CHOSEN ONE
Towned is Adamant he can land a sixth Hurdle for Mullins
ADAMANTLY CHOSEN, the choice of Paul Townend, is a tentative choice to give Willie Mullins a sixth Guinness Galway Hurdle.
Ireland's champion trainer, who has won four of the last six runnings of the Hurdle, in addition to Mystical City's victory in 1996, will saddle four today, with Adamantly Chosen and Sean O'Keeffe's mount Heia looking his best prospects.
The selection is a five-year-old, with little mileage on the clock. Winner of the Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown on his debut, he was beaten on his first two hurdle starts - including a defeat by Ebasari in Cork at odds of 1/4.
He won his maiden by 27 lengths at Thudes in February before being pitched into handicap company in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham, where he faded late to finish 1 1 th behind compatriot Banbridge.
Adamantly Chosen's last run was at the Punchestown Festival when, held up, he plugged on lath to fill fourth spot behind Camprond.
Those handicap runs were at trips beyond two miles. A keen-goer, I expect him to be more effective today on his return to the standard trip. Likely to be ridden prominently, the Well Chosen gelding has a big chance off 137, carrying 11-5.
His stable-companion Heia, one of five mares in the race, has solid credentials too, having finished second to one of today's rivals Anna Bunina at Killarney in May before landing a mares event at Punchestown two weeks later.
Anna Bunina, winner of the Scottish Champion Hurdle and up 71b for a last-time-out win in Bellewstown, and the fascinating, Dermot McLoughlin- trained Santa Rossa, are other mares with big chances.
Disappointing at Killarney in May, Santa Rossa bounced back to land the Grade 3 Grimes Hurdle in Tipperary last time, but went up 101b for her troubles.
An early faller when favourite in the race two years ago, Felix Desjy, heading a five-strong bid by Gordon Elliott, is one of the more likely sorts near the top of the handicap while stable-com-panion Vina Ardanza hat an each-way squeak.
In a wide-open race, cases can be made for most, including Tony Martin's veteran Tudor City, 3Ib lower than when landing this prize in 2019 and clearly in good fettle on the evidence of his win at Punchestown in May (off 128) and third to Common Practice in the Apprentice Derby at the Curragh.
My Mate Mozzie, representing Gavin Cromwell, is worthy of his position in the market, having been beaten a short-head in the, Grade 1 Royal Bond late last year and primed fo) this test by two outings on the flat
At his best, Jessica Harrington's Autumn Evening would enter calculations, along Jesse Evans, narrowly beaten on the flat in Killarney and bidding to give Noel Meade (inset) his first win in the race since 2005.