Rarely if ever can the Tote Galway Plate have looked as straightforward a proposition as this year's. A peak form Road To Riches would appear a standout to repeat his 2014 success in Ireland's summer steeplechase highlight. But if the top-weight isn't at peak, owner Michael O'Leary has seven other hopefuls including a bottom-weight that could ultimately secure Nina Carberry a little bit of history.
Killer Crow will have the assistance of Ireland's finest female jockey in a €220,000 highlight which to date has been won by just a single woman rider – Sarah Collen on board Bold Flyer all of 27 years ago. Carberry herself finished fourth in the 2012 Plate, a race her brother Paul landed in 1997 aboard Stroll Home and which their father Tommy won in 1973 on Leap Frog.
That horse carried a massive 12-7 to success which puts the 11-10 Road To Riches has to carry in a context that makes his theoretical chance even more obvious. Since he sauntered to an 11 length victory under 10-11 here two years ago the Noel Meade trained star has bloomed into a true Grade performer, winning twice at the top-level and finishing a fine third in the 2015 Gold Cup.
His ante-post price reflects how on ratings Road To Riches appears to have a first-rate of becoming the first horse in almost half a century to regain the Plate crown. He is also sure to be physically fine-tuned. A lingering doubt however is what if any impact a horrific last-fence fall at Punchestown in April has left on him mentally.
Meade briefly feared the worst when Road To Riches came down, later outlining how the horse had "blitzed" the fence after appearing to have jumped with typical brilliance before that. He has schooled well since, both at home and in a short spin at Tipperary racecourse, but it is a niggle for a horse who is a clear favourite in a 22-runner handicap that is always fiercely competitive.
In addition to eight confirmed runners, O'Leary's Gigginstown Stud also has one of the reserves in a line-up that includes last year's winner, Shanahan's Turn, one of four Henry De Bromhead starters, three from Willie Mullins, and a pair of cross-channel hopefuls. Among trainers, Gordon Elliott has the highest representation with five and his Clarcam has been well backed for the race recently.
Jack Kennedy is set to ride Clarcam although there could be some each way value to be had in siding with his stable companion Killer Crow, fancied for last Easter's Irish National only to run out of stamina, and whose cruising speed is likely to be a major help to Carberry in securing a position in what is always a fast run race.
Dermot Weld has an intriguing Plate runner in the ex-John Ferguson trained Three Kingdoms but the 'King Of Ballybrit' looks to have more obvious winning candidates elsewhere on the card. Silver Concorde in the opening hurdle and Finny Maguire's mount A Shin Kildare in the amateur maiden are likely to be well supported while Newcross is another interesting Weld contender in the finale.
Newtown Anner Stud’s half brother to the Group 1 star Fascinating Rock didn’t produce much of that pedigree on his Navan debut earlier this month but can show the benefit of that run against Katiymann.
