chasing campaign.

10 - ROYAL RENDEZVOUS Willie Mullins/Paul Townend

Didn't need to be at his best when winning a 6-runner Gr 3 chase at Naas (20f, soft) 143 days ago by a short head from Ministerforsport. Makes handicap chase debut and is the choice of Townend.

11 - SNUGSBOROUGH BENNY Liam P. Cusack/Denis O'Regan

C&D winner. Had a pipe-opener over hurdles at Kilbeggan (24.8f, good to soft) 19 days ago. Cheekpieces on for the 1st time. Third in this last year off a similar mark.

12 - SPYGLASS HILL Henry de Bromhead/Rachael Blackmore

Two wins from 5 runs last season. Didn't need to improve to win a 15-runner novice chase at Gowran (20f, heavy, 5/2) 165 days ago. Makes handicap chase debut and remains with potential.

13 - DINONS Gordon Elliott/Brian Cooper

Tailed-off fifth of 6 to Peregrine Run in Gr 3 chase at Killarney (20.8f, good to soft, 17/2) 22 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Makes handicap chase debut.

14 - THE WEST'S AWAKE E. J. O'Grady/Philip Enright

Creditable third of 9 in a minor event hurdle at Kilbeggan (19.8f, good to soft, 12/1) 19 days ago, running on. Switches from hurdles to chase. Tongue strap back on. Well held in this last year.

15 - CABARET QUEEN Willie Mullins/D. E. Mullins

Below form when fifteenth of 23 in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival (26f, soft) 139 days ago. Often let down by her jumping.

16 - CAP YORK Noel Meade/E. Walsh (7)

Latest win in chase at Naas in March. Tenth of 14 in handicap chase at Kilbeggan (25f, good to soft, 10/1) 19 days ago. Hard to catch him right.

17 - LIVELOVELAUGH Willie Mullins/D. J. Mullins

Back to form when a respectable eighth of 23 in a handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival (20.6f, soft, 33/1) 139 days ago. Can make his presence felt.

18 - BLAZER Willie Mullins/J. S. McGarvey

Excuses when fifteenth of 23 in a handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival (20.6f, soft, 11/1) 139 days ago. Not ruled out.

19 - EARLY DOORS Joseph O'Brien/M. P. Walsh

Defied top weight in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham in 2019. Just useful form over fences last season but remains open to improvement in this sphere. Makes handicap chase debut and headgear applied.

20 - THREE MUSKETEERS Gordon Elliott/C. P. McNamara (5)

Winner of a big-field handicap hurdle at Aintree on yard debut in April 2019 and only just failed in the Midlands National at Kilbeggan. Should remain competitive.

21 - WINTER ESCAPE Aidan Anthony Howard/S. D. Torrens (7)

Fifteenth of 18 in a handicap chase at Cheltenham (16.3f, good to soft) 138 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Rejoined yard after leaving Ben Haslam. Tongue strap on for the 1st time.

22 - THE BIG LENSE Gordon Elliott/L. P. Dempsey

On the up when winning first 2 handicap chases last autumn. Unseated on next 2 starts but unlucky not to finish closer when fifth (badly hampered run-in) in Midlands National at Kilbeggan on hsi return.

Timeform Analyst's Verdict

Gordon Elliott has won 3 of the last 4 renewals and holds another strong hand, notably with GALVIN who is the mount of Davy Russell. He was rather unlucky to bump into one at the Cheltenham Festival and has a big handicap in him. His stablemate The Storyteller was only just held in the Pertemps and has to be respected back over fences, with Easy Game another to consider off a fair opening mark.