I AM led to believe that many of the true delights of the seemingly endless Galway Festival are to be found off the racetrack, rather than on it, but with spectators excluded this year, the focus at Ballybrit by necessity was all on the action.

Pride of place went as usual to the Tote Galway Plate on Wednesday and the Guinness Galway Hurdle on Thursday, won by Early Doors (144 rating) and Aramon (162) respectively, with a reminder that jumps ratings are on a higher level than their flat counterparts.