McManus launches three-pronged Plate attack
Legendary gambler and owner JP McManus has three chances of striking gold in the William Hill Galway Plate tomorrow.
He is set to be represented by last year’s third Cool Running, Breaking Silence and Team Allstar in the €240,000 handicap chase at the Ballybrit track.
“Cool Running ran a blinder last year. He’s in good form again and we are hoping for a good run,” said McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry.
“Breaking Silence has not run for a while but Tom Taaffe is very happy with him. He might be a bit novicey but he likes good ground and we are hoping for a good run from him as well.
“Team Allstar is a bit out of the handicap and appears to have it all to do but he just got in and it’s a big pot so he’s taking his chance.”
Champion British jumps trainer Paul Nicholls has his fingers crossed for better luck than 12 months ago when he runs Hoo La Baloo and Oslot.
The former was his sole representative in the big race of the seven-day Festival last summer, only to be brought down at the ninth fence.
This time he has top weight of 11st 10lb – though Nick Scholfield claims 3lb - while Ruby Walsh partners the progressive Oslot.
“They went over there on Monday and both are in good order,” said the Ditcheat trainer.
“Hoo La Baloo was a bit unlucky in running last year, but he had a good season and is probably handicapped right up to his best.
“Oslot is an improving young horse and had a great season over fences.”
The sponsors make Oslot 5-1 favourite to be the first British-trained winner since Amlah landed the spoils for Philip Hobbs 10 years ago.
William Hill spokesman Tony Kenny said: “Oslot has been all the rage over the last few days and he’s now a standout loser in our book.
“He’s currently trading at 5-1 in our betting, but given Ruby Walsh’s popularity in Ireland, we think he could go off as short as 7-2.”
Handicap specialist Tony Martin is hoping Green Mile can hold his jumping together.
“We’re very happy with him,” said Martin
“He’s not a big horse but he’s tough, he’ll love the ground and if he jumps well I’ll be hoping for a big run.”
The Plate would not be complete without Ansar, successful in 2004 and 2005, and running in this race for the sixth successive year.
The Dermot Weld-trained 12-year-old was fifth in 2003, second in 2006 and fourth 12 months ago.
Ansar is making his 10th consecutive appearance at the Festival, including double victories in 2000 and 2001, when he won the Galway Hurdle. He is 10-1 with Hills.
“Ansar and Dermot Weld are both Galway legends, and the way Weld has started the festival it is impossible to rule out Ansar from winning his third Galway Plate,” added Kenny.
“The pair are synonymous with the Galway Festival, and it would be a fairytale story if Ansar could win the race for a third time on what could be his final appearance at Ballybrit.”
William Hill Galway Plate, sponsors bet: 5-1 Oslot, 7-1 Green Mile, 10-1 Ansar, Emma Jane, 11-1 Santa’s Son, 14-1 Breaking Silence, Cool Running, Hoo La Baloo, 16-1 Dosco, Irish Invader, Oodachee, 20-1 bar.
