Mullins in strong bid for Galway Hurdle Willie Mullins won the Guinness Galway Hurdle for a second time with Clondaw Warrior last year and the admirable dual-purpose performer is back to defend his crown under top weight on Thursday. The champion trainer has four contenders, with stable jockey Ruby Walsh siding with Max Dynamite over Clondaw Warrior (Katie Walsh), Ivan Grozny (Danny Mullins) and the mare Airlie Beach (Paul Townend). Max Dynamite has his first run over jumps since filling the runner-up spot behind Quick Jack two years ago, since which he has won a Lonsdale Cup and finished a close second in a Melbourne Cup. The seven-year-old has not been seen in competitive action since finishing down the field in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last summer. "It was fantastic to win this prize last year aboard Clondaw Warrior, but he's plenty of weight this time, as does Ivan Grozny," Walsh told his Paddy Power blog. "Max Dynamite has already finished second to Quick Jack here in 2015 - and went on to finish runner-up in the Melbourne Cup also. "It was a close call between him and Airlie Beach, who won the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle last season, is a course winner and will carry the same weight as Max Dynamite." Airlie Beach has won seven of her 11 starts for the Supreme Horse Racing Club and was a close third on her return from a break and Flat debut at Killarney a fortnight ago. Steve Massey, racing manager for the owners, said: "She ran a cracker to chase home Apple's Jade at Punchestown and hopefully she's come on for her comeback run on the Flat at Killarney a couple of weeks ago. "She's in foal to Mount Nelson, so we don't have that long left to enjoy her and we're just hoping for another good run and that she comes back safe and sound. "She's won at Galway before, so we know she likes the course and Paul (Townend) has won on her three times. For what she cost us, it's been a dream come true for everyone involved." Other contenders in a 20-strong field include Joe Murphy's Swamp Fox, who finished runner-up in the Connacht Hotel Handicap on Monday evening, and Henry de Bromhead's hat-trick-seeker Ornua. All The Answers, Morga and St Stephens Green are the reserves.
