Can Cesarewitch heroine Great White Shark emerge as a Stayers' Hurdle contender?

2.20 Gowran Park
John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle (Grade 2) | 3m | 5yo+ | RTE2/RTV

You seldom see an Irish Grand National winner take on a Cesarewitch winner but Burrows Saint and Great White Shark go head-to-head in what is a fascinating renewal of the Galmoy Hurdle.

Willie Mullins runs four and it is no surprise to see Paul Townend opt for the unexposed Great White Shark, who was last seen storming home to land a gamble under Jason Watson in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October.

Now Mullins is trying to find out whether he has a Stayers' Hurdle candidate on his hands. Great White Shark is rated 146, 16lb below Thyme Hill, but victory here would see that mark soar and staying appears to be her strong suit.

If the ratings are right, Bacardys is the one to beat. Last year's Stayers' Hurdle third has an official mark of 153 and Mullins is trying him in a tongue-tie for the first time. He is one of those horses you can never underestimate.

Scarpeta is interesting too, but he has been seen just twice in 22 months and it is hard to know whether he is the force of old.

Sams Profile was fifth in the 2019 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham and went on to finish second in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown festival. His chasing career has not gone according to plan, but he did not disgrace himself when third to Monkfish at Fairyhouse. The ability is still there and it could prove to be a shrewd move sending him back over hurdles.

Sixshooter is rated 147, but Noel Meade's stable jockey Sean Flanagan is on Diol Ker instead. If the latter were to put it all together, he would be very interesting indeed; he beat Monkfish fair and square by seven lengths back in 2019.

Kilfenora is interesting too, while Darasso will relish these testing conditions.

This could be ripe for one of the up-and-coming stayers to make a name for themselves and Great White Shark looks the most likely candidate.

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Bacardys, Burrows Saint, Scarpeta and Great White Shark
Great White Shark is suited by the conditions. We're trying Bacardys in a tongue-tie for the first time. I think we've had three winners in the last week with tongue-ties. Burrows Saint needed his first start back at Clonmel, you'd have to put a line through that. Scarpeta would be entitled to win on his best form but he hasn't produced that for me yet this year.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Darasso
He's run well in this race before so hopefully he'll run well again. He enjoys soft ground so conditions will suit, although the distance is as far as he'd want to go.

Eddie Harty, trainer of Kilfenora
It looks a wide-open race and we've had it in mind for him for quite a while. He should like the ground and the trip and, while we would have liked to get a recent run into him, he goes there in great shape.

Mouse Morris, trainer of Sams Profile
He seems okay again but I've had to be easy on him after his rib injury. As long as he runs a good race I'll be happy. It's just gone a bit late in the season to go back to fences.

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