Regaining the Tote Galway Plate is a rare accomplishment and could be within the grasp of Early Doors on Wednesday evening.
The 2020 winner of the summer’s most coveted steeplechase prize is back for another crack and carrying first-time blinkers to boot.
First-time cheek-pieces helped the Joseph O’Brien-trained horse to Plate glory two years ago, powering up the hill to overhaul Royal Rendezvous.
By the time Early Doors ran again almost a year and a half later, Royal Rendezvous had returned to Galway and won the Plate himself.
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In contrast his old rival fell off the radar, returning to action at the turn of the year and failing to cut much ice in his handful of runs since.
A fifth to Lord Lariat in Easter Monday’s Irish National was the best of them but after a warm-up spin over hurdles at Tipperary last month, plus the addition of new headgear, Early Doors could step up significantly back on familiar terrain.
He will need to though as this looks a typically competitive renewal of the €270,000 feature.
Last year’s runner-up Easy Game is back, has Jack Foley’s valuable 3lb claim to help against topweight, and is on a winning streak in conditions events.
Nearest to him in ratings are Gabynako who brings top-class Grade One novice form from last season and Hewick who memorably landed the last big handicap of the British season at Sandown in April.
Much pre-race attention is also likely to fall on the Emmet Mullins pair Cape Gentleman and The Shunter. The latter was fourth in the race 12 months ago and Mark Walsh has opted for him over Early Doors as well as JP McManus’s two other contenders.
A victory on the Flat at Sligo in May was an ideal warm-up for another tilt at the Plate and proven ability to act around Ballybrit is always a plus.
Cape Gentleman can boast that too having run a fine third to Saldier in last year’s Galway Hurdle.
A subsequent novice chase career petered out when he fell in the Grade One Drinmore last November but his overall profile, including the 2020 Irish Cesarewitch, suggests a 154 rating may be exploitable.
What he also has in his locker is Emmet Mullins’s expanding reputation as a trainer to reckon when it comes to laying one out for a major prize.
Aintree Grand National glory with Noble Yeats in April was the ultimate advertisement which was no surprise to those paying attention to his Galway record. It means the potential exists for a major groundswell of support in Cape Gentleman’s chance.
“It is a high mark (154) but hopefully he might still be a bit unexposed.,” Mullins said. “He ran a cracker in the Galway Hurdle last year and has a great cruising speed. Usually his jumping is good and if he can put it all together he’ll have a live chance.
“I think with his high cruising speed the Plate will suit him and I’d have no worry about the trip,” he added.
For someone with a self-confessed tendency to not use one word where none will do when it comes to his horses, it amounts to a notable expression of confidence.
Fire Attack is another of Joseph O’Brien’s four runners with a shout but ultimately there could be value in Early Doors trying to follow in the hoofprints of Royal Day (1967-69) and Amber Point (1954-56) by regaining the Plate crown.
Possible Group One hints don’t often come out of a maiden hurdle at Galway which is why Dawn Rising looks such an intriguing starter in Wednesday’s opener.
The ex-Ballydoyle runner is a full brother to the 2019 Irish Derby winner Sovereign and in just four career starts to date has shown considerable ability.
Not surprisingly after winning his maiden at Limerick by a dozen lengths in 2020 he was upped to Group Three level and was far from disgraced when runner-up to the high-class Al Aasy at Newmarket.
However, he hasn’t been seen since then and after being gelded was switched to Joseph O’Brien who now produces him for a first outing in JP McManus’s colours.
Dawn Rising clearly retains enough of an engine to earn him an entry in September’s Irish Leger at the Curragh. That is perhaps a speculative move but one which points to the potential task his opposition face here.
Willie Mullins runs three with the Limerick bumper winner Champ Kiely the apparent No 1 despite an absence of over a year. That shouldn’t be a problem, but Dawn Rising could be.
Mullins also runs three in the following handicap hurdle but could run into another Joseph O’Brien-trained snag in San Salvador.
A 123 rating doesn’t look prohibitive for a horse that looked to have a Grade Three at his mercy in Tipperary last October only to tip over at the last.
Jessica Harrington’s Dairein tackles a mile for the first time in a handicap but the way he came up the hill to win on Monday suggests he has every chance of winning for a second time this week.
