Mile ready for Galway Plate challenge

Green Mile, 7-1 favourite for the William Hill Galway Plate with totesport, is on target for the race after a facile victory over hurdles on Wednesday.

As usual, the bookmakers are taking no chances with a Tony Martin-trained representative in a major handicap and the six-year-old will head to the Festival on a high.

He is set to return to fences for the highlight of the seven-day fixture.

“Touch wood he’ll go for the Plate. He’s grand this morning, he’s well, he’s happy and he ate up so the plan is to go for the Plate on the Wednesday,” said Martin.

“He’s only had a couple of runs over fences this year but the run yesterday should have left him spot on hopefully.

“The way he is handicapped, I think it probably suits him better in the Plate.

“There’ll be a big field but he has a little bit of toe and he likes to be dropped in, hopefully he’ll enjoy the hurly burly of it.

“Robbie Colgan knows him well enough now. He did nothing wrong with him last night and I think he deserves to keep the ride.”

Martin is expecting a hectic week at the Ballybrit track.

“Hopefully we’ll have a busy week. Reisk Superman will probably run in one of the novice chases and he won at Sligo the other day,” continued the handler.

“Hopefully Leg Spinner will be back. Northern Alliance ran well last night and he’ll go for the Galway Hurdle after a run on the Flat.

“Touch wood we should have an excuse to go racing most days.

“Arc Bleu will go the amateur race on the first night, Colin McNally rides him every day at home and he will keep the ride. He’s a handy little rider and he’ll take 7lb off.”