Zarak The Brave lays down marker with Galway Hurdle glory

Willie Mullins believes the four-year-old is a Champion Hurdle contender

Zarak The Brave lays down marker with Galway Hurdle glory

Willie Mullins earmarked Zarak The Brave as a Champion Hurdle contender following the four-year-old’s eye-catching Galway Hurdle triumph.

The 9/2 shot had to dig deep in the day four Festival feature after being put under severe pressure by Jesse Evans over the last but lived up to his name by holding firm to come home by a head and become the first four-year-old winner of the Galway Hurdle for 23 years.

It continued a luckless run in this race for Noel Meade’s runner-up, who was also second last year and finished fourth in 2021, and Mullins offered sympathy to his fellow handler in the aftermath.

“I thought we were beaten,” he said. “I feel sorry for Noel Meade and connections of Jesse Evans.

“I was sitting near Noel in the stand and I think that horse was second and third the last two years, I thought he was going to win it.

“Paul [Townend] said when he gathered our fellow, he pulled it together towards the end, which shows he had that little bit left in the tank.

“We’ve got to look at him as a Champion Hurdle contender. The Morgiana is there in Punchestown, and the Fishery Lane in Naas for four-year-olds only.

“I’ll be aiming him for the Morgiana and we’ll see what happens.”

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Townend’s victory was his first in the Galway Hurdle since 2008, when he steered home Indian Pace for John Kiely, while Mullins has now won four of the last six renewals.

The champion trainer was also responsible for saddling the other Group 3 winner on the card as odds-on favourite Hercule Du Seuil landed the Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase.

Having finished as runner-up on his chasing debut, the six-year-old has now won three on the spin and was under the guidance of Mark Walsh for his latest triumph.

“Fences are the making of him,” Walsh said. “It was my first time riding him over fences and he has learned how to race properly now.

“He has learned to settle and he jumps great. He was a tearaway last time I won on him in Fairyhouse but he is clever enough and fences have made a man out of him.”

Joseph O’Brien’s Miramis claimed the Arthur Guinness Irish EBF Corrib Fillies Stakes following a smooth ride from Dylan Browne McMonagle while there was a father-son success story in the Rockshore Refreshingly Irish Handicap as reigning champion jockey Colin Keane steered home Laughifuwant for dad Gerard.