Get the view from connections and Man On The Spot verdict for the feature races at Galway on Monday.
Patrick Mullins - Limini: "I always regard this race as the amateur derby. It's the feature event on the first day of the Galway Festival, it's televised live on RTE and it's worth 100,000 euro. My father (Willie Mullins) won this on Pargan in 1985 with 12st 7lb. Unfortunately for me the weights aren't that high these days, but it's a race I'd love to win, for sure.
"Limini seems in good form and and she's carrying 11st 3lb, which is just about my minimum weight. She's been off the track for nearly 18 months, which is obviously a bit of a worry, but she's running off a mark of 89 and we'd like to think she'll be a lot better than that in time. She has top-class form over hurdles with the likes of Apple's Jade and Vroum Vroum Mag and her Flat form from her days in France is also good. If the long lay-off doesn't hinder her too much she must have a huge chance."
Patrick Mullins - Chelkar & Uradel: "I think we've got three big chances. I wouldn't be surprised if any of them won, to be honest. Uradel is a horse we think is better than his mark. He's been fragile since he came to us, but with Aubrey's 7lb claim he gets in at the very bottom of the weights and could run a big race.
"Chelkar ran a fantastic race at Royal Ascot on what his first run for a long time. He raced a little bit freely, but finished just behind Stratum who has since won easily at Newbury, so the form looks very strong.
"It was a very difficult choice between him and Limini, but Chelkar does have top-weight and only one horse has won this race with top-weight in the last 15 years.
"Richie Deegan takes 5lb off, which will be a help, but Limini is rated 11lb lower and that's what made me lean in her favour."
Man On The Spot verdict:
Useful hurdler Limini has won three of six starts on the Flat but has been off the track for over a year. She’s preferred to stablemate Uradel but Willie Mullins’ third runner CHELKAR makes most appeal having returned from a lengthy lay-off with a creditable fourth behind stable companion Lagostoveagas in last month Ascot Stakes on his first start for the yard. Batts Rock is preferred to Brutal of Gordon Elliott’s duo having won a handicap at the Curragh while Decision Time landed a double on the Flat with a recent success at Ballinrobe. Brazos won at Killarney back in May, Le Vagabond was placed at the same track last time and reserve Azzuri could go well if making the line-up.
