Galway Plate preview: Hewick camp hoping to land repeat success

Cromwell also concerned over ground

Gavin Cromwell is looking forward to saddling 9/1 shot Final Orders, who won five successive races over fences last season before finishing fifth in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham.

The seven-year-old fell in the Topham Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree on his next start, but recently proved his well being with a Flat victory at Bellewstown.

Cromwell said: “He’s in great shape and I’m delighted with him. I would love it if the ground was a little bit better, hopefully it won’t be too bad.

“We’re happy he’s in great nick and if he can get a bit of luck in running, hopefully he’ll be involved.”

Another high-class chaser who warmed up for Galway’s midweek feature with a victory on the level is the Barry Connell-trained Enniskerry, having bolted up by six lengths at Leopardstown in June.

However, his participation is also dependent on conditions, with Connell commenting: “The big problem is the ground – if it comes up soft he won’t run.

“It’s unfortunate because he’s in the form of his life, he has a lovely racing weight (10st 7lb) and if it was good ground we’d be very optimistic about his chances.

“We have him in another race on Friday, so that’s an alternative if we don’t get to run on Wednesday.

“He won his beginners’ chase there last year, so we know he likes the track and he’s a second-season novice who is unexposed, so he ticks a lot of boxes.”

Willie Mullins saddles 9/2 favourite Kilcruit, a former Cheltenham Champion Bumper runner-up who has six career wins from 15 starts and has only been out of the first three on three occasions.

Galway Plate 2023 odds

9/2 Kilcruit

9/1 Final Orders, Enniskerry

10/1 Ash Tree Meadow

11/1 Hewick

12/1 bar

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All odds and market correct at date of publication