Paul Townend: El Barra has good chance in Tote Galway Plate
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Ladbrokes ambassador Paul Townend has four rides at Galway Races on Wednesday and he gave us the lowdown on their chances of success.
I start by riding Champ Kiely in a maiden hurdle. He has the experience of a run in a point-to-point, although he unseated that day. He is a good bumper winner, works well at home and I think he has a really live chance.
Ladbrokes ambassador @PTownend talks us through how difficult it is to win the Galway Plate 🏇 pic.twitter.com/M85ir98fUT
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Willie Mullins has two other runners in the race. Lasparas has been disappointing in two hurdle runs and he shows us more than that at home so I wouldn’t be surprised if he puts up a good showing. Then we have Valley Breeze who is an 8-y-o and lightly-raced. He hasn’t run since August 2021 and ran to a nice level of ability, but I am sure he can improve from whatever he does here.
Dawn Rising is the interesting one for Joseph O’Brien. He has very good flat form but does lack jumping experience so we are hoping Champ Kiely can get us off to a good start.
He got 4lbs for finishing second last time out at Kilbeggan. We think he has a little more to come and has a big chance. I was unlucky on him the last day and probably should have won.
Paul Townend's Banker of the Galway Festival@PTownend's banker of the festival is running today, find out what his NAP is here 👇 pic.twitter.com/m1nnXxbtqE
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The track should suit him and he stays very well. Willie also runs Vadaly and Feigh. Vadaly improved last time out but had been very disappointing up until then, while the latter has been disappointing since winning. The two of them need career bests here.
She was a course winner of a maiden hurdle here last year. Her season petered out after that but hopefully she is back to herself here. She is back to a track she likes and although she has to leave disappointing runs behind her, I hope she has an each-way chance and puts her best foot forward.
I ride El Barra in the big one and I think he has a good chance. He got 10lbs for winning a novice handicap at the Punchestown Festival so that is a worry. That race tends to throw up good winners and hopefully this lad is another one. I think he can improve again. Touch wood he jumps and travels well. We just don’t know if he will come up the hill the second time but you take that chance when you go to Galway.
It is a very competitive race. Cape Gentleman was a very good third-placed runner in the Galway Hurdle last year and has good course form. Emmet Mullins is a shrewd operator and also has The Shunter as well who has Grade One form. Then the top weight Easy Game was only a length behind Royal Rendezvous in the race last year. Jack Foley takes off 3lbs so that will put him right in the mix. I took a chance on El Barra and he might have a couple of pounds up his sleeve.
