Sporting Life Galway Plate tips: Jennings' 10-1 pick
Racing Post tipster David Jennings has named Downmexicoway his Galway Plate selection at around 10-1, ahead of a maximum 22-runner Tote Galway Plate at Ballybrit. Sporting Life's Donn McClean prefers Nowwhatdoyouthink, while Racing TV's Johnny Ward backs Rocky's Diamond at 12-1.
The summer jumps showpiece goes to post on Wednesday with three major desks publishing runner-by-runner guides. Their top picks differ, yet UK and Irish readers following Sporting Life, Racing Post and Racing TV form agree the handicap looks wide open.
Key Takeaways
- Jennings rates Downmexicoway five stars and says odds of 10-1 will do him just fine.
- His forecast 1-2-3 is Downmexicoway, Conyers Hill and Rocky's Diamond.
- Sporting Life's Donn McClean tips Nowwhatdoyouthink ahead of Funiculi Funicula and Downmexicoway.
- Johnny Ward on Racing TV singles Rocky's Diamond at 12-1 for the Plate.
- A maximum field of 22 faces the starter for the Tote Galway Plate at Ballybrit.
Who does David Jennings tip for the Galway Plate?
Deputy Ireland editor David Jennings awards Downmexicoway his only five-star mark in a Racing Post runner-by-runner guide. He calls Henry de Bromhead's runner lightly raced, unexposed over the trip and prepared for this target.
Darragh O'Keeffe rides him ahead of stablemates Gorgeous Tom and Nouvotic. Jennings highlights a fourth in Cheltenham's Plate despite trouble in-running, and says a mark of 143 might underestimate him.
Conyers Hill earns four stars as 25-1 each-way value, while Rocky's Diamond also gets four stars after going 1-1 at the track for Declan Queally.
What does Sporting Life say about the same race?
Donn McClean's Sporting Life horse-by-horse guide crowns Nowwhatdoyouthink. The Gordon Elliott recruit, partnered by Jack Kennedy, finished third in a Grade 1 novice chase at Punchestown and sits near the right end of the weights.
McClean's order runs Nowwhatdoyouthink, Funiculi Funicula, Downmexicoway, Will The Wise and Nouvotic. He rates Will The Wise a major player after winning the Topham and showing prior Galway form for Gavin Cromwell.
Elliott, responsible for five of the last 10 Plate winners according to Sporting Life, also fields Three Card Brag and others. More offbeat racing chatter lives in our Bizarre News & Florida Man hub.
Which other experts back value in the Plate?
Johnny Ward's Wednesday Galway tips on Racing TV feature Rocky's Diamond at 12-1. Ward notes Queally has aimed him at the race, Michael Kenneally claims 5lb, and the chase mark sits below his hurdles rating.
That chimes with Jennings ranking Rocky's Diamond third. Willie Mullins' Funiculi Funicula, the mount of Paul Townend after a Punchestown novice handicap win, appears high on both Jennings' and McClean's shortlists despite a short price.
Jesse Evans, second in last year's Plate and 2lb lower now for Noel Meade, plus Barry Lyndon after a Punchestown win for Dermot McLoughlin, also feature as each-way angles across the guides.