Mullins is mob-handed in €80k race, leaving Closutton as eerily empty as Galway

We are now on to our fifth socially distant date with Galway and it is already starting to feel like one too many. It's not me, it's you. As it turns out, when you take away the craic, the crowds, the cheering, and the camaraderie, there is just no spark. We will give it another shot next year.

It was Ted Walsh who summed it up better than I ever could.

It was put to him by RTE racing presenter Hugh Cahill that it felt strange being at the seven-day summer festival at Galway without any racegoers.

Walsh replied: "Strange is a nice polite word to use for it. Any of you who are at home watching tonight, you're missing absolutely nothing. There is nothing here, it's like being in an old graveyard.

"You’re a lot better off at home, sitting down and watching the telly. You can get up and plug in the kettle, have a cup of tea or coffee, and have a slice of apple tart. You can ring your pal on the phone, ask him whether he's backed the winner or not. You're absolutely missing nothing and, for the owners who think they're missing anything, they're doing themselves a favour by not coming here."

Harsh, but true. Well said, Ted.

Galway, of all places, was not meant to be like this, but we we have got to put on a brave face and plough on. There is no other option. We have to think of others.

And, so, we move on to Friday. It used to be a mixed meeting, but we can't have any of those anymore so it is a night of jumping at Ballybrit where the feature race is the Guinness Handicap Hurdle (6.15).

Prize-money has been criticised since the Covid-19 regime came into place, but you could not complain about what is on offer for the contest over two miles and six furlongs. Given the climate, €80,000 is an awful lot of money and Willie Mullins wants it all to himself it seems.

The champion trainer must also want Closutton all to himself for a while as half the stable are running. He is responsible for seven of the 20 runners, more than a third of the field, and among them is Canardier who was backed at big prices all the way down to 13-2 for the Coral Cup at Cheltenham last time.

Canardier: having his second run for Willie Mullins on FridayCredit: Patrick McCann

On that occasion he was badly hampered two out and was not completely done with when crashing out at the last. Punters had their fingers burnt, they will smell compensation in the eerie Ballybrit air. Paul Townend believes he is the best of the seven and who are we to argue with the champion jockey.

Mullins has won the race four times since 2013, but the problem for punters is that it has not always been with his first string.

Katie O’Farrell was on board Low Sun in 2018 when Ruby Walsh snubbed him for Shanning, so it would come as little surprise if something like Sayo popped up at a big price under Patrick Mullins. Don't say you weren't told.

Mullins unleashes an exciting French recruit in the opening maiden hurdle in the shape of N’Golo - a €100,000 purchase in the colours of Rich and Susannah Ricci.

He takes on Risk Factor, last seen chasing home Appreciate It in a Grade 2 bumper at Leopardstown in February. That is arguably the highest-quality clash on a night when excitement is in short supply.

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