GALWAY PREVIEW/DAY 5: Michael Kinane returns from Goodwood for the ride on Queens Wharf in the Guinness Handicap tonight.
The Michael Halford-trained filly has been one of the season's success stories, kicking off a treble from an 81 rating, following up off 91and then landing the Listed Challenge Stakes off 102.
Halford declared after that he would probably give Queens Wharf a break after that Leopardstown success but he has understandably been tempted by this €60,000 pot.
Proven on the soft ground and on a roll, she looks to hold the best credentials among a field that might not be as comfortable in the conditions.
John Murtagh has also come back from Goodwood and should hit the mark on Dibiya in the last.
The Oxx team hit a streak of form on Wednesday and Dibiya won the mile and a half maiden on this card last year. Her 98 rating puts her well clear of these rivals.
Beyond The Pole could be her main rival but Dermot Weld's main chance of a winner could come with Revue in the maiden.
The ground should not bother a son of Sadler's Wells as much as some others and there was enough to like about his debut fifth at Leopardstown.
The Galway Plate winning rider Keith Hadnett is on a career high at the moment and he looks an interesting booking for the track specialist Half Barrell who picked up the O'Malley Chase last year.
Eurolink Rooster's second to Desert Trail at Leopardstown looks pretty good now considering Desert Trail's second in the McDonogh on Tuesday. Tom McCourt has already been on the mark this week and must hold a serious chance in the Harp Handicap.
Meanwhile, Horse Racing Ireland announced yesterday that this jumps season will end at the Punchestown festival.
They described the new move as "a more fitting finale" for what has up to now been a low-key date.
The report came in HRI's fixture list for 2003 which features an overall increase of 20 meetings, making a total of 304.
There will be four of the contentious Saturday evening fixtures and 13 extra Sunday meetings bringing the total to 79.
In an effort to ease the burden on stable staff, the number of mixed cards between May and August has decreased from 81 to 74.
Due to the proximity of the Punchestown festival, the traditional Easter meeting at Fairyhouse will run for three days from April 20th-22nd.
Next year's Galway festival will run from July 28th to August 3rd.
