The Real Article confirmed for Galway Hurdle

Ante-post favourite The Real Article features among a maximum field of 20 runners in the Guinness Galway Hurdle on Thursday.

Edward O'Grady's five-time winner was beaten just a short head by Captain Cee Bee, under a hands-and-heels ride, in the Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary on his latest start.

The course stewards decided to take no action on the night, with the Irish Turf Club having cancelled a planned inquiry on Monday.

The Real Article will therefore take his chance officially 18lb 'well in' at the weights.

Captain Cee Bee reopposes for Eddie Harty and looks likely to top the weights, with declared top-weight Bahrain Storm instead poised to run in the Galway Plate on Wednesday evening.

Gordon Elliott saddles last year's Ebor winner Dirar, as well as the strongly-fancied Plan A, while Galway king Dermot Weld is represented by Hidden Universe.

The sole British challenger is David Pipe's Street Entertainer.

Princeton Plains, Cothrom Na Feinne and Eagle's Pass are the three reserves.