Frances Crowley's Moscow Express heads a field of 14 for the Compaq Galway Plate on the second day of the week-long festival. And Crowley is hopeful her consistent nine-year-old, who floored Florida Pearl in a Grade One contest at Fairyhouse in April, can repeat his success of two years ago in the £61,250 feature.
But he faces a tough task giving weight all round off 12st 2lb, and his rivals include Irish Grand National runner-up Rathbawn Prince (11-7) and Grimes (10-1), who was an easy winner at Tipperary earlier this month. Miss Crowley also saddles the veteran Private Peace (10-7).
"They're both in great form," she said. "I think the weather is nice up in Galway so hopefully it will dry up a bit. Moscow Express is in brilliant form and always rises to the occasion for a big race so I'll be expecting a good run out of him. He's very consistent and always puts up a good show in a big race."
Top Irish jockey Ruby Walsh again takes the ride on Moscow Express and Miss Crowley feels he is certainly an asset to her horse. "Ruby is his jockey. He gets on really well with him and that's worth a lot to the horse," she added. "Private Peace could run a good race. He's getting on a bit now but he was a very good horse in his day. He's got a nice weight and, if everything went well, he could be thereabouts."
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
