Apprentice out to beat master as Elliott's student Murphy targets Galway Hurdle

6.45 Galway
Guinness Galway Hurdle (Grade A) | 2m, 4yo+ | RTE2/RTV

Given Willie Mullins has sent out the winner twice in the last four years and is responsible for a significant portion of the field, he is the safest place to start in the conundrum that is the Galway Hurdle.

The champion trainer was successful with Clondaw Warrior (2016) and Sharjah (2018) and boasts a host of fascinating contenders in this year's race. None more so than topweight Aramon, who flew home to take second behind Saint Roi in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and returned with a win in the Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary last month.

Patrick Mullins steered Sharjah to success and bids to do the same with Aramon, while stable jockey Paul Townend will be hoping Buildmeupbuttercup won't let him down.

Since winning the Flat maiden for amateur riders at this meeting last year, the six-year-old has failed to score despite hitting lows of 1.06, 1.55, 1.33, 1.86 and 2.1 in running.

Buildmeupbuttercup: will need to show her stamina to climb the Galway hillCredit: Patrick McCann

The ease with which she travelled into contention in the County Hurdle suggests she is a very well-handicapped horse but does she have the stomach for the uphill climb to the line? That is the big question for punters.

Mullins also deploys Mt Leinster, who might actually be his best chance of victory under his nephew David.

The 142-rated second-season novice hammered the smart Entoucas in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown last Christmas and looked in rude health when following in the footsteps of Buildmeupbuttercup by winning the Flat maiden here on Monday night. He is a smart horse when on song.

Tony Martin has an even better recent record in the Galway Hurdle than Mullins, after Tudor City gave him his third success since 2014 last year, and the eight-year-old is back for more off an 8lb-higher mark.

Given the ease with which he won 12 months ago, and taking Sean O'Keeffe’s 5lb claim into consideration, a repeat success is not beyond the bounds of possibility. The feat was last achieved by Pinch Hitter in 1983.

Tudor City (middle) won the Galway Hurdle last year for Tony MartinCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Gordon Elliott is not numerically as strong in the race as Mullins, but Felix Desjy is a Grade 1 winner and Aramax won the Boodles' Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham nicely and we still have no idea how good the four-year-old might be.

Charles Byrnes is a master when it comes to big handicaps like this and Wonder Laish must be on everyone's shortlist.

Hunters Call has a squeak too, although a speed test like this might not be quite what he wants.

Could the apprentice teach the master a lesson?

Olly Murphy has learnt from the best and now he wants to beat the best.

Having spent most of the last decade as Gordon Elliott’s right-hand man, Murphy has made a blistering start to his own training career and now has a chance to get the better of his old boss at one of the biggest festivals in Ireland.

We have not seen too much of Hunters Call since he left John Neilan, but he has made quite an impression on both starts for Murphy.

The ten-year-old began his new life in Warwickshire with a win in a Grade 3 handicap hurdle at Ascot and 921 days later he scored at Southwell. Could he make it three wins in three years?

Hunters Call: scored on his return at Southwell last monthCredit: Edward Whitaker

Murphy said: "He's in good nick. The more rain that falls the better, as I would say two miles around a track like Galway is sharp enough for him at this stage of his life.

"To be perfectly honest, we didn’t really know what to expect at Southwell as he is ten now and he hadn't run for so long, so I was thrilled to see him winning the way he did.

"The Galway Hurdle is a massive race and winning it is the stuff dreams are made of. Hopefully he can do us proud."

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Aramon, Buildmeupbuttercup, Mt Leinster, Shanning and Tiger Tap Tap
Aramon got the job done nicely at Tipperary and has been in good form since. Buildmeupbuttercup always runs well at these big festivals. The key to her could be the fact that she has won at Galway before and that is a big bonus to have on your side at a place like this. She's proven on every sort of ground so I don't really mind what the weather does for her. Mt Leinster handles the track too, as he proved the other night, and has a squeak if this doesn’t come too quick. Shanning is another who likes Galway but this trip might be on the sharp side for her. Tiger Tap Tap was disappointing on Monday and has a lot of ground to make up to get competitive here.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Felix Desjy and Aramax
I’d like to think they both have decent chances. Felix Desjy is a Grade 1 winner who, unfortunately, had to miss last season through injury. It looked as though he retained all his old enthusiasm when winning easily from the front in a Flat race at Navan and he’s come out of that in great shape. Aramax is an improving four-year-old and if he can keep a good early position he should go very well. He's a nice horse.

Aramax: won the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last timeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Tony Martin, trainer of Tudor City
He’s fit, well and raring to go. He’s 8lb higher than he was when he won the race last year but we thought Sean [O’Keeffe] was good value for his 5lb claim so we've booked him.

Charles Byrnes, trainer of Wonder Laish
He's in good form and we were happy with his comeback at Tipperary. I just hope those showers don’t hit Galway too hard and the ground stays decent for him.

John McConnell, trainer of Play The Game and Hannon
Play The Game ran well for a long way in this race last year and put in a respectable performance at Bellewstown on his comeback. We hope he can go well. Hannon is a horse with a lot of class and on peak form I would like to think he has some sort of chance.

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