There has been an even spread of money this morning in the €200,000 thetote.com Galway Plate, with Blazing Tempo and the J P McManus pair Dr Whizz and Wise Old Owl the chief ones to catch the punters eye.
Blazing Tempo is strongly challenging Bahrain Storm for favouritism at around the 7/1 mark, while Wise Old Owl (14/1 in places) is generally a 10/1 chance and Dr Whizz 12/1 best. Born To Excel is developing into the gamble of the day in the following Tote Daily Double Handicap (6.00pm). The John Murphy-trained gelding carries top-weight but has been slashed from 16/1 to half those odds with both Paddy Power and Boylesports, while Stan James go 7/1 (from 16's). Intyre Trail has also attracted interest in this extended mile event, and is generally around the 5/1 mark.
Locally trained horses are often worth a second look at this meeting, and two that have been well-supported this morning are The Lady Granuaile in the Tote Phone Bet 1850 238 669 Handicap Hurdle (3.35pm) and King Ali in the Tote Jackpot Races 3 to 6 Handicap Hurdle (4.10pm).
Pauline Gavin 's The Lady Granuaile has been backed from 14/1 in to 9/1 with both Paddy Power and Stan James, while Askthemaster (16/1 to 12/1) with Powers and Boylesports is another to note here.
King Ali is 11/1 (from 14's) with Powers and Victor Chandler. The Pat Kelly-trained gelding was an unlucky loser over fences at the Festival 12 months ago when his young rider mistook the winning post and was just touched off.
The opening Tote Pick Six Maiden Hurdle is all about the front two in the market, with Galileo's Choice a best-priced 11/10 (from 5/4) with Powers. Dermot Weld's charge, who makes his debut over hurdles here, is generally a shade of odds-on.
However Drumfire has also been nicely backed in the first race (3.00pm), and is 4/1 (from 9/2) with both Victor Chandler and Boylesports. El Gran Torino 9/2 to 100/30 with Boylesports, is fancied for the Tote Trifecta (Q.R.) Maiden where Pozyc is also attracting interest around the 11/2 mark.
Stylish One is an absentee in the www.totegoracingclub.com Handicap (6.35pm) where Spirit Of Cuba is a solid 3/1 favourite, while the concluding Tote Return All Profits To Irish Racing Maiden (7.10pm) has been a quiet betting heat with Weld's Font Of Wisdom a prohibitive 1/3 favourite.
Alan Magee
