Fahey waiting on ground before choosing prolific Peregrine's Galway goal

Peregrine Run, one of the stars of the summer over jumps in Ireland, has been left in both thetote.com Galway Plate (7.20) on Wednesday and the Guinness Galway Hurdle (4.55) on Thursday, with trainer Peter Fahey wanting the best ground possible for his stable star.

Unbeaten in five starts since May, Peregrine Run successfully reverted to hurdles at Cork this month after four wins over fences, and Fahey is sitting tight as to which of the big handicaps the nine-year-old will contest.

"I'd prefer to run him in the Plate but ground is the big thing for him as he likes it quick," Fahey said on Thursday.

"I'll wait and see what happens with the weather and watering. Whichever track is the faster will decide which race he goes for, but with the 48-hour final declarations for both races this year for the first time, it's going to be tricky."

Peter Fahey: would love quick ground for Peregrine RunCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Peregrine Run is one of the remaining 36 entries for the Plate, for which he is an 18-1 shot, while he is 20-1 for the 2m Galway Hurdle.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Black Corton heads the weights for the €300,000 chase – which has a maximum final field of 22 – while trainer also has Modus in the race.

Modus is one of five probable runners for owner JP McManus whose colours have been carried to victory in the race on six occasions, most recently by Carlingford Lough in 2013.

Frank Berry, McManus's racing manager, said: "Coney Island, Modus, Regal Encore, Auvergnat and Drumcliff are all intended runners."

Drumcliff was leading when he fell at the ninth fence in the race a year ago and will have to overcome a long absence on his first start since joining Aidan Howard from Harry Fry.

Gigginstown House Stud has won the last three runnings of the event with Clarcam's victory 12 months ago following the successes of Lord Scoundrel in 2016 and Balko Des Flos in 2017.

The Gordon Elliott-trained trio Mengli Khan, Barra and A Toi Phil could all represent the O'Leary brothers' operation on Wednesday.

Mengli Khan: remains in the entries for the Galway PlateCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

In addition to Black Corton, Modus and Regal Encore the other British-trained runners remaining are the Dan Skelton-trained Azzuri and Henryville, trained by Peter Bowen.

Willie Mullins, who achieved his only win in the race with Blazing Tempo in 2011, has three inside the top 22 – Yorkhill, Some Neck, and Pravalaguna.

The champion trainer has won the Guinness Hallway Hurdle three times, most recently last season with Sharjah, and this year top-weight Quick Grabim, Sayo, Stratum and Riven Light could all represent the trainer.

The seven-day festival begins on Monday and the ground on Thursday was good on the chase and hurdle courses and good to yielding on the Flat course.

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