GALWAY PREVIEW: DERMOT WELD has spent four decades advertising how a proven record around the unique Galway circuit is so important, and, though he doesn't have Indian Pace now, Weld's former horse can prove the point again in this evening's Day One festival feature.
Indian Pace ran fifth to Majestic Concorde in last year’s renewal of the Carlton Galway City Handicap – formerly the GPT – but then secured a memorable prize just three days later by landing the Guinness Hurdle for Waterford trainer John Kiely.
Indian Pace is a 14 to 1 shot to pull off another success in the big hurdle later this week, for which Truckers Delight, another runner in tonight’s race, is favourite in some ante-post lists.
Bringing off the double is not unknown, although it is 19 years since Athy Spirit managed the feat. But much more common is the evidence of winners coming back to Ballybrit to win again.
Another of today’s hopefuls with the same festival engagements is Nina Carberry’s mount Fisher Bridge, while the Charlie Swan duo of Rajik and Zaralabad also come into many calculations.
Weld is on a three-in-a-row – Majestic Concorde (2008) and Loyal Focus (2007) – in this race that originally sparked his Ballybrit fascination when he won it as a 15-year-old jockey on Ticonderoga in 1964.
This time he has the topweight Ghimaar, but he could end up again looking wistfully at Indian Pace, a Moyglare-bred horse he raced on the flat.
Indian Pace has been a stalwart for the Kiely team since and comes here fresh having had just two spins on the flat this year, and is on a 1lb lower mark than last season.
Crucially, though, the ground will be a lot more testing than for last year’s race, and while that may spell disaster for the likes of Rajik, Indian Pace should be able to adapt better than most.
There was a lot to like about his Curragh warm-up behind Taralga earlier this month, and he was beaten less than four lengths by Truckers Delight before that, which was Indian Pace’s first start in six months.
Strictly speaking, he is worse off with Truckers Delight on today's weights, but Ambrose McCurtain's claim could be useful and Indian Pacelooks a touch of value to kick off a potentially famous double.
Besides that, it could be business as usual for Weld who has scored 10 winners at the festival on a number of occasions, and Gratified can kick proceedings off in the opening novice hurdle.
Gratified is ridden by Denis O’Regan, who won the Plate on the now-retired Ansar for Weld, and although the horse has ground to make up on Wikaala on Bellewstown form he could be a different proposition around here.
Gratifiedhas since run a fine race on the flat in the Ladies Derby at the Curragh behind Taralga and Weld is sure to have him primed for this task.
The Curragh trainer is aiming for a 19th victory in the seven-furlong two-year-old maiden, and although Aidan O'Brien sends a regally-bred runner in Banyan Tree, it is hard to oppose Stunning Viewjudged on his fine Curragh debut behind Kingsfort.
A bigger danger could be the Jim Bolger newcomer Maverick Man, an El Prado colt who races in the colours of one of North America’s most successful owners, Frank Stronach.
English-trained horses have a good record around Galway in recent years, and Rio Cobolocan add to that in the seven-furlong handicap. Paul Green's runner has a nice draw and won on heavy ground at Nottingham last year.
The ground could be against Badge Of Honour in the mile-and- a-half handicap, but this looks a decent opportunity for the Irish Derby eighth Loch Long, who broke his maiden at Ballinrobe last week. It helps that the Tracey Collins team are bang in form, too.
