Mullins and Walsh out to maintain fine race record with Muthaza

5.15 Galway
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WILLIE MULLINS and Ruby Walsh have an excellent record in this event in recent years, with Ireland's champion trainer winning the last two runnings and Walsh being successful in three of the last four years, once for Mullins, on Bachasson 12 months ago, and twice for Dermot Weld.

Muthaza, a three-time winner on the Flat in France and winner of both her starts over hurdles, represents the duo in today's festival opener and her trainer believes Galway's undulating track should not present any problems for the filly, who posted easy wins at Tramore and Bellewstown.

Mullins said yesterday: "The fact Muthaza handled the undulations at Tramore well would suggest she should handle Galway without any difficulty. She came out of her win at Bellewstown last month well and is in good form."

The Gordon Elliott-trained Buyer Beware, winner of a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick in March, has finished second on his last two starts, finding Muthaza six and a half lengths too good for him at Bellewstown last time.

Elliott said: "He's in good form but looks up against it taking on Muthaza again after she beat him so easily at Bellewstown. If he runs second or third we'd be happy enough."

Tagg's Island, trained by Michael McCullagh and who beat Buyer Beware by three-quarters of a length at Gowran Park last month, and the Eoin Doyle-trained St Lawrence Gap, a winner on soft ground at Roscommon last month, are the other previous hurdle winners in the eight-runner line-up.

Flying the flag for the west of Ireland is Cable, trained in Kilcolgan, County Galway, by Steve Mahon and who finished fourth over 2m4f on his hurdling debut at Wexford last month.