The 14-year-old loves this track and once again has the benefit of Niall Madden's assistance in the saddle. Half Barrell will raise the roof if he wins here, but the biggest danger to him may come from another Galway specialist in the form of the Paul Nolan-trained Dix Villez.

While Half Barrell appreciates a slight ease in the ground, Dix Villez must have fast ground to be seen at his best, and both trainers will be keeping a watchful eye on the weather.

Nolan's charge was last seen out finishing third in the Galway Plate, a race in which he cut out much of the running, and he lost little in defeat in finishing just under five lengths off the winner Far From Trouble.

The seven-year-old seems to reserve some of his best performances for this track, and is sure to go close under in-form jockey Davy Russell.

Half Barrell's half-brother Another Barrell goes to post under David Casey for the two-and-a-half mile Kenny Development Group Handicap Hurdle, but Aerlite Rooler, from the Davy Fitzgerald stable, holds more appeal.

Racing also takes place at Cork this afternoon, where Leeside Music, who was denied a run over timber at Down Royal last Saturday, gets the vote over Sling Back to register an overdue success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Handicap over seven furlongs.