The publication of the Galway Plate and Hurdle weights makes for interesting reading with both races looking very competitive.
The Hewlett-Packard Galway Plate has attracted 52 horses with only nine horses out of the handicap at this early stage. Christy Roche´s Risk Accessor (12st) and his stablemate Grimes (11st10lbs), both placed in Tipperary´s Betdaq.com Hurdle on Sunday, head the weights while last year´s winner Nearly A Moose races from 11st04lbs this year. Fifteen runners have been allotted 11st or more although the only foreign raider is Sue Smith´s Little Big Horse.
The Guiness Galway Hurdle, which is limited to 24 runners, has attracted 64 entries and features the winner of Sunday´s Betdaq.com Hurdle, Accordian Etoile, at top weight. However, Paul Nolan´s representative is a doubtful runner and second on the list is Grimes (11st08lbs), himself second from the top of the Plate weights.
Twenty nine of the 64 entries are in the handicap although a further eighteen would enter the equation at 9st10lbs should Accordian Etoile come out of the race. Last year´s winner Sabadilla has been allotted 10st while five British trained runners are headed by Nicky Henderson´s Dancing Bay.
