Mick Fitzgerald will ride the heavily backed Galway Plate contender Torduff Boy, it was revealed today.
He has been booked by Wexford trainer Paul Nolan for the nine-year-old, whose price was slashed from 20-1 in to 9-1 favourite for next Wednesday's Hewlett Packard-sponsored chase by Paddy Power on yesterday.
"Mick will ride him as I know him well - he is from the same county as me, County Wexford - and the other top jockeys like Barry Geraghty and Ruby Walsh are likely to be tied up," Nolan said.
"I am sure Mick will get on with him straight away. I have never seen Torduff Boy make a mistake and of the seven chases he has won six have been on Grade One tracks.
"It is an open race this year with no obvious stand-out horse so if he handles the early pace he will have every chance."