Hgranca De Thaix (nearside) beating Perceval Legallois at Punchestown© Photo Healy Racing
A three-day Bank Holiday weekend meeting at Galway gets underway this afternoon with a seven-race jumps card beginning at 1.53pm.
The W B Gavin & Co Handicap Hurdle is the feature and Hgranca De Thaix looks set to go off favourite for this near 2m6f event with Easyfix traditional style hurdles in use.
The Barry Connell-trained gelding is a course winner over hurdles and scored twice over fences earlier this year notably landing the €100,000 EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase at the Punchestown Festival.
He now reverts to hurdles off a mark 20lb lower than his current chase rating, while Willie Mullins supplies two of the likely dangers with Four Clean Aces and Coole Cherry
The going is yielding to soft following a dry night, with the possibility of some showers (1-2mm).
The forecast is for further rain tomorrow (5-7mm) and mainly dry on Monday.
There is another National Hunt card tomorrow with a Flat meeting on Monday.
The going on the Flat course is currently described as heavy.
