Ruby Walsh: Four-way battle on the cards in Galway Hurdle

I can remember when it was a field of 27, but that was like a charge on the Autobahn, and the pile-ups felt that way too.

To put it more to the point, someone had to be 27th jumping the first and second hurdles, but those that far back had little or no chance of winning the contest, as Galway’s unforgiving tight contours required those at the back to go via Eyre Square and up Shop Street to pass all those in front of them.

Twenty is fairer to all of those who have a starting berth and, provided the pace is honest, the last horse over the first hurdle still has a chance. 

Whoever that is will need to be brave, will need to ride for luck and have the patience and guts to stay close to the rail and wait for the gaps to come to them. 

If they pull out passing the castle and head forward in a wide lane, their winning post will be the home turn, and their finishing position will be one of no consequence.

In my opinion, Galway and many of our undulating summer racecourses are why we have produced so many world-class jockeys in both codes. 

The likes of the Curragh, Navan and Dundalk, amongst others, are fabulous racecourses. 

Still, the only way you can lose on the best horse at those venues is to go too fast, so I always believed they were horse tracks, whereas Galway, Tramore, Clonmel, Downpatrick, etc., were jockeys' tracks and the challenge of a track where you can make a difference always appealed most to me.

Someone will make the difference today, like Alan O’Sullivan did on Monday night in the GPT, and how Seamie Heffernan did in the Mile on Tuesday, but who and why? 

Who will hit the tape at the right second and land one off the rail in the second row as the race takes shape away from the first hurdle?

The likely pace will come from Casheldale Lad, Royal Hollow and Gaucher, but if the first reserve, Prairie Dancer, gets in, he will add real pace to the contest and possibly even shape the result.

Relieved of Duties, and Batman Girac can be keen, so I expect them to drop in. Mr Percy, Tounisivator and Enniskerry would like to be back in midfield, as would Bowensonfire, leaving 11 participating in the maul for the two slots behind those battling for the lead.

Ndaawi won't mind if he ends up one row further back, but Jack Kennedy will want to be in close to the rail, and Dysart Enos can over-race if pressed early, so Johnny Burke won't be able to battle for a slot and will end behind the maul too.

Sunchart and Downmexicoway will try hard to grab pole position, as will Mark Walsh on Putyourhandstogether and Paul Townend on Jalila Moriviere. 

This could push Winter Fog back with Helvic Dream, and they could end up out a bit as Jack Kennedy will be on the rail by then, and Harry Cobden on Tounsivator will be behind him.

Addragoole and Lord Erskine will have fought for a position too but won't have the early speed to be where they want, and if they are forced to, they will expend too much energy early and fade late.

So, Prairie Dancer will lead them a merry dance. Putyourhandstogether and Jalila Moriviere will come to the fore off the home turn with Ndaawi and Tounsivator following them through as the head for the last. 

I can’t see what happens then but they are the four I believe that will be doing battle when the decision is made as to who wins the Galway Hurdle.

Earlier on the card, Westport Cove will have led the field a merry dance in the opener, but possibly have failed to repel the late surge of Birdie Or Bust on the long run home.

Clear Quartz loves it at Galway and looks primed to sparkle in the second, but Quar Shamar could have a say in the outcome there too for his local connections, and one expects today is his Derby Day.

The Listed Corrib Fillies’ Stakes is full with 15, but most of them look somewhat exposed except for Fingerpaint, whose form got a boost on Tuesday when Collecting Coin won a maiden. I hope she has enough experience for this field size because she looks to have the ability. 

Gavoo ran a blinder in the opening nursery of the season at the Curragh 12 days ago and could get his day in the Sun at 3.55.

In the aftermath of the Galway Hurdle, the novices will take to the track, and I have a sneaking feeling that the outsider of Willie Mullins’ trio, Keep Up, could outrun her odds before Gelnroyal finally gets a go at the trip he needs in the 5.40. 

And, if all else fails at the end of a day that will feel like a battle, then Churchill’s son Wartime Hero can save us all in the last.