'He's our main one' - Grade 1 winner leads Gigginstown's Galway Hurdle team

Gigginstown and Gordon Elliott have yet to mastermind a Galway Hurdle triumph but the top combination are putting their faith in Felix Desjy to deliver a breakthrough win in this year's race after an encouraging prep run at Tipperary on Thursday.

A Grade 1 winner in the 2019 Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, the classy hurdler proved he still retained plenty of his old ability when landing a big handicap hurdle at the Punchestown festival two starts ago.

Despite proving no match for the impressive Santa Rossa when fourth in the Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle earlier this week, Gigginstown racing manager Eddie O'Leary was satisfied with what he saw from the 144-rated performer.

Entries for the Guinness-backed highlight will close on July 13, but Felix Desjy may end up being Gigginstown's only runner for the €270,000 prize.

O'Leary told the Racing Post: "We're still a few weeks away from Galway, so plans will be firmed up closer to the time, but hopefully Felix Desjy will head for the Galway Hurdle.

Felix Desjy and Jack Kennedy get up late to land the Killashee Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown in AprilCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"We mightn't have much more for the race. He'll probably be the main one for us there."

Since 2013, Gigginstown have had 16 runners in the Galway Hurdle, rattling the crossbar when Due Reward was second in 2019, while Make Your Mark (2013), The Game Changer (2014) and Petit Mouchoir (2020) each finished third. Felix Desjy also fell at the second hurdle as 4-1 favourite for the same race in 2020.

Elliott is 0-21 in the Galway Hurdle and has sent out the runner-up twice with Flaxen Flare (2013) and Bayan (2014).

O'Leary added: "It was a very nice run from Felix during the week. Hopefully, he'll come out of that well."

Gigginstown have had no issue plundering the Galway Plate. They have won it four times with Road To Riches, Lord Scoundrel, Clarcam and Balko Des Flos and backing their horses blind in Ballybrit's most famous handicap chase since 2006 would have yielded a level-stake profit of €25.00.

Fire Attack: ran out a decisive winner when last seen at Punchestown in MayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

On this year's possible Plate team, O'Leary said: "I'd imagine the main ones will be Fire Attack and Embittered with Joseph [O'Brien], and hopefully Notebook could run well too.

"Fingers crossed Fire Attack is on the up. It didn't happen for Notebook at Aintree in the Topham. He was just scoping wrong in the spring of the year, so we're hoping he might be a bit healthier in the summer.

"Battleoverdoyen will go for it as well. He's got an entry for the Midlands National before then, and there's some great prize-money on offer there, but that Kilbeggan trip might just be beyond on him. We've got others entered for the race, though."

Leading British-based trainers Paul Nicholls, Dan Skelton, Fergal O'Brien, Olly Murphy and Richard Newland told the Racing Post they were unlikely to have runners at Ballybrit.

However, Neil Mulholland finished second in last year's Galway Hurdle with Milkwood and is set to return with a lively outsider for the Galway Plate.

Exelerator Express: on course for a tilt at the Galway PlateCredit: Mike Egerton (Getty Images)

"I'm not sure how many we're bringing over – Milkwood won't go – but Exelerator Express is being aimed at the Galway Plate," said Mulholland.

"He's been progressive and ran well when third in the Perth Gold Cup last time, having won at Aintree the time before. We just thought it would be a grand race for him with good prize-money."

Mulholland added: "You need to stay in the Galway Plate and he's won over a bit further previously. Our equivalent race in Britain in the middle of July is the Summer Plate at Market Rasen.

"That race is worth £55,000 in comparison to the Galway Plate, which is is worth €270,000."

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