Galway Preview: Aupcharlie the Plate punt

Trainer Henry de Bromhead is in good form at present, and his Aupcharlie looks decent each-way value in an ultra-competitive renewal of the Galway Plate (5.30).

The gelding is a smart sort who finished third in the 2011 running of the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival and has run some good races in top class company since being sent chasing.

The eight-year-old finished a cracking head runner-up to Back In Focus in the Grade 1 Topaz Chase at Leopardstown last season, and the winner is a smart sort who is now rated 149.

Aupchralie was rated 153 after that effort, but failed to win again and ended the season coming to grief at the closing stages of races at Punchestown and Gowran Park when holding every chance.

However, the son of Daliapour got back to winning ways on his first run this year when easily beating Miley Shah by just over four lengths at Clonmel and then put in an eye-catching effort last time out when staying on well under tender handling to finish fourth of 15 to Orpheus Valley at Punchestown.

Aupcharlie finished with running left in him in the latter, and having since been dropped another 1lb gets into this contest off just 146.

That makes Aupcharlie look on a handy mark, and with cheekpieces on for the first time he looks overpriced in a race which should be run to suit.

The other bet that stands out on a trappy card is Greatness in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle (4.10).

Trained by the ultra-shrewd Tony Martin, the gelding left his maiden hurdles form well behind when winning on handicap debut at Kilbeggan last month off a rating of 97.

The four-year-old stayed on well from off the pace to beat The Parishioner with a bit mire in hand than the 1/2 length winning margin suggests, and four of those who finished in behind have since come out and won to give the form a rock solid look.