Bobs Pride primed for local success

It's got a new name, the Tote Galway Mile, but little else looks set to change in the second day festival highlight as Dermot Weld lines up Bobs Pride for what could be a major local success.

Bobs Pride is owned by the Galway city jeweller Robert Blacoe, and with Pat Smullen committed to Weld's other runner, the Moyglare-owned Absolute Image, it's leading jump jockey David Casey who will be in charge of the one-time Derby prospect.

A €150,000 pot like this would be the most valuable success on the flat for both Blacoe and Casey, but for Weld it is well-trodden ground. Under its former guise of the McDonogh Handicap, the legendary Galway specialist won six times, making him easily the most successful trainer in the 36-year history of the race.

Last season Absolute Image managed an honourable third behind Latino Magic, and both return for another crack, along with the English raider Fremen, who will try to emulate the only other cross-sea trained winner, Majestic Nurse in 1979.

Dandy Nicholls' horse is in flying form, having scored at York and Musselburgh on his last two starts, but both those were on very fast going, and persistent showers yesterday, which totalled almost 10mm, mean he won't be encountering that in the west of Ireland.

In fact, a certain versatility with ground could end up an advantage this evening, and although Bobs Pride ran a decent third on firm going over seven furlongs at Cork last time, his very best form is on an easier surface.

Indeed, at the start of his three-year-old career Weld was thinking in terms of the Irish Derby for Bobs Pride, who won the Group Three Ballysax on soft ground, but then managed only fourth behind Fracas in the Derrinstown. A drop back in trip resulted in a run in the Irish Guineas where, unsurprisingly, he found the likes of Dubawi and Oratorio too hot.

Two runs over hurdles during the winter didn't result in much, but the third of three starts on the flat this season was an encouraging return to form at Cork over an inadequate distance. Casey rode him on that occasion too, and for a man who in the past has scored Cheltenham victories and wins in races like the Hennessy and the French Champion Hurdle, tonight's feature can prove a profitable novelty.

Casey will be in more familiar territory in the opening maiden hurdle where Weld supplies Dasher Reilly, who won a bumper here last year. One subsequent start yielded a fine fifth in the Champion bumper at Punchestown, and a clean round of jumping today would make him hard to beat.

But Weld followers are likely to be queuing up to support Supposition, who carries the famous colours of Juddmonte Farms in the seven furlong fillies maiden.

The trainer has used this race in the past for future Group One winners like Dance Design and Market Booster, and there was plenty to like about the way Supposition stuck to her task on a Curragh debut second to Duke Of Marmalade in June.

Weld introduces the Namid colt, Diman, in the three-year-old maiden, and the market will be of special interest for this one's chance. Of those with form, though, it could be Mystery Cat who emerges best. Third to Mist And Stone at Cork on his sole start of the year, today's conditions may suit much better.

• The opening day festival crowd of 19,212 might have been down slightly on the corresponding evening in 2005 but it had no effect on the betting with a close on half a million euro increase in bookmaker turnover to a total of €2,762,907. The figure included €540,403 on the bumper which was won by the 20 to 1 outsider Glaczer Flyer. The Tote turnover was down €65,000 to €900,421.