Racing Galway preview:Conna Castle has been possibly the best backed horse on the run up to today's William Hill Galway Plate but if there is a better value option to secure steeplechasing's main summer prize it could be the other Cork-based runner Sir Frederick.
Defeat by Sir Frederick would be a particularly difficult pill to swallow for Conna Castle's jockey Davy Russell although it might be the only thing to pass his lips in the last few days.
The season's leading rider has a constant battle with weight at the best of times but will be at his minimum today for Conna Castle who is still expected to put up about 3lb overweight. Jimmy Mangan, a Plate winner with Stroll Home 10 years ago, has always had a high opinion of this former smart hurdler whose chasing career has overall been something of a let down.
However, an impressive success at Killarney last time indicated a change of fortune and victory in the €220,000 day three festival feature would restore Conna Castle's reputation in a big way.
He has been backed down to favouritism in some books since that Killarney victory and there is no doubt he remains at the right end of the weights scale despite Russell putting up overweight.
At the other end is the Galway perennial Ansar, a Plate winner in 2005 and 2004 and runner-up last year, whose seven wins around here make him a Ballybrit legend. The ground drying out is to his advantage but it was more suitable for him last year and he still found Far From Trouble too good.
Joint topweight is Yes Sir, the mount of the young riding sensation in Britain, Tom O'Brien, and the Welsh trainer also throws the Market Rasen summer plate winner Iron Man into the mix. The champion cross-channel trainer Paul Nicholls will be represented by Hoo La Baloo.
Tony McCoy is another cross-channel visitor and his presence on the back of the JP McManus number one Cool Running only adds to the horse's Plate pedigree. McManus and trainer Christy Roche combined to win last year and also six years ago with Grimes and Cool Running has the sort of progressive profile that will appeal to many.
However, he will be one of the favourites and those searching for an each-way option could do a lot worse than check out Sir Frederick's chance of winning for the Mallow trainer Liam Burke.
A horse who appears to run best fresh, Sir Frederick also looks to be best going left-handed and creeps in here with only 9st 13lb. That meant Davy Russell, his regular rider, had no chance of making the weight and instead the good claimer Kevin Coleman takes a further 3lb off.
Burke had been worried last week about the prospect of testing conditions but that now looks to have disappeared and even though he is only just out of the novice ranks, Sir Frederick has secured plenty of experience in his nine previous chase starts.
The amateur rider's maiden is an unusual race in that it's over a mile and a half and features a regally-bred runner from Ballydoyle as well as a Dermot Weld runner who could turn into a punters hotpot. Add into the mix the likes of the high-class jumping mare Laetitia and it's an intriguing prospect. The Ethiopian, a full brother to High Chaparral, has a rating that makes him a clear favourite but it takes a good horse to win three bumpers and Kirbybroguelantern could be value.
