The much-anticipated Galway Summer Festival is less than a week away, and whilst organisers may not have been granted the right to accommodate up to 5,000 spectators a day, as originally proposed to the Irish government, 1,000 racegoers on each of the seven-day meeting is better than the event being held behind closed doors like last year!
The Galway Plate, which boasts a prize purse of €300,000, is raced on day three of the meeting and is the highlight of the week. Punters will be sitting eagerly awaiting the ante-post Galway odds as the weights and entries slowly filter out for the Grade A, two-mile, six-and-a-half-furlong race.
So, as the countdown to the historic race continues, let’s take a look at some of this year’s stand-out entries, which include Cheltenham Festival legends and Grade 1 winners.
Samcro
Winner of the Grade 1 Golden Miller Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020, Samcro will carry the race’s top weight of 11st 10lbs. After winning the Grade 3 An Riocht Chase at Killarney in May, the Denise Foster-trained horse was disappointing last month in Listowel, as he trudged home sixth of nine in the John J. Galvin Chase despite setting off as the favourite. In being given the top weight, he’ll have his work cut out to win this race, but he’s a top-class horse and you can’t rule him out.
Tiger Roll
Sticking with Foster’s yard, and the punters lucky enough to get tickets to this year’s Galway Summer Festival will be keeping their fingers crossed that Gigginstown House Stud keep Tiger Roll’s entry in the Galway Plate. After a disappointing few runs throughout 2020 and earlier this year, many wrote off the former dual Grand National winner ahead of the Cheltenham Festival. But he stole the headlines when he romped home 18 lengths clear of Easyland in the Cross Country Chase. Well beaten in the Bowl at Aintree the following month, it’s hard to know what to expect from the legendary Tiger, who will carry a weight of 11st 7lbs.
Royal Rendezvous
Favourite ahead of last year’s race, Royal Rendezvous was narrowly beaten by the Gordon Elliott-trained Early Doors. His trainer, Willie Mullins, will certainly be hoping that Royal Rendezvous will be able to go one better this year, as the Irish trainer bids for his first Galway Plate victory in 10 years. A winner last time out in a two-mile, two-furlong hurdle at Ballinrobe is a sign of promise heading into this year’s race, and if Ireland’s Champion Jockey Paul Townend is to take to the reins again for the Plate, then you’d certainly expect Royal Rendezvous to be there or thereabouts come the finish.
Cavalry Master
With several big victories at the Cheltenham Festival and of course that historic Grand National triumph, it’s been a fantastic year for Henry de Bromhead and he’ll be hoping to land his second Galway Plate win this year. With three victories in his last three races, Cavalry Master is the stand-out horse from his seven entries on current form. After sustaining an injury to her ankle and hip, which is set to leave her side-lined for a lengthy period, it’s a shame that Rachael Blackmore, who brought de Bromhead so much success last season, won’t be in the saddle of Cavalry Master for the Plate.
