Take a chance on inexperienced Cape Gentleman to land today’s €270,000 Tote Galway Plate.
The six-year-old hasn’t been seen since November, when he fell, and has run only four times over fences.
But he’s a classy performer, primed for the day by Emmet Mullins, who attempts to emulate his legendary grandfather Paddy and three uncles Willie, Tony and Tom, all of whom have won the coveted Plate.
READ MORE: Galway Races day 3 race card and tips - full list of runners on Wednesday
And Emmet holds a strong hand, saddling both Cape Gentleman, the mount of Donagh Meyler (who won on Lord Scoundrel in 2016) and last year’s fourth The Shunter, one of fourchallengers carrying the McManus colours and to be ridden by Mark Walsh.
Cape Gentleman finished third to Saldier in the Guinness Galway Hurdle here last year (off a mark of 140) before embarking on a
chasing career.
He triumphed on his fencing bow at Punchestown in October before trouncing subsequent Troytown winner Run Wild Fred in a Grade 3 in Cork.
He then failed to cope with classy mare Riviere D’etel, to whom he was conceding 18lb, in a Grade 2 at Punchestown before falling four from home in the Grade 1 Drinmore, won by Beacon Edge at Fairyhouse in late November.
There are no worries about Cape Gentleman’s fitness or well-being. And, if he settles into a good rhythm and his jumping holds up in his first handicap, he should have a big chance.
Similarly, The Shunter, winner of the Paddy Power Plate at Cheltenham last year and fourth to Royal Rendezvous in the Plate has strong claims, prepped for the race by winning a flat maiden in Sligo.
Other McManus-owned contenders worthy of respect are all trained by Joseph O’Brien (inset) – 2020 winner Early Doors, the tough and versatile Darasso, fifth in the race last year, and A Wave Of The Sea, winner of two Grade B handicap chases and a first Plate ride for Harry Swan.
O’Brien also runs Fire Attack, 7lb higher than when scoring last time at Punchestown in May.
Last year’s runner-up Easy Game, in tremendous form this year, bidding for a five-timer and the mount of Jack Foley, tops the weights and leads a Closutton challenge which also includes the Paul Townend-ridden El Barra, up 10lb for a convincing win at the Punchestown Festival.
Others with obvious chances include Gavin Cromwell’s Arkle Gabynako, with solid Grade 1 novice form but a handicap debutant. Gordon Elliott’s Midlands National winner Hurricane Georgie and novice Ash Tree Meadow, the Shark Hanlon-trained Hewick,, winner of the Bet365 Gold Cup in Sandown, Henry de Bromhead’s mare Gin On Lime,
And bottom-weight Discordantly, representing in-form Jessica Harrington and Denis O’Regan, successful on Ansar in 2005.
Meanwhile, Unanswered is napped to score again in today’s finale, a race his trainer Tony Martin won with Upgraded in 2019.
This versatile five-year-old made his breakthrough off 46 in Limerick, followed up at Gowran Park off a 9lb higher mark before reverting successfully to hurdling at Punchestown.
Last time, he powered clear to beat Lariat in Killarney – for which he went up another 7lb to a career-high 71.
With regular partner Ben Coen suspended, Billy Lee takes over on Unanswered as he steps up in grade in this 50-80. A dour stayer, I expect him to storm up the hill for victory probably at the expense of Dark Voyager.
Earlier, the Willie Mullins-trained Rock Road, winner of the Mayo National on his penultimate start before failing to take advantage of a favourable hurdle mark (outstayed and collared late by Waitnsee) in Kilbeggan, makes plenty of appeal in the SP or Better Guaranteed Tote Handicap Hurdle.
Denis Hogan, successful with Darkened on Monday, supplies the main danger in Wild Hunt.
The Mullins/Townend combination might also strike with Grade 3 and course winner Purple Mountain in the Free Jackpot Mares Handicap Hurdle.
Also owned by the Mee family, Shark Hanlon’s Hallowed Star, winner of a handicap hurdle here off 121, has solid claims in the Tote Guarantee On All Races (Amateur) Maiden, a race his rider, Monday’s big-race hero Patrick Mullins has won eight times, including the last five renewals.
In a contest where the older horses have had the edge in recent years, Hallowed Star will be tough to beat if reproducing the form that saw him chase home three-year-olds Sultanov Swing and Spasiba in maidens this summer.
Peter O’Hehir's tips for Galway:
5.10.Champ Kiely
5.40.Rock Road
6.10.Purple Mountain
6.40.Cape Gentleman
7.15.Hallowed Star
7.50.Mister Wilson
8.20.Unanswered (Nap)
Next Best
5.10.Dawn Rising
5.40.Wild Hunt
6.10.Hidden Land
6.40.Darasso
7.15.Comfort Zone
7.50.Dairerin
8.20.Dark Voyager
Double : Purple Mountain and Unanswered.
O’Hehir’s Longshot : Gin On Lime (6.40.)
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