Ned Stark heads powerful Gordon Elliott team of four in Galway Blazers

6.15 Galway
Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase | 2m6½f | 4yo+ | RTV

Gordon Elliott plundered the Galway Plate with Borice on Wednesday and he has four chances to add the second richest handicap chase of the week, with his team for the Blazers captained by Ned Stark.

Ned Stark has had only four starts for Elliott and was successful at Perth last month before finishing a close-up fourth in the Midlands National at Kilbeggan. He was rated 143 a few years ago so his current mark of 130 certainly catches the eye with the Elliott team in top form and Davy Russell booked.

Elliott, who also saddles Mill Quest, Swingbridge and Cecil Corbett, said: "I would say Ned Stark might potentially be the strongest of our four. He has had plenty of niggling problems over the years but he seems to be coming into form now and arrives on the back of a good run in the Midlands National at Kilbeggan.

"Mill Quest has been a terrific mare and has won seven times in the last 13 months. She probably found the trip a bit too far at Kilbeggan and this distance should suit better.

"Swingbridge won the Killarney National in great style and has found life tougher off higher marks since. Cecil Corbett won the Connacht National at Roscommon in June and would need to bounce back to that form to go close here."

Minella Beau is the sole entry from the Willie Mullins stable and runs in the colours of Annette Mee who has already cheered home three winners this week. He has failed to complete on his last three outings but has won twice around Galway and could be nicely treated off a mark of 131 if putting in a clear round.

What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Tesseract and Treasure Chest
Tesseract only lost out narrowly at Kilbeggan last time and we've been happy with him since. He's a course-and-distance winner and we're hopeful. Treasure Chest won nicely at Roscommon last time and is in good form. He's stepping up a good bit in distance and we're hoping that will suit.

Peter Fahey, trainer of Mine Now
He absolutely loves Galway and always seems to go well around there. If you looked at his form figures you would not be giving him much of a chance but he is in great form at home and I'm expecting a big run.

Matthew Smith, trainer of Mindsmadeup
He's in absolutely flying form and I am really looking forward to the race. I was thrilled with him at Limerick and he seems to be in great order since then.

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