Cheltenham Festival heroine Limini set for comeback at Galway

Cheltenham Festival winner Limini will return to action in the Connacht Hotel Amateur Handicap at Galway on Monday.

The seven-year-old won the Dawn Run Mares' Novices Hurdle in 2016, but has been off the track since finishing third behind Apple's Jade and Vroum Vroum Mag in last year's Mares Hurdle.

And speaking on Thursday, her trainer Willie Mullins said: "The plan is to run Limini on Monday. It'll be her first run for us on the Flat but she won three times on the Flat in France before we got her."

Patrick Mullins has yet to win the much-coveted amateur riders event, but Ireland's champion jumps trainer has not confirmed riding plans for Monday.

He said: "We have several others in the race including Chelkar, Low Sun and Gustavus Vassa, so we don't have running or riding plans yet."

Limini (right) finishing third to Apple's Jade and Vroum Vroum Mag in last year's Mares Hurdle

With four wins, Limini is rated 152 over hurdles and will compete off a mark of 89 for her Irish Flat debut.

Wicklow Brave, who was top weight for Thursday's Guinness Galway Hurdle, was taken out at yesterday's forfeit stage, meaning the weights will go up to 11st 7lb, a rise of at least 9lb for Ireland's richest hurdle race.

Mullins said: "Wicklow Brave is fine but we decided against asking him to carry 11st 10lb."

Joey Sasa, one of those near the top of the weights, remains an intended runner but could first line-up for Monday's amateur handicap on the Flat.

His trainer Noel Meade said: "We're considering letting Joey Sasa run in Monday's race and then he'll possibly go for the Galway Hurdle later in the week."

Joey Sasa could have two runs at the Galway FestivalCredit: Caroline Norris

Cartwright may follow suit and trainer Gordon Elliott, who expects to have four runners in Wednesday's thetote.com Galway Plate, said: "The Hurdle is his main target but there's a chance he might run on Monday."

A total of 54 horses remain in the Plate, which allows a maximum of 22 runners.

Elliott added: "Jury Duty, Clarcam, Lord Scoundrel, who won the race two years ago, and De Plotting Shed are all intended runners."

The ground at Galway remained good, good to firm in places yesterday, but rain arrived in the afternoon and between 12-15mm is forecast overnight.

Read exclusive previews of the Galway Festival from 6pm Sunday on racingpost.com