Willie Mullins has won the Galway Hurdle with some classy types in recent years and top level performer Zarak The Brave looks nicely treated in the €270,000 feature contest on Thursday afternoon.
The Zarak gelding was among the leading juvenile hurdlers last season, chasing home brilliant stablemate Lossiemouth on a couple of occasions, including in the Grade One at Punchestown.
He went to France in May for their version of the Triumph Hurdle and ran with plenty of credit to finish third to another Mullins inmate, Gala Marceau, who had been behind him previously.
Given his Grade One form the four-year-old could be well in now off a mark of 145 in a handicap.
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Obviously this is a very different test with the rough and tumble of a big field but having also run on the Flat in France the four-year-old has a nice bit of experience under his belt.
His campaign last term was interrupted by colic and surgery and it was interesting to note Mullins said a couple of months ago that he was expecting significant improvement from Zarak The Brave.
With the potential to be a Grade One horse over timber he looks the one in the field that could be very leniently treated.
Obviously Emmet Mullins has already made a big mark at the festival this week and he runs two in the two-miler.
Filey Bay is given utmost respect after two cracking runs in ultra-competitive handicap hurdles last season.
The Fame And Glory gelding was second in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury before another fine performance to finish third in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham.
He tuned up for this with a spin on the Flat at Roscommon early last month and should be spot on for this task now.
Stablemate Merlin Giant is another worth consideration having won his maiden hurdle over course and distance last year.
He won on the Flat at Down Royal on his last outing and also looks to have been laid out for this prize.
Dual winner Tudor City just scrapes into the race at the bottom of the weights and he runs off the same mark as when winning 12 months ago.
It looks like another cracking renewal of the race and Zarak The Brave ticks a lot of boxes as Mullins seeks his fifth winner in the last eight years.
It could be a very profitable day for the champion trainer who sends a strong team to Ballybrit this afternoon.
Hercule Du Seuil looks hard to oppose in the Grade Three novice chase after two very impressive wins over fences this summer.
He has beat a few of these rivals recently and it’s hard to see them turning the tables now.
Mullins saddles three in the novice hurdle and Paul Townend sides with What Path.
The Coastal Path gelding is a relentless galloper and drops back in trip having won his last two over three miles.
With a strong gallop almost guaranteed around here that shouldn’t prove an issue and he has course form having won his bumper here last year.
Stoke The Fire looks the obvious one for Mullins in the mile-and-a-half handicap but it may pay to side with his other runner Aghaboy, who looks nicely treated on his return to the level.
‘Willie’s in the bumper’ is a tried and tested fail-safe for punters and it looks hard to oppose I Will Be Baie in the finale.
The French-bred was demoted on his ‘track’ debut at Punchestown when hanging in the closing stages and causing interference to the runner-up.
It was interesting to hear Patrick Mullins say then that he was very highly regarded and he should make amends now.
SELECTIONNEXT BEST
2.10: Jungle Prose Joyeux Machin
2.45: Hercule Du Seuil Ballyadam
3.20: Spanish Tenor Metabolt
3.55: Dandy Alys Keep In Touch
4.30: What Path The Big Doyen
5.05: Zarak The Brave (Nap) Merlin Giant
5.40: Aghaboy (Dbl) Stoke The Fire
6.10: I Will Be Baie Sea Music
