The Guinness Galway Hurdle is usually one of the most competitive races of the year but with yesterday's Plate hero, Ansar, unlikely to try and double up, it's hard to escape the conclusion that the 2005 version is all about Cloone River.
Of course narrowing a 20-runner handicap down to one horse, especially one trying to become the first since Pinch Hitter in 1982-83 to win it back-to-back, is usually a dangerous policy. However, in Cloone River, and his trainer Paul Nolan, we are not dealing with a typical Galway team.
It's a measure of Nolan's grasp of this race that only for the three-parts of a length Cloone River was beaten by Sabadilla in 2003, the horse would now be looking at three-in-a-row and Nolan himself at four-in-a-row following Say Again's 2002 triumph.
Sure enough the Wexford trainer's grip on this afternoon's feature is solid. Three runners include the Cheltenham winner Dabiroun and a topweight in Accordion Etoile, whose presence means that over half the field are out of the handicap proper.
Cloone River, though, nestles nicely on a perfect 10-7 racing weight despite being 12lb higher in the ratings compared to last year. Famously, last year's victory, with Nolan waving him on from inside the rails, came on the back of no hurdles appearance since the previous Galway Hurdle. The pattern is repeated again this time.
A potentially brilliant novice campaign over fences ended after two races, but Cloone River's return to action on the flat at the Curragh on Derby day indicated a horse still on the up. Sure enough the ante-post market has been all about Cloone River and it's likely that the nine-year-old will go off a short-priced favourite.
Noel Meade goes into the race with four intended starters, including Athlumney Lad, who ran a fine second to Kentucky Charm in Monday's GPT. Meade also has the Aintree winner Definate Spectacle, whose flat win at Leopardstown last time looks good following Tropical Lady's Meld Stakes win last weekend.
The joker in the pack of course could the 2001 winner Ansar. Dermot Weld will consult the owners of the Plate winner before deciding if he runs again today but 10-10 would be a featherweight compared to yesterday's 12st if he's allowed to run.
Sagaman in 1991 and Rushmoor in 1986 are the only British-trained winners of the race, but Martin Pipe sends a rare runner to Ballybrit in Say What You See, a four-time winner, who should have no problems with the forecast "good to firm" going.
Accordion Etoile's Champion Hurdle run in March proves he is the class horse of the race, but to win under 12-4 would be an astonishing achievement so Calorando, a full two stone better off for a narrow defeat at Tipperary, will have his followers.
An each-way option could be another Noel Meade runner in Moratorium. The son of El Gran Senor will be fine on the ground and returned from almost a year off to win at Gowran recently.
Whether he will relish the final hill is unclear, but there are no such doubts about Cloone River. In fact there are few doubts of any sort about his ability to win again. Given normal luck in running he should be hard to beat.
The one-mile handicap looks an intriguing contest as Ireland's top three stables are represented at the top of the weights with Tuesday night's winner, Loblolly Bay, thrown in for good measure.
The John Oxx-trained Akram just won his maiden at Tipperary, and could improve for that, but the real clash may be between King Of Tory and Charismatic Cat who renew hostilities.
Charismatic Cat edged out King Of Tory by three-parts of a length at Naas last month, but Dermot Weld's horse is now 13lb better off which can prove all the difference.
The addition of blinkers seemed to work with Precipitous at Leopardstown and a 9lb hike in the weights for the fillies handicap would not be too much of a worry. What is a worry is the number one draw and that can swing things the way of Szewinska.
BRIAN O'CONNOR SELECTIONS
1.50 AMID THE CHAOS
2.25 DALIAN DAWN
3.00 STAGE RIGHT
3.45 CLOONE RIVER
4.25 HELENSBURGH
5.00 SZEWINSKA (nap)
5.35 KING OF TORY
6.05 NAPLES
Double:
SZEWINSKA and KING OF TORY
