RACING: The all-important figures might now be in euro but the statistics still confirm Dermot Weld's position as the "king" of the Galway races. Brian O'Connor reports

Over €25 million will be bet on track over the next week and a record €1.5 million will be on offer in prizemoney. For the local economy there is also the lift of an estimated €20 million.

It's no surprise then to see Horse Racing Ireland's chief executive Brian Kavanagh describe Galway as "the flagship or Irish racing." But even with the continuing developments at Ballybrit, including a new pedestrian entrance in the centre of the course, it is the Weld factor that remains a festival cornerstone.

Last year, the master trainer saddled 10 festival winners for the fourth time in his career and this evening contains the famous two- year-old race Weld has won a staggering 14 times. However, if one event is overdue a Weld winner it is the featured GPT Handicap where Direct Bearing is a widespread fancy to bridge a 27-year gap.

The last of Weld's three victories came in 1975 and the race that initially ignited the trainer's love of Ballybrit has been unkind since.

Instead the last couple of GPT's have belonged to Pat Hughes and amateur rider Aidan Fitzgerald. Their double winner Gamekeeper isn't here but the ex-English High Prospect is and his chance looks obvious.

High Prospect won two in the space of six days last month and has risen 20lb in the ratings since. But he is still improving, acts on a dig and gets over a stone from Direct Bearing.

On ground softened further by rain yesterday, that could be vital and it certainly won't help the Plate topweight Rathbawn Prince.

The 1999 winner Just Wondering is back for another crack while Carlesimo tries to successfully kick-off a week where other entries include Thursday's big hurdle.

Faadhil is the Weld nominee this year for the juvenile maiden. Fifth to Brian Boru on his debut, the Dieses colt might not be ideally suited by testing conditions but is sure have come on for the run.

Aidan O'Brien has introduced some good two-year-olds here himself but One Nice Cat doesn't look in the top league while the Prendergast horse should go close.

With the form Jim Bolger's string are in, however, the solution could be Benicio, placed in all four starts including the Anglesey, and proven on soft ground.

The first Weld winner of the week may be over jumps in the two-mile handicap hurdle.

He runs Wimbledon who hasn't started over obstacles in over 10 months when disappointing on fast ground. Wimbledon will be happier on this surface and comes to Ballybrit on the back of a good third to Miss Odlum at Leopardstown.

In contrast, the rain-softened going cannot have been good news for Rare Presence who has to carry topweight in the mile and a half handicap. Fifth to Bowmore on his last start, Rare Presence has a tough task and a better value option could be Caishill who might have been attempting a tough task in trying to cope with Shanesia at Killarney.

The action opens with the maiden hurdle for four-year-olds where the dark horse is the Christy Roche-trained Puck Out who won a bumper at Ballinrobe.

The other principals have an obvious edge in experience but Nonchalent hasn't run for a year so the nod could go to the Limerick winner Harry The Ear. Roche's luck could change for the better in the bumper with the Naas runner-up Wouldn't You Agree.