Ted Veale is now clear favourite for the Connacht Hotel (QR) Handicap on the opening day of the Galway festival after attracting support this morning.

Tony Martin's charge has been backed from 7/1 and is now generally a 5/1 shot for the feature event which goes to post at 6.50pm.

The trainer/jockey combination of Tony Martin and Steven Clements have won the last two renewals of the €80,000 prize. Modem has also proven popular for the amateur contest and is now best priced 8/1 having been backed from 12/1.

Earlier on the card Johannes Vermeer is the one for money in the Claregalwayhotel.ie (C&G) EBF Maiden.

Aidan O'Brien 's charge was third on his Tipperary debut when sent off an odds-on shot. He appeared second choice on jockey bookings for tonight's race with Joseph O'Brien on newcomer Unicorn but has shortened significantly from 11/2 to 3/1.

Dermot Weld saddles the favourite in the seven-furlong contest with True Solitaire best priced 5/4.