GALWAY 18:40 4fb6g

Non Runners: SAMCRO (IRE), EARLY DOORS (FR), UNEXCEPTED (FR), EXIT POLL (IRE). Fences: 14.

Time: 5m 34.1s Closing Sectional: (4.9f): 76.8s (94.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 138%, Betfair SP 99.5%

An eventful renewal of the Galway Plate; it typically paid to be close up, Hewick avoiding the trouble - bar a late scare involving a loose horse - and completing a notable big handicap double; the pace was good.

HEWICK (IRE) is in the form of his life and resumed winning ways back over fences, in the process becoming just the second horse (after Life of A Lord in 1996) to complete the Sandown Gold Cup-Galway Plate double; never far away, left in front 5 out, asserted leaving home turn, carried right by loose horse straight, dug deep under pressure.

DARASSO (FR) back over fences, typically wasted no time getting back to form and went close from a 2 lb lower mark than when fifth in the race in 2021, faring best of those held up; waited with, jumped fine, crept closer from halfway, went fourth home turn, kept on well late, just failed.

EL BARRA (FR) strong in the betting, ran well after 13 weeks off and should continue to give a good in similar company; mid-division, going well when not fluent 4 out, challenged soon after last, no extra only late on.

ASH TREE MEADOW (FR) has made an encouraging start to his chasing career and is well worth another chance off this sort of mark, particularly as the longer trip seemed to stretch him; in touch, tanked along, took closer order early final circuit, every chance from 3 out, hampered by loose horse home turn, rider dropped whip early in straight, no extra late on.

BATTLEOVERDOYEN (IRE) stopped the slide to some extent, but never carried much of a win threat; mid-division, hampered third, plugged on latter stages.

DISCORDANTLY (IRE) after 3 months off, wasn't seen to best effect under an overly-patient ride and is better judged on previous form, making late headway having been tailed off for much of the way.

RONALD PUMP wasn't seen to best effect after 3 months off, his chance effectively up in smoke seconds after the tape was released, and he's worth another chance off this sort of mark in similar company; raced in rear after missing the break, hampered third, blundered 2 out, still plenty to do last, stayed on late, finished with running left.

THE SHUNTER (IRE) is in better heart than recent form figures over jumps suggest (as evidenced by a Flat win in May), always on the back foot here after a jolting early error; in touch, bad mistake fourth, shuffled back before halfway, shaken up between 3 out and 2 out, plugged on.

CAPE GENTLEMAN (IRE) shaped better than the distance beaten suggests, the combination of a longer trip and an 8-month absence seeming to take its toll late on; in touch (missed break slightly), travelled better than most, went second early final circuit, hit 4 out, faded from home turn.

EASY GAME (FR) suffered ill-luck bidding to go one better than in 2021 and can have a line put through this run - he probably remains in form; in touch, close up when badly hampered 5 out, not recover.

THE JAM MAN (IRE) fit from the Flat, had everything go wrong back over fences (in a change of headgear) and shouldn't be judged on this; held up, hampered first, baulked again third, hampered yet again 5 out, mistake 3 out, merely ed beaten horses late on.

GIN ON LIME (FR) shaped like a non-stayer after 9 weeks off and probably remains in form; handy, not fluent ninth, challenged last 2, weakened run-in.

CASTLEGRACE PADDY (IRE) was fit from a recent Flat win but isn't the force of old and found this too competitive, never better than mid-field having been hampered 5 out.

ANNAMIX (FR) has largely struggled for form away from Aintree's National fences since last autumn and, very much his connections' second string here, was well held after 3 months off; mid-division, badly hampered last, never on .

DALY TIGER (FR) seems to have lost his way; held up, lost touch from 4 out.

FIRE ATTACK (IRE) after 8 weeks off, was in the process of running well when departing; made running, still going well when fell heavily 5 out.

A WAVE OF THE SEA (IRE) didn't last long back over fences, falling heavily at the third when close up.

GABYNAKO (FR) upped in trip after 3 months off, might have finished in the frame had he completed; patiently ridden, hampered third, untidy eighth, good progress from 3 out, keeping on when fell heavily last, fatally injured.

EXELERATOR EXPRESS (FR) in first-time cheekpieces, was blameless for his early exit; mid-division, hampered and unseated third.

HURRICANE GEORGIE (IRE) saw her jumping issues resurface from out of the blue, unseating rider at the first when in rear.

NOTEBOOK (GER) fared no better in first-time cheekpieces, in trouble long before stamina could be blamed; prominent, struggling early final circuit, already dropping away when hampered 5 out.