Fry eyes Plate glory with Drumcliff on Galway bow
HARRY FRY is making a bold bid for success on his first trip to Ballybrit next week with Drumcliff one of five possible British raiders out of 58 entries hoping to land the Galway Plate next Wednesday.
Fry (right) has crossed the Irish Sea with great success in the past – most notably when U now ha time an harry lifted the Grade One Champion Stayers Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival last year – and he’s hoping the patient approach will pay off with Drumcliff.
Still a maiden after seven hurdle runs, the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old has thrived over the larger obstacles and was put away with the €250,000 showpiece in mind since taking the Clarke Chase at Uttoxeter in fine style two months ago.
“The plan is to go to Galway, as things stand at the moment. It has been the focus since his last success at Uttoxeter. It is a big pool and I’m under no illusions that it’s a competitive race,” Fry said.
The quality of the Tote-sponsored Ballybrit showpiece has improved immeasurably in the past decade and it is becoming one of the most prized chases on these shores, regularly featuring topclass graded horses running in handicap company.
Subsequent Grade One winners Carlingford Lough (2013), Road To Riches (2014) and Balko Des Flos (2017) have all taken the 2m6f chase en route to bigger things with the latter also prevailing in last year’s Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham for Henry de Bromhead.
The Waterford trainer has seven potential runners, including top-weight Sub Lieutenant, as he eyes a third victory in four years, while 2016 winner Lord Scoundrel is one of eight contenders for Gordon Elliott, along with recent Kilbeggan Midlands National winner Timiyan.
Willie Mullins has only tasted success once in the Plate – Blazing Tempo in 2011 – but the Closutton maestro has 13 possibilities including Grade One-winning hurdler Saturnas and 2016 third Ballycasey.
Just 24 hours later, the €300,000 Galway Hurdle has attracted 44 entries including last year’s winner Tigris River, one of five possibilities for Classic-winning trainer Joseph O’Brien.
Mullins is responsible for 13 entries including top-weight Wicklow Brave and Whiskey
Sour – a dual winner at the meeting 12 months ago – while Lagostovegas may attempt a unique double across the codes having prevailed at Royal Ascot last month.
Elliott aims five – including 2014 third The Game Changer – as he looks to break his duck in the contest, while Gavin Cromwell has entered dual Grade One-winning mare Jer’s Girl and Noel Meade is expected to saddle the well-touted Grimes Hurdle hero Joey Sasa and Curley Bill. Elsewhere, another big race in the Irish calendar will have a new name as estate agents Savills are the new sponsors of the big Grade One 3m Chase at Leopardstown on December 28 after agreeing a three-year deal.
Prize money increases by €25,000 to €175,000 for The Savills Chase, best known as the Lexus Chase, which has had many prestigious winners including three-time Gold Cup winner Best Mate, Michael Hourigan’s star Beef Or Salmon and last year’s victor Road To Respect. Immediate attention turns to a seven-race Flat card at Naas this evening, however, where Aidan O’Brien’s Could It Be Love bids to bounce back from a disappointing display at York in the Listed Yeomanstown Stud Stakes (7.15).
Second to superstar filly Alpha Centauri in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, O’Brien’s three-year-old is 12lbs superior to her nearest rival on ratings and barring a no-show, the €60,000 prize should be at her mercy.
Joseph O’Brien will be hoping to spoil his father’s party once again, however, and Now You’re Talking has run a couple of fine races in defeat at the Kildare track already this season and may give her most to do while Eddie Lynam’s progressive filly Soffia bids to make it four wins on the bounce in a top-class renewal.
The concluding Golden Ticket Package Race (8.50) is not lacking in quality either and while only four go to post, O’Brien’s 109- rated rated Three and fourpence collides with Jim Bolger’s Theobald, Mick Halford’s course and distance winner Kerineya and Ger Lyons’ interesting newcomer First Response.