Mullins trio gives punters difficult choice

WILLIE MULLINS will be treble-handed for the Deacy Gilligan Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at Galway.

With Ruby Walsh still on the sidelines, Paul Townend gets first pick and has chosen Pleasure Dome, winner on three of her last four starts.

She has a rating of 131, based principally on her easy defeat of Sir Ector at Sligo last time out, but she is dropping in trip slightly and looked strong at the finish over nearly three miles.

David Mullins rides the Graham Wylie-owned Calie Du Mesnil, a French import which has won both of her starts since joining Mullins.

Most recently she beat two stablemates in a Galway novice hurdle when the market suggested she was not that strongly fancied and she is clearly still improving.

The Supreme Horse Racing Club-owned Chambord Du Lys has Danny Mullins on board and she finished second in two decent races on her last two outings. They were back in May 2017, though, so she has a lengthy absence to overcome.

Pat Fahy’s Away in the west should not be discarded too easily, but it does look to be between the Mullins trio.

Mullins runs Thrones Game in the Galway 2020 Maiden Hurdle in the double green colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

A mare by Soldier Of Fortune, she makes her debut for new connections having last been seen when only beaten six lengths by the top-class Bateel in a Group Two for Alain de Royer-Dupre.

Gordon Elliott’s Steel Cap, a bumper winner 10 days ago, and Emmett Mullins’ Zero Ten, a winner at the Galway Festival, set the standard.

Elliott’s Braid Blue makes his debut over timber in the galwayraces.com Maiden Hurdle after two very easy wins in bumpers and it will be a surprise if he is beaten, although Ted Walsh’s Batcio was impressive last time out.