Fast Buck bids to boost Willie Mullins' excellent record in novice hurdle

Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle | 2m½f, 4yo+ | Live on RTV

Willie Mullins will have fond memories of this €50,000 novice hurdle. The champion trainer landed the race for the third time in the past four seasons when Pakora breezed home under a nonchalant Paul Townend 12 months ago.

Ruby Walsh didn't have it as easy when getting subsequent dual Cheltenham Festival hero Penhill home in front in 2016.

Off the bridle and struggling to keep tabs rounding the home bend, Walsh galvanised Penhill on the approach to the last, where his mount devoured the hill to reel in stablemate Master Of Verse in the final strides.

Long Dog in 2015 was another recent winner for Team Closutton and, bidding to make it four from five, Mullins relies this year on Fast Buck, an easy winner when last seen at Listowel.

Joseph O'Brien also features among the list of recent winners having managed Housesofparliament to a cosy victory in the race two seasons ago for JP McManus.

The pair are represented this time by Fine Brunello, who remains a maiden but brings solid form to the table having chased home stablemate Fakir D'oudairies in a Grade 2 juvenile hurdle at Cheltenham in January.

Fine Brunello failed to build on that effort when down the field behind stablemate and live Guinness Galway Hurdle contender Band Of Outlaws in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham, but O'Brien is confident of a decent showing.

The trainer said: "He's coming back from a break and is in good shape. Although there are only five runners it looks very competitive and we're hoping for a good run.”

Gordon Elliott has yet to win this race but bids to break his duck with Road To Dubai while Charles Byrnes and Davy Russell, a dangerous duo at Galway, team up with recent Cork winner Turnpike Trip.

The five-runner contest is completed by Gavin Cromwell's Quantatmental, with the trainer more hopeful than confident.

Cromwell said: "He's wrong at the weights with a couple of them and I think Fine Brunello looks well in. But he's well and takes his chance.”

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