Ruby Walsh and Pat Smullen have been installed as favourites to be the leading riders at next week's Galway Festival.
Smullen is a 4 to 5 with the Cork firm Cashmans with Kieren Fallon rated his main danger on the flat at 2 to 1. Walsh is an evens favourite to be tops over the jumps with Paul Carberry at 5 to 2 and Barry Geraghty a 4 to 1 shot. Not surprisingly, Dermot Weld is an unbackable 1 to 10 favourite to be the leading trainer over the seven days.
A total of 30 horses remain in Wednesday's William Hill Galway Plate after yesterday's forfeit stage, including the ante-post favourite, Ansar, who will attempt an unprecedented three-in-a-row in the big chase.
Richard Fahey's Ball O Malt is the sole British entry left in the Plate while champion trainer Noel Meade has six possibles including last year's Guinness Galway Hurdle winner, More Rainbows.
Thursday's big hurdle has 46 possible runners with the veteran 12-year-old Adamant Approach the likely topweight.
It was confirmed yesterday that work on Ireland's first all-weather track at Dundalk will be completed in June of next year and the surface will be a new generation Polytrack supplied by Martin Collins International Ltd.
