Tipperary hosts a Galway Plate trial in the £10,000 Aer Rianta Shannon Handicap Chase tomorrow, but champion jockey Charlie Swan's chances of making the Galway festival are not looking good.
Swan has two broken ribs after a fall from Archelec at Killarney on Thursday and admitted yesterday it is "looking doubtful" about him riding at Galway.
"I'm not sure how long I'll be out. I'm not feeling too bad but I got kicked in the lower part of the back and it has swollen up and I've broken two ribs. I'll know more in a couple of days," Swan said.
Swan won the Plate in 1996 on Life Of A Lord and has been placed in the race every year since 1993.
Nobody in today's trial can match that record, but as a race this contest looks decent and Oakler is taken to win it for the inform Frances Crowley.
Oakler ran at Killarney last Monday evening when taking part in a two-mile flat handicap. He finished a three length second to the 20 to 1 shot, Miroswaki, and confirmed what a splendidly consistent summer he is having. That includes a Tramore success in early June and this looks another suitable opportunity.
Crowley may also take the bumper with the newcomer, Native Time, while the EBF Handicap for fillies could fall to Frisky, runner-up to Diligent Dodger over the course and distance last time and is preferred to Jim Bolger's Naas winner, Darina, on this occasion. Aidan O'Brien introduces the Fairy King filly, Elf Queene, in the opener but the experience of Con Collins's Mrs Evans could make her a better value option; while in the Stanley Handicap, Pat Fahy's Storm Gem, third to Chapparal Lady on the flat last time out, is taken to beat Malacoda.
Galway businessman Ray Rooney and Mallow, Co Cork stud owner Edward Flannery have been appointed stewards of the Turf Club and Irish National Hunt and Steeplechase Committee respectively.
Olivier Peslier, who rides High-Rise in next Saturday's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, also hopes to be in action at Ascot and Newmarket the previous day. The French jockey's agent Shippy Ellis said that no firm riding plans had been made but he hoped Peslier would pick up some good spare rides as Kieren Fallon is suspended on that day.
