Key pointers and trainers' views for the Galway Hurdle

GuinnessGalway Handicap Hurdle | 4yo+ | 2m11yds | RTE1/ATR

Max Dynamite, runner-up in the race two years ago and without a run over hurdles since, heads a team of four from Willie Mullins' powerful yard as the champion trainer chases a third win in Ireland's most valuable hurdle race.

Winner of the Lonsdale Cup at York and second in the Melbourne Cup in 2015, the seven-year-old has not run since last year's Ascot Gold Cup.

Mullins said: "After Max Dynamite ran second in the race two years ago it was always our ambition to bring him back and give him another crack at it.

"He hasn't had any more racecourse experience over hurdles but has been schooling well and if he puts everything together he should run very well. He's had a few little problems and that's why he's been off for so long, but he's in good order and we're very happy with him."

Ruby Walsh, who won the race for the first time last year on Clondaw Warrior – who runs again – rides Max Dynamite, while Airlie Beach and Ivan Grozny complete the Mullins quartet.

Gordon Elliott: saddles three as he seeks his first success in the raceCredit: Patrick McCann

Timiyan heads Elliott bid to break duck

Gordon Elliott has had several near-misses in the race – he has sent out three runners-up and a third – and Timiyan heads his three-strong challenge.

A winner on the Flat at the Galway festival three years ago when trained by Dermot Weld, Timiyan is two from two over hurdles since joining Elliott and is the mount of Aidan Coleman.

Timiyan is one of seven JP McManus-owned runners and Elliott said: "He's done everything right for us on the track and at home. His preparation has been good and the ground should be fine for him if it doesn't get very soft."

Quinn happy with Project

Overturn in 2010 is the only British-trained horse to have won the race in the past 20 years but four raiders are attempting to end that drought.

They include Project Bluebook, another of the McManus army, trained by John Quinn and the mount of Brian Hughes.

Quinn said: "I’m very happy with him. We gave him a holiday and then ran him on the Flat at Catterick last month and he ran well.

"He’ll need luck in running but isn't ground dependent and has plenty of experience for a four-year-old. I feel he’ll run a good race."

However, Project Bluebook is the only four-year-old in the race and no runner of that age has been successful since Perugino Diamond 17 years ago.

Edison out to light up track again

Thomas Edison, successful in the race three years ago, represents trainer Tony Martin, who said of the McManus-owned ten-year-old: "He ran a blinder back from a long absence at Tipperary last month and if he can do something similar he should represent us well.

"We know he loves Galway. As well as winning the race, he was unlucky in it the following year as he fell at the last when having every chance."

Fox back in the hunt

The versatile Swamp Fox, winner of the Connacht Hotel Amateur Riders Handicap last year and runner-up in the same event on Monday, will be attempting to give trainer Joe Murphy with another big Galway pot.

Swamp Fox: grazed himself when finishing runner-up at the festival on MondayCredit: Patrick McCann

Murphy said on Wednesday: "He grazed himself in Monday's race but it cleared up quickly and the plan is to run him if we're 100 per cent happy with him in the morning. He loves Galway and the hill brings out the best of him."

Swamp Fox went up 8lb for his hurdles win at Killarney last month and Barry Browne, who rode him to his festival win a year ago, will claim 7lb.

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Clondaw Warrior, Ivan Grozny, Airlie Beach and Max Dynamite
Clondaw Warrior has a big task with top weight if he's to repeat last year's win. He hasn't produced his best lately but he's shown more than once he likes Galway. We're putting on blinkers to sharpen him up. Ivan Grozny hasn't been firing lately and his recent form isn't encouraging. He has winning form over the course on the Flat, though. Airlie Beach is a Grade 1 winner who's won over the course and deserves to take her chance.

Evan Williams, trainer of Court Minstrel
I feel the old horse is half coming to himself, but he needs to. He ran okay at Cheltenham and Haydock, but it was only after he finished second in a low-grade race at Stratford that we’ve seen a bit of spark. He went past the winner after the line and thought he’d won – there was some welcome bounce in him afterwards.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Plinth and Tigris River
Plinth is in very good form. He's gone up 8lb for his Tipperary win and that will make it tough for him, but he seems to be in the form of his life. Tigris River ran very well in the race last year and with more luck in running would have finished closer [than fifth]. His preparation has gone well and we're looking forward to a good run.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of The Game Changer, Automated and Timiyan
We don't want rain for The Game Changer. He's an outsider but has loads of experience. Automated likes to come from off the pace so needs luck in running, which he didn't get in the big Flat handicap on Monday. If he gets a clear passage he has the ability to be in the shake-up.

Noel Meade, trainer of Joey Sasa
We're hoping the ground doesn't go soft as he's very much a
good-ground horse. If the rain stays away I'd expect a very good run from him.

Tom Mullins, trainer of Princely Conn
He's very well and ran a good race on the Flat at Ballinrobe last time. He was third in the race last year and if he can run as well again I'll be very happy.

Pat Fahy, trainer of Western Boy
I'm happy with him. I'd have loved to get a run into him but that wasn't possible as the ground was too quick. He seems well and we're hoping for a good run.

Iain Jardine, trainer of Shrewd
He seems to be better handicapped over hurdles than he is on the Flat. He boasts good hurdles form and seems very well in himself. The track at Galway should suit him – he had the pace to finish second in the Ebor last year and should travel round there very well.