In-form Shumaker could be set for Galway raid

All roads lead to Ballybrit now for Paul Traynor's in-form Shumaker after he landed the extended mile and a quarter handicap in Down Royal.

The even-money favourite was a warm order to consolidate his victory on the flat at Ballinrobe on Monday evening.

Joey Sheridan rode him into a challenging position at the two pole and the pair hit the front with a furlong and a half to travel.

They readily asserted and kept on to score by a length and a quarter from a staying-on Amlad at 7/1. The runner-up got up for second by a neck from Universal Focus (16/1).

Assistant and owner Karen McNeilly said: "We are aiming for something in Galway - we have hurdles and flat to consider.

"Shumaker has just proved to be an absolute star of the yard, he really has. We only have a few, but anything we have brought out do pretty well for us.

"We are aiming for a hurdle race in Galway for him, it depends on whether our mark is high enough to get in - it's the 140 and he is rated 125. If he didn't get in we would take a look at the flat (in Galway) and see what there is. He's very versatile.

"They are living life as horses - they are out at night and if it is a bad night and it is raining they are brought in.

"We went to Galway last year with Lusis (Naturea) as favourite as well, so two years running to possibly go with a favourite is a good achievement."