Galway track officials gets bypass assurances

Galway racetrack officials say they have received assurances there will be no interference to the running of meetings during construction on a €500 million bypass of the city which is currently expected to be routed through the racecourse stables.

It is expected to be 2017 at the earliest before any building work on the new road is likely to commence, with the project still to go through the planning process. However, Galway racecourse manager describes the current situation regarding the racecourse stable area in particular as “very unsatisfactory”.

“We have been assured there will be no interference with the running of race meetings during the construction, and that it will be phased over a three-year period. But we have been given no assurances about the stable yard. That is our big priority at the moment,” said John Moloney.

“At the minute we don’t have a site to rebuild a stable yard. We are awaiting consultants to come up with a situation where we can replace the stables.

“The other thing is that it would be compulsory acquired land which means the local authority would own it so we would be operating on land that may not be ours, which is highly unsatisfactory. We are very disappointed that they ever would have considered something that would interfere with the running of the Galway Races.”

The current preferred route for the new road involves a tunnel through the car park in the middle of the racecourse, and the Galway authorities have warned about potential impact on ground and how long it could take to recover.

Current ground conditions ahead of the world famous festival which kicks off on Monday are “good to yielding” National Hunt going, while it is “yielding” on the flat. Showers are forecast over the weekend.

Monday evening's €80,000 feature is the Connacht Hotel Handicap, the major amateur rider prize, for which Willie Mullins supplies the current topweight Thomas Hobson.

King of Ballybrit

Sierra Sun is Dermot Weld’s sole entry for that race, and as the renowned “King of Ballybrit” readies his team for next week’s action, his sole Wexford starter today is Faseeha, who Leigh Roche will ride in the opening fillies maiden.

Champion jockey Pat Smullen is at Ascot, renewing his partnership with the Hardwicke winner Snow Sky in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the complexion of which could alter depending on forecast overnight rain.

Soft ground would not be ideal for the unbeaten Derby hero Golden Horn, and Smullen is cautiously optimistic of Snow Sky’s chance.“Golden Horn is going to be extremely difficult to beat, but I was impressed with my horse in the Hardwicke. I think he has a huge chance.”

Joseph O’Brien has two Wexford rides for John Kiely and Henry’s Girl could be a surprise package for them in the 11 furlong maiden having run into a potentially smart horse in Affinisea at Roscommon. Deor faded in the closing stages of his last Curragh start but is dropped a furlong today.