On the eve of a race, when a trainer as shrewd as Michael Hourigan says a horse is "thrown in," it usually pays to listen and there will be plenty of ears cocked for Discerning Air's progress in today's Galway feature, writes Brian O'Connor
Discerning Air is already a winner this week, striding clear up the hill on Wednesday for an easy success on the flat under Michael Kinane.
She is further evidence of the improvement a mare can make on the track for being put in foal but the €50,000 Dawn Milk Handicap Hurdle will be her last start.
Three wins in her last four races is evidence enough of her chances of a successful send off but the hot streak enjoyed by the Hourigan horses in general can't hurt either.
Rockholm Boy's Plate success was quickly added to by Discerning Air and Lantern Leader during the week and the Co Limerick trainer is convinced the handicapper hasn't got on top of Discerning Air's improvement.
The state of the ground at Galway takes an even more significant role than usual and the "thrown in" Discerning Air has proved she can thrive on it.
Aidan O'Brien didn't take the risk of running Kilcash Castle in the Plate after just five unsuccessful starts over fences.
Instead the former smart bumper performer goes in the Beginners Chase and the form of his second to Albatros at Wexford last time looks much better now than it might have at the time.
Albatros ran a fine race on Thursday to shake Ansar up on his chasing debut and it was a mistake at the last that stopped him possibly getting even closer.
Kilcash Castle's main danger today could come from the Galway Hurdle eighth Galway Breeze but he looks capable of providing O'Brien with a rare chase success.
The Ballydoyle trainer will be on more familiar ground in the mile plus juvenile maiden where The Great Gatsby has a second start.
The GPT winner Quadco thrived in the conditions earlier in the week and those suspect front pins will be kept to the flat for the two mile handicap. Quadco sluiced up by 14 lengths from Rathbawn Prince earlier in the week and has 5lb extra now - 5lb for 14 lengths looks an equation still in Quadco's favour.
Yet another record-breaking Galway festival will wind up tomorrow with Dermot Weld trying to salvage what has been, for him, a low-key meeting.
He runs the topweight Social Harmony in the €70,000Vodafone Handicap but also the course specialist Gold Chaser who comes here on the back of a good run behind Montpelier Street at Cork.
Camargue fouled up some jackpot plans on Wednesday when giving Thurles based trainer Daniel Loughnane a first ever winner after just a month with a licence. Blue Russian was only eighth in that race but conditions favour the Bellewstown winner now. Wouldn't You Agree was an ultra-impressive winner of his bumper on Monday evening and the maiden hurdle looks his.
