'He's still unexposed' - who fancies their chances of winning the Galway Plate?

Wednesday: 6.40 Galway
Tote Galway Plate | 2m6½f | 4yo+ | RTE2/RTV

Samcro is not good enough to get into this year's Tote Galway Plate, failing by two to make the cut. That tells you all you need to know about the quality of the €270,000 contest. He might be a pale shadow of the horse who won at two Cheltenham Festivals but he is still rated 142. This is a tasty affair.

When Carlingford Lough landed a monster gamble in the race in 2013 he was rated only 133 and a mark of only 132 was needed to get into it in 2012.

The quality keeps on rising and Grand National-winning trainer Emmet Mullins brings a pair of classy contenders to the party in the hope of winning the race for the first time.

The Shunter was 11-2 second favourite for last year's Plate when he finished a close-up fourth having got into traffic problems around halfway. That was a big effort in the circumstances and he returns off an identical mark of 152.

The difference this year is that The Shunter has been seen only four times in the last 12 months. Last year he arrived at Ballybrit after nine races in the previous year, including at the Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown festivals. He is a much fresher horse this time and appears to have been trained specifically for the race.

Cape Gentleman, third in last year's Galway Hurdle after being sent off favourite, is from the same stable. Not seen since departing the Drinmore four fences from home when well in contention, the six-year-old has a 14-length victory over Troytown winner Run Wild Fred on his CV. That form is none too shabby. Could he be the Grade 1 chaser masquerading as a handicapper?

Gabynako has already proved himself a Grade 1 performer, albeit over shorter trips. He was second to Edwardstone in the Arkle at Cheltenham, justifying Gavin Cromwell's brave call to supplement him, and he did beat a subsequent Grade 1 winner when landing his beginners' chase over 2m5f.

Last year's hero Royal Rendezvous ended a 16-year wait for a Galway Plate winner to carry 11 stone or more. Ansar carried 11st 11lb when he claimed his second Plate in 2005 but the next 15 winners carried 10st 13lb or less.

Royal Rendezvous, at the age of nine, was also the oldest winner since Bob Lingo in 2013. The stats are against the 11-year-old Castlegrace Paddy, who has never run beyond 2m4f and is trying something new on his 29th start.

The 2020 winner Early Doors is 9lb higher than the mark he was successful off two years ago and is one of four runners for Joseph O'Brien.

The most interesting of the quartet is Fire Attack, who has grown up a lot in the last 12 months. He used to spoil his chances by being too fizzy in the early part of his races but fences have made a man out of him.

Shark Hanlon is his customary confident self before Hewick's bid to add another big prize to his CV, but a mark of 155 looks too high.

Road To Riches, Shanahan's Turn, Lord Scoundrel and Balko Des Flos all ran in the same 2m5f novice handicap chase at the Punchestown festival on the way to winning the Plate on their next outings.

El Barra won the same race at Punchestown this year and did so decisively from the front. The problem is, he was given a 10lb rise for doing so and is sure to be pestered for the lead this time.

Last year's runner-up Easy Game might be 3lb higher but he has looked better than ever of late and can never be ruled out, especially with Jack Foley taking 3lb off.

This, however, is a particularly hot Plate and he is once again vulnerable to something less exposed.

Enterprising Emmet double-handed in search for first Plate

Emmet Mullins has earned himself a reputation as one of Irish racing's shrewdest operators and just over three months after landing the Grand National, he goes in search of another massive pot with a pair of aces, according to the market.

Stablemates The Shunter and Cape Gentleman have been fighting it out for favouritism for the last week, and it's easy to see why.

Noble Yeats might have caused a massive shock when winning the Grand National at 50-1 in April but victory for either of the Mullins runners this time would be no surprise.

Mullins said: "It was nice to see The Shunter's last run at Sligo bring him back to a bit of form. Hopefully, it'll do the trick for him. He ran very well in the Plate last year and we kept him going through from Punchestown this year. Hopefully, that might be the difference.

"As for Cape Gentleman, it's going to be a bit of a worry fitness-wise to get him back to Galway after such a break, but he's potentially still unexposed. He ran a cracker in the Galway Hurdle last year, so the course won't be a problem."

Emmet Mullins: Grand National-winning trainer is represented by The Shunter and Cape GentlemanCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Emmet Mullins: the new handicap king

Noble Yeats
Randox Grand National, Aintree, 2022

The 50-1 shot become only the second novice to win the Grand National since 1958 but had even less experience than Rule The World did when he won it in 2016. In first-time cheekpieces, Noble Yeats jumped beautifully under Sam Waley-Cohen and became the first seven-year-old to win the Aintree spectacular since Bogskar in 1940.

The Shunter
Paddy Power Plate, Cheltenham, 2021

A shrewd bit of placing saw The Shunter go to Kelso for the Morebattle Hurdle 12 days before the Paddy Power Plate at Cheltenham. He completed the first leg of the big double in tenacious fashion under Alain Cawley, then landed a huge plunge at Cheltenham under 7lb claimer Jordan Gainford.

Red Devil Lads
Proudstown Handicap Hurdle, Navan, 2017

Mullins saddled St Stephens Green to win a Grade B handicap hurdle at Killarney a few months earlier, but the victory of Red Devil Lads on Troytown Chase day at Navan in 2017 was one of the earliest signs that Emmet was another Mullins to be taken seriously.

The 28-1 shot, who had won five times for Rebecca Curtis but looked on a downward curve, bounced back to form with a bang in beating Glenloe by two and a half lengths.

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Easy Game, Annamix and El Barra
Easy Game has had another great summer and if the rain stays away, then the more his chance improves. He ran very well in the race last year and Jack Foley's claim is a big help. El Barra won the novice handicap chase at Punchestown in good style. We gave him a break to freshen him up for this and he's been in great form at home over the last few weeks. Annamix was very disappointing in the Plate last year and just didn't take to it.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Gabynako
I'm happy with him and we've trained him for the race. Hopefully, the trip won't be a problem. He's never stopped in a race and I don't think he'll be stopping at the end of this either.

Shark Hanlon, trainer of Hewick
You'd be a little afraid it might be too short [the trip], but he has plenty of go about him and as long as he's not taken off his feet in the first furlong or two, I think he'll go there with a real chance.

Matthew Smith, trainer of Ronald Pump
He's great and has had a nice break. If he gets into a rhythm and pops away in the early part of the race I'd like to think he has a big chance. We said we'd aim him at this after the Irish National.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of A Wave Of The Sea, Darasso, Early Doors and Fire Attack
Fire Attack won nicely at Punchestown and this race has been the plan for him ever since. We're hoping for a big run from him. Early Doors is in good shape. He won this race a few years ago and any rain that falls in the lead-up to the race will be a help. Darasso has been running very well over hurdles. We're putting him back over fences for this and hoping he can pick up a share of the prize-money, as he so often does. A Wave Of The Sea had a nice comeback run at Tipperary and Harry Swan's claim will be a help.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Battleoverdoyen, Hurricane Georgie and Ash Tree Meadow
She might need a career-best, but if Hurricane Georgie is within touching distance of them turning for home she will rattle home. Nothing will be finishing better and I just hope she's still in contention with two to jump. She's improving all the time. Ash Tree Meadow is a lovely young horse and has taken really well to fences, while Battleoverdoyen is down to a very winnable mark but he'll have to recapture some of his old form to have a say.

Pat Fahy, trainer of Castlegrace Paddy
He's been great since he won on the Flat at Killarney. He's schooled well and everything has gone well since. You don't beat a Gold Cup winner [A Plus Tard] without having a bit of class. When he gets his ground, he just wings his fences. We have trained him for this and I think he'll stay. We'll be riding him to get the trip.

Wednesday previews:

1.50 Goodwood: Is anyone capable of stopping Secret State's bid for a four-timer?

2.25 Goodwood: 'This is a good opening to win her first Group race' - who is feeling confident?

3.00 Goodwood: Who has the right pedigree to excel in a Molecomb test of raw speed?

3.35 Goodwood: World at his feet: Baaeed bidding to cement his number-one spot on global stage

6.10 Galway: Kennedy opts for Return To Base as emphatic Punchestown winner goes handicapping

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