Ruby Walsh: Anyway ticks right boxes for Galway Plate glory

It was a spare ride — Norman Williamson had picked up an injury, and the ride on the 10-1 shot came my way. I was bouncing and thinking about Shotgun Willy in the Grand National, but Edward stood square in front of me and got my attention.

“You can’t get three if you don’t have two.”

No, well done, just the cold reality of business, the past was history, and my attention was required in the present. Sacundai got up to beat Rooster Booster in the dying strides, and I
returned to meet Edward, wearing his best ‘I told you so’ grin.

Calculated, intelligent, and determined are just a few words to describe a man who helped fly the flag of National Hunt racing through the 70s and 80s when owners were scarce and stock was exported as quickly as it was produced.

Fifty-three years is a lifetime of service to any industry, and Edward’s career scaled many great heights, but while he may trail Willie Mullins or Aidan O’Brien on the numerical front, neither of those has had Pierce Brosnan play them in a film. JP McManus described him best: “When Edward fancied one in the late ’70s, early ’80s, you didn’t need money, just enough credit.”

He didn’t miss, and he created the legacy to prove it. May he rest in peace.

Plate Day has become Plate evening in recent years, but the great race still holds all its appeal with a full field of 22 set to face the starter. 

For some reason, grumbling about the health of our National Hunt scene has gained traction and momentum in the last few years but the Colm Quinn Mile failing to fill last evening is a clear sign that we are either lacking horses on the Flat — which we are, being down 500 runners for the first half of this flat season versus the 2023 figures — or maybe we have too many valuable one-mile handicaps.

Either way, HRI needs to keep an eye on both sectors and not just channel its energy into tinkering with the National Hunt. Handicaps in the jumping division at a meeting like this would bear serious scrutiny if they produced field sizes like the three-year-old-only Flats have.

With the Flat population of runners going the way it is, big questions about our Flat racing programme need to be asked. Have we now too much Flat racing? Is our reliance on sales hindering the quality of our competition? And do we need Tipperary’s all-weather track?

Still, the answer most people will want today in Galway is who will win the Plate?

Starting with last year’s Hurdle hero, Nurburgring, which is evident to most people, hence why he has been the ante-post favourite for so long, is as good a place as any.

His chasing career has been solid and a cracking run at Royal Ascot suggests he is as good as ever so he has to be on every shortlist but if he should be, then so too should Anyway. 

After all, Nurburgring was two and a quarter lengths behind him when they both chased home Caldwell Potter at the Cheltenham Festival and Nurburgring has to give Anyway another 3lbs in weight this evening.

An easy win in a Kilbeggan novice chase in June should have added to his confidence, and Derek O’Connor being booked for the ride can only be a plus.

Thecompanysergeant also has strong claims after a cracking run in defeat to Jagwar at the Festival. The fact that he reverted to hurdles for the Punchestown festival suggests connections have been minding his handicap mark for a crack in another big pot like this. 

The worry for him is the fact that he got beaten at Navan when he was 12lbs lower in the ratings and hasn’t won to earn the rise.

Down Memory Lane will appeal to lots of people, coming from Gorden Elliott’s yard with Mark Walsh aboard and carrying the green and gold silks of JP McManus. 

He is a second-season novice too, which ticks a major box, but he has never won under rules beyond two miles, and his point-to-point winning form is worthless, so his stamina has yet to be proved against opposition that are actually of some use.

Jazzy Matty has solid claims for Cian Collins, with the guaranteed pace to hold a good position and the proven stamina from his Sligo win last October. Harry Cobden is a shrewd jockey booking, too.

Sea Music will attract the Emmet Mullins and Mee family fans and is bound to be there or thereabouts, as could Three Card Brag if he gets himself into a decent position early in the contest.

Buddy One probably isn’t a brave enough jumper, but he has the ability, and Willie Mullins will need a lot of luck if one of his trio is going to collect, so when it all boils down to making a choice: It’s
Anyway for me.

Hipop De Loire could give Willie Mullins a good start to the day and Arctic Gale could have Emmet Mullins smiling after the second. 

Carried With Love catches the eye in the third, and Mont St Michel might break his maiden in the fifth, but Galway is Galway and if you can land on one today, it’s been a good day.