Jett and Peregrine Run top maximum field in Plate

PA Sport Reporters
July 27, 2020 10:45 am

Big guns out in force for Galway showpiece.

Jett and Peregrine Run head the weights after a maximum field was declared for the Tote Galway Plate.

The prestigious handicap represents a drop in class for the Jessica Harrington-trained Jett, who is set to make his first competitive appearance since finishing fourth in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in early February.

The nine-year-old was subsequently bought by leading owner Robert Waley-Cohen, with a view to having a tilt at the Grand National in the spring, but the Aintree spectacular was abandoned after the coronavirus pandemic brought the sport to a halt for over two months.

Jett will carry 11st 10lb in the hands of Robbie Power on Wednesday, the same weight as Peregrine Run, the mount of Kevin Sexton.

Peter Fahey’s stable stalwart won a Grade Three event at Killarney on his latest outing over fences, since when he has finished third on the Flat at the same venue.

Gordon Elliott has won three of the last four Galway Plates and is this year responsible for five of the 22 runners to have made the cut, plus one of the three reserves.

The Cullentra handler’s squad is made up of The Storyteller, ante-post favourite Galvin, Dinons, Three Musketeers, The Big Lense and second reserve Mighty Stowaway.

Elliott’s great rival Willie Mullins also has a formidable hand – with Easy Game, Robin Des Foret, Royal Rendezvous, Cabaret Queen, Livelovelaugh and Blazer giving him six chances to win the race for the first time since Blazing Tempo broke his duck in 2011.

Joseph O’Brien has a trio of runners in Us And Them, Mortal and Early Doors – while Henry de Bromhead is represented by Sub Lieutenant and Spyglass Hill.

Liam Cusack’s Snugsborough Benny, the Edward O’Grady-trained The West’s Awake, Noel Meade’s Cap York and Winter Escape from Aidan Howard’s yard are the others guaranteed a run.

Black Scorpion and Chavi Artist and first and third reserve respectively, for Eric McNamara and Tom Mullins.