Paul Townend' - Galway Plate day

My Great Mate – 4.50 Galway

My Great Mate has some winning course form which means a lot around here. He had a nice run over hurdles which should set him up nicely for this. He comes here in good form and we are hoping for the best.

Willie Mullins has three runners in this so it wasn’t an easy choice. Where’s My Jet wasn’t too far behind My Great Mate in the bumper here last year, but he’s having his first run in a long time. Uncle Pat had a nice run at Punchestown mid-June and that should leave him right for here. He will stay very well but I think My Great Mate is the obvious one. That valuable course form is worth a lot.

Paganne – 5.25 Galway

She is carrying joint-top weight which isn’t ideal but the step up in trip and better ground seems to have brought about a lot of improvement in her. Her jumping let her down at the start of the season last year so hopefully she will jump quick enough for a test like Galway. I think she is going the right way and starting to fulfil her potential.

Mount Sinai – 6pm Galway

She’s only had three runs over hurdles. The form of her maiden hurdle at Clonmel hasn’t worked out to be that strong but she done it nicely that day. She was far too keen at Punchestown in a mares race behind Jetara and lacked experience but she gained that experience in the handicap at Leopardstown. She was ultimately disappointing, beaten 40l, but she got the experience now. She’s off the track a while and Galway is a hard place to go to without a recent run, but I think she’s open to improvement and she is off a nice competitive race weight. If she can build on anything she done last year, then I hope she can run into a place.

Mister Policeman – 7.10pm Galway Plate

When he’s good, he is very good but he has been a little disappointing on the whole. He is a horse with a huge reputation but hasn’t put it together yet. I thought he had a big chance at Punchestown but ended up pulling up. His best form seems to be in smaller fields, but I hope he can put it together and it would be nice if he could fulfil his potential with a big pot up for grabs. Willie [Mullins] is well represented. Easy Game and Authorized Art ran very well in the race before and Saint Roi is a horse that was knocking at the door at the big festivals, is a previous Grade 1 winner, and could get into a nice rhythm. I am just hoping my horse has a few pounds up his sleeve and if he gets into a nice rhythm, we will hope for the best.