O'Sullivan eyeing more Galway Races gains

BALLBRIT READY: Trainer Ross O’Sullivan with Strong Link ahead of the Galway Races which starts next Monday, July 28 and runs until Sunday August 3.  Picture: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

Ross O'Sullivan is readying a strong squad for this season's Galway Races after enjoying a fruitful meeting last year.

The stable sent out three winners for the showpiece fixture 12 months ago, all of whom return to the track this time around alongside further hopes both on the Flat and under the National Hunt code.

Donnie Devito, who took the Guinness Novice Hurdle last year, turns his hand to chasing and will take on stablemate and fellow Galway winner Talk In the Park over fences.

"The three winners from last year will go there, unfortunately two of them are taking each other on," said O'Sullivan.

"Donnie Devito and Talk In The Park will both go for the beginners' chase on Friday."

Volantis bids to retain his title in the Guinness Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle, whereas smart bumper horse turned hurdler Strong Link makes his Galway debut and the Listed winner Chally Chute aims to go one better than last year's effort in the Guinness Handicap.

O'Sullivan said: "Volantis, last year's winner of the good handicap which now runs on the Saturday will go back for that. He's had a prep run on the Flat like last year and much the same preparation as last year.

"Strong Link has won a bumper and maiden hurdle, he goes for the novice hurdle that Donnie Devito won last year.

"The young pretender is Strong Link, he hasn't put a foot wrong and has good winter form in bumpers.

"He's transferred that to winning in the summer and because he's up and coming he'd be the one that we're really looking forward to.

"Last year Chally Chute was second in the good Flat handicap over a mile and a half, the Guinness Handicap. He goes back for the same race again having won a Listed race."