The crowds are back and there has been a huge demand for entries for this popular event.

At present the going is good on the Chase course, good to yielding on the Hurdle course and Yielding on the flat.  These probably won't change much considering summer was last week.

The opening race is the Galway Bay Hotel Novice Hurdle with 10 runners.  HMS Seahorse is the only runner that has a rating so far and is by Galileo trained by Paul Nolan with Sean O'Keefe riding.  Always pays to keep Gordon Elliott's horses safe and this time it is As Tears Go By 5/1 with Jack Kennedy on board.  Gaoth Chiul is on 9/2 for Walsh-O'Reagan.

The Connacht Hotel Handicap over 3300m is for Amateur riders and there is a field of 20.

Echoes in Rain 10/3 is the hope of Patrick Mullins who has been trying to ride a winner here for ages.  Willie Mullins saddles as usual and he has a few other entries as well including Farout 7/2 with Miss J Townend on board.  We have a roughie here – Taipan on 33/1 for Jessica Harrington who ran second on resuming from a spell over 2400m and has the same pilot on board – M J O'Sullivan.