A confident vote is given to Royal Albert

THE seven-year-old Royal Albert is chosen to give trainer Pat Flynn his second triumph in the GPT Galway Handicap as the country's greatest sports festival gets under way this evening.

Royal Albert, who missed, the whole of last year through injury, has made steady improvement since returning to action in February, adding two wins in hurdle races and a Flat maiden to the two bumpers he picked up in 1994.

There was much to admire about the ease of that Flat race win at Clonmel, for he went clear at the furlong pole for a seven-lengths victory. Royal Albert seems quite at home on most types of ground but he possibly might not be quite as happy if it is really soft.

In such extreme conditions, the topweight Garaiyba would be the one they would all have to beat, but if the ground remains good, there is no real reason why the John Oxx horse should reverse Curragh placings with Up She Flew, whose partner, Claire Doyle, would be the first woman rider to take this coveted prize.

Shankorak ran a cracking race in a Curragh handicap, just failing to catch Alasad when apprentice ridden. He has a good record at this meeting and took this prize in 1993. Dashing Rose and Wesperada represent last year's winning trainer Noel Meade, with the recent Wexford winner Dashing Rose possibly holding the better chance.

The bottom weights Bamapour, Near Gale and Duharra all have chances, but Royal Albert is selected

Dermot Weld's juveniles are always worth watching and the Sadler's Wells colt, Casey Tibbs, made a promising debut on Derby day at the Curragh when fifth to his highly-regarded stable companion Beautiful Fire. The second and third have been successful since and Casey Tibbs should have the beating of Gaultier Gale in the GPT Industrial Properties EBF Maiden.

A mistake three out ended Tale Gale's chances of victory in a Dundalk maiden hurdle, but barring a similar mishap he might be good enough in the opening event the GPT Sligo Maiden Hurdle, in which Real Taoiseach's chances would be enhanced if the ground turns soft.

Rupert Belle won a Flat maiden here last year and the decision to go for the GPT Dublin Handicap in preference to the amateur Flat handicap might be worth heeding. His second to Ros Castle in a handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival wad a useful effort and he is preferred to Finchpalm and The Bould Vic.