Paul Nolan will be hoping for a repeat of his 2006 success with Cuan na Grai in Galway. THE GALWAY Festival starts on Monday, July 26, and continues for a full week, concluding on Sunday, August 1. This sevenday festival is noted more for the craic and festivities rather than the top quality of its racing.

That said, it does stage two of the most prominent races of the national hunt year, with the Galway Plate being run on Wednesday, July 28, and the Galway Hurdle being staged on Thursday, July 29. Both of these races have that elusive 'Black Type' for the winning and placed horses and so adds immeasurably to their pedigrees.

This year's renewals see 76 entries in the Tote-sponsored Galway Plate. Staged over two miles and six furlongs, the tricky track at Ballybrit is not to every horse's liking. Local entries include Colm Murphy with 'Don't Be Bitin', 'Clew Bay Cove' and 'Clew Cay Lodge'. With the weights ranging from 11 stone 10 down to 8 stone 11, chances are that all of Murphy's horses won't run.

Paul Nolan has former Galway hurdle winner 'Cuan na Grai' on 10 stone 13 and, while beaten over hurdles last weekend in Tipperary, he could make a very forward showing in the €200k sponsored race. This horse is owned by John Brennan who also has 'The Last Derby' trained by Eoin Griffin entered. This six-year-old is currently as low as 10 to 1 in the ante post market.

Other trainers with a Galway Plate entry include Liz Doyle with 'Penny's Bill' who took the Pierse Hurdle for her a few seasons back, and Leonard Whitmore who has two horses entered, namely 'Glacial Promise' and 'Hello Kitty'.

The top weight in the Plate is currently the Michael Hourigan-trained 'Church Island' and this gallant eleven-year-old, who won the Whitbred Chase at Sandown in April, would make a very bold showing if saddled.

The Guinness Galway hurdle has 47 entries and disappointingly has no Wexford involvement that is obvious to see. The current favourite for this race is the Donald McCain-trained 'Overturn' which will try to raise a British flag at the festival. BETTYVILLE RACES AGAIN The Friday evening fare returns to Bettyville racetrack next Friday, July 23, with a seven-race card down for decision. It's a mixed card on this occasion with four flat races kicking off proceedings from 6.05 p.m. followed by two steeplechases and a concluding bumper at 9.05 p.m.

The flat races are a mixture of maidens, handicaps and a claiming race run over from one mile, 100 yards to one mile, two furlongs and 150 yards. Just why we have such odd distances is a bit beyond me but it may have to do with our fascination with going metric. Why oh why can we not stay with the trusted miles and furlongs and not have to fiddle around with metres?

With the weather forecast a little broken this week, the ground should be on the easy side of good and we are all hopeful that we can have another really fine evening's racing as we have had at the last three meetings. REVIEW OF THE WEEK It has been a bumper week of racing with festival meetings in Killarney, Sligo and Downpatrick. A local syndicate under the name of 'The Split Ear Partnership' has amongst its owners James Kent from Aclare, New Ross. They have previously tasted success with the eight-year-old 'Stowaway' gelding, 'Split Ear', and doubled up at Sligo on July 11 when he won again under Emmet Mullins at 5/1.

At the same meeting, David Casey booted home 'Bean Chroi Bhriste' to win the maiden hurdle at 20/1, while Conor O'Dwyer saddled 'Prosperity Square', a five-year-old by 'Anshan', to win the opportunity hurdle at 12/1. David Casey travelled to Killarney on July 12 and won the conditions chase with 'Schelm', an eight-year-old by 'Alwuhush' in the colours of Paul Hillis and trained by Ronnie O'Leary.

The following day veteran jockey John Cullen joined forces with 'Keep It Cool', a sixyear-old by 'Spinning World', to take the handicap hurdle at 8/1.

Staying in Killarney, Leonard Whitmore and the Casey brothers from Gorey took a nice pot in the two-mile, six-furlong handicap hurdle when 'Casey Top', a seven-year-old by 'Topanoora', won at 8/1 under Brian Cooper.

Returning to the flat, Aidan O'Brien saddled 'Master of Hounds', 'Air Chief Marshal', 'Seven Summits', 'Ice Empress', 'Don Leone', 'Sherwood Forest' and 'Together' all to record victories during the past week. Not to be outdone, Jim Bolger recorded wins with 'Priomhbhean' and 'Gypsy Countess', with Colm Murphy winning again with 'Aladdins Cave'. DIARY DATES Racing: July 21, Naas (e); July 22, Leopardstown (e), Limerick (e); July 23, Wexford (e); July 26-August 1, Galway.

- with DICK WHITE