Galway preview Muthaza will bid to maintain her 100 per cent record over flights when she lines up in the Galway Festival opener this evening, the Radissonhotelgalway.com & Galwaybayhotel.com Novice Hurdle. After winning easily on her debut for Willie Mullins at Tramore last month, the French-bred chestnut was even more impressive when following up on her next start at Bellewstown. She has been given a mark of 130 by the handicapper, and she should prove very hard to beat here with Ruby Walsh in the saddle. Walsh teams up with Tony Martin for the ride on Sarwistan in the ultra-competitive Easyfix Handicap Hurdle. Martin has excelled at the Galway Festival in recent years, and this son of Nayef is sure to have plenty of supporters as he makes his handicap debut over flights. Beckwith Star won this race the last two years, and is back to defend his crown, while Shake The Bucket, Camlann, Stormey and Beautiful Ben are other leading contenders. Dermot Weld has won the Claregalwayhotel.ie (C & G) EBF Maiden seven times over the last 10 years and he is represented by Right Honourable in this year's renewal. The son of Famous Name had no luck in running when third on his debut at Leopardstown recently and can be expected to come on plenty for that effort. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Courage Under Fire (first-time tongue-tie) is the clear danger. He was a big eye-catcher when second at Leopardstown on his last start, and the step up to seven furlongs here should prove ideal. Weld saddles handicap debutant Heartful (first-time blinkers) in the Claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap, and this daughter of Shamardal is likely to go off a warm-order favourite. Baliyka is the Weld contender in the Eventus Handicap, and she, too, is likely to feature prominent in the betting. Motherland, My Fantasea, Admodum and Restive are other leading contenders. Fourteen horses have been declared for the concluding McGettigan's Flat Race, and the ones to focus on here are Robin Des Foret, Electric Concorde, Bensachuine and Sizing Knockeen.
