Great White Shark© Photo Healy Racing
Great White Shark sets the standard in the Deacy Gilligan Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at Galway on Monday.
The five-year-old mare is comfortably the highest rated on a mark of 134 and is advantaged by the weights in this contest.
She had a lucrative Galway Festival in winning the qualified riders’ handicap on opening day, before finishing third in a Grade B handicap hurdle.
Her trainer Willie Mullins holds a strong hand, as he also fields the unexposed Dont Hesitate who was last seen coming home fourth in a Grade Three at Down Royal last November.
Mullins has won four of the last five renewals of this race.
French-import Ego Des Mottes makes his first start for Mullins in the galwayraces.com Maiden Hurdle.
He won three times on the Flat in his native country and is sure to be popular for this assignment.
On what could be a good day for the champion trainer, Blue Jacaranda looks the part in the Weatherbys General Stud Book EBF Mares Flat Race if building upon an opening third at Kilbeggan.
Katie O’Farrell could make it third time lucky on Jazz Ranger in the angloprinters.ie Handicap Hurdle, after the pair twice finished runner-up at Sligo in August. Future Proof looks to have an ideal opportunity to get off the mark, at the fifth time of asking over flights, in the Kenny Developments Maiden Hurdle.
Clonmel runner-up Licklighter holds solid credentials in the It’s Our 150th Birthday Claiming Hurdle, with Paul Cawley claiming 7lbs.
Cawley has each-way prospects on board Dawn Raider in the Win Big With Tote Beginners Steeplechase, after a promising fourth at Listowel. Island Master won on this card last year and could pop up in the Kenny Developments Handicap Steeplechase.
