Pas Possible looks a very possible winner of today's Guinness Galway Hurdle and in the process give yesterday's Plate hero Brendan Powell an unusual big-race double.
Joe Byrne, with Master Player and Tara Lee in 1984, and Jonjo O'Neill, with Hindhope and Proud Tarquin in 1979, were the last two riders to win Galway's big contests in the same year and despite having experienced Aintree Grand National glory with Rhyme 'N' Reason 10 years ago, a victory today would rank highly on Powell's CV.
However, a Pas Possible success would also be particularly sweet for the six-year-old's owner Ted Curtin. The former trainer bred Pas Possible as well as training Pas Possible's sire, The Bart, and the dam, Pollette.
The Bart went on to become a top-class racehorse in America and Pas Possible is something of a traveller himself, having won in Italy earlier in his career. Now, he is a particularly versatile animal whose three wins in Ireland have been on the flat, over hurdles and over fences. That versatility should help him cope better than most with today's conditions.
Pas Possible will relish the soft ground conditions and a quick pace in a big field looks ideal for a horse who likes to be produced late and fast. Richard Hughes gave a text book display when getting the horse to beat Galletina by a short head at the Curragh last month and Powell has the experience and nous to do something similar.
As ever it won't be easy in this race but on this ground it could pay to concentrate on horses near the the bottom of the handicap. Shantarini is in line for a £20,000 bonus if he can add this to Monday's GPT and Shane Donohoe's grey will be a danger to all. Tidjani doesn't win many but significantly won at Tipperary last time while Black Queen also looks to have conditions to suit.
Pas Possible will need to get the breaks at critical stages of this race but if he gets them, he and Powell can justify some stable confidence.
Musical Mayhem was an impressive winner of a two-mile flat handicap under top-weight on Tuesday and switches back to flights for the Harp Novice Hurdle. Evidently, Tuesday's exertions haven't taken too much out of him and Musical Mayhem is preferred to Noel Meade's impressive Wexford winner Marsul.
