If you’re trying to find the winner of the Guinness Galway Hurdle, the main event at the seven-day bonanza in the west this week, Patrick Mullins is probably the best steer.

The 15-time champion amateur rider has remarkably won the race three times for his father Willie in the last five years, so he clearly knows what it takes to get it done around the unique nature of Galway’s track.

As it transpires, he is unlikely to have a ride in the €270,000 race on Thursday, but he is still very much best placed to judge his father’s ominously strong entry, and has pinpointed Zarak The Brave as their strongest contender.

“Zarak The Brave is a four-year-old, and while there has only been one four-year-old to win the Galway Hurdle in my lifetime, I don’t think many have tried,” Mullins said.

“He had an interrupted preparation last week but if you look at his form, he is a similar type to the likes of Aramon, Saldier and Sharjah, in that he is a Grade 1 horse. While he has plenty of weight, the Galway Hurdle is a race that high weights can win.”

Most unusual

Ten years ago, it would have been most unusual to see a horse like Zarak The Brave, with smart winter form already in his book, turning up at Galway. But, such is the prize money available for the feature and standard races that it has become a lot more common for the very smart jumpers to be kept in for a Ballybrit target.

Nonetheless, the race still has a propensity to produce brilliant stories and provide a platform for the medium to smaller sized yards to prosper on the big day.

Tudor City is a prime example. Remarkably, he won his second Galway Hurdle 12 months ago at the age of 10 and three years after his first. He also gave Meath trainer Tony Martin his fourth Galway Hurdle in seven years and his rider Liam McKenna a first win on his first ride back from a significant collarbone injury.

Now he will bid to become the only three-time winner in the 100-year history of the race.

Speaking last week, McKenna said: “He is in great form and although he is 11, he’s bucking and squealing like he is a four-year-old. He loves the place and he might even be in better form going into the race this time around. We’re pretty hopeful of another big run.”